Safe Haven Bathhouse

The addition of new toilets (two pits and a western toilet) are designed within two concrete masses that are constructed from CMU blocks. In the middle, there are concrete containers for washing in semi-privacy, as is customary in the Karen culture. The façade is a bamboo screen on an angle, which provides a wall and roof in a passageway created beneath it. The floor is made from gravel and locally-sourced wood, which are easy to clean and drain. The sewage is handled on-site and incorporates a drainage system for rainwater.

The building has wood columns that perform well in seismic events, especially if the roof is light. The bamboo material used has a high seismic resistance due to its flexibility. CMU construction, such as the one used in the project, can perform well in earthquakes if designed to a high level of quality and incorporating the necessary tensional components.

The bathhouse was built using local labour, so these craftsmen could give support if needed.

Unknown.

Given the small scale of the project, it is likely structural engineering was not needed. It is unknown as to whether a civil engineer contributed to the sewage and drainage scheme.

During construction, the user is subjected to the associated risks including sharp tools, heavy objects, and heights.