The places for the bathroom

Foreword

Social phenomena such as the increase in the ‘senior’

population, the concomitant reduction in the younger

age groups, the progressive integra

tion of different ethni

c

groups, and a certain focus on the most fragile, ar

e

causing a profound change in the a

ttitudes, opinions,

desires and activi

ties of the population, with importan

t

reverberations on the economy of sectors such as leisure

,

food, care and tourism

.

Private places and social place

s

Human beings are social animals; both in private and

public places we tend to surround ourselves with ou

r

peers because our behaviour and iden

tity are closely buil

t

on our rela

tionship with others.

The quality of ‘places’ depends on various factors such as

accessibility, the intensity of use and the social relation-

ships it can foster, the visibility and mixing of behaviour

between different social groups, the ability to promot

e

the symbolic iden

tity of the place, and adaptability to

different uses over

time.

Clearly, bathroom environments also play a role in the

affirma

tion of identity and behaviour in relation to others.

8

Apertura

© Ponte Giulio S.p.A.