A Partition For Privacy: The History Of Toilet Partitions

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No one can blame you for taking privacy in the bathroom for granted, it’s something that’s so ingrained in society that it seems like toilet partitions has always been there. However, this was not always true.  

The Path To Privacy

You know that one horrifying memory we all have of that one scary looking public restroom? Well, that’s definitely a luxury bathroom compared to what some had to endure in the past. Ancient societies in Asia and Rome, for instance, featured shared toilet and bathing facilities with no toilet partitions. For those in the poor and middle classes, this resulted in pretty unpleasant facilities. The wealthy enjoyed moderately better facilities; however, they were still shared, and privacy was definitely not a thing back then. Bathrooms were the source of many illnesses and nightmares for ages.

It was only toward the end of the 16th century that the flushing toilet was created in England. This might seem like ages ago but imagine how long even a day would feel without a private hygienic loo to use. 

During the Industrial Revolution, the need for privacy was introduced into the same sentence when thinking of a restroom as more and more women were out and about shopping and working out of the home.

The entire game changed when Frank Lloyd Wright came up with an ingenious way of keeping bathrooms private and easier to keep clean. In 1904, he designed the very first ceiling hung toilet partitions, as well as, suspended sinks and toilet bowls in America.

Privacy For The Win

It certainly took a minute for bathrooms to become the hygienic and convenient systems that they are today. Public restrooms, in particular, have been designed for efficiency and privacy thanks to modern toilet partitions. A few kinks that have been worked out since their introduction include durability, sustainability and cleanliness. These partitions are also more aesthetically pleasing than their earlier versions rounding out the luxury bathroom experience that we’re lucky to have today. If you’re looking to vamp up the look of your bathroom, contact us at our KZN branch at 031 569 6090 or our Gauteng Branch at 011 822 8142 now for all your construction and building needs. From partitions to ceilings and more, we’ve got you covered in every sense of the word.