Urinelke [Carnation Urinal]
8 Photomontages (2000)
If any of the people who plan or rebuild contemporary cities would take the notion of “urbanity” seriously, they would consider the public urinal to be commonplace. However, today’s city planners prefer public toilets even though these are not used very often due to their lack of hygiene and security issues. This project proposes an improved, hygienic intervention: public urinals for women and men in the shape of flowers. They would be set up around the city of Graz and stay on as permanent aesthetic components of the urban fabric. The Urinelkes are made of plastic and painted with fluorescent paint to be easily found at night. They emit a flower scent while used. For hygienic and economic reasons, their operation—the opening, closing, rinsing and release of flower scent—is completely mechanical and no touching is necessary. After every use, an Urinelke is automatically disinfected and the cleaning and disposal are necessary only twice a year.
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Proposal for Graz, Culture Capital of Europe 2003.
Materials: Poster, postcards
Dimensions: variable
Concept and production: Azra Akšamija