Ascensio Latrine | Hydraulic Rising Toilet

When doing a bathroom modification for someone with a lower body disability, one of the standard modifications is a higher toilet. A higher toilet is easier to stand up from or transfer onto and off. This can be done by raising the base, installing a toilet riser seat, or replacing the whole thing with a higher toilet. I’ve always preferred to avoid toilet seat risers if I could because they can possibly move and they’re harder to keep clean. Another option would be a toilet that could be raised and lowered by the user automatically. Which is what this concept design by recent industrial design graduate, Darshan Alatar, does. His Ascensio Latrine is a toilet hydraulically rising toilet.

The Pieces
The Ascensio Latrine consists of a toilet seat sitting atop a cylinder that tapers slightly downward. At the bottom is metal ring that acts as the rising and flushing control. Behind is a tower that houses all the mechanisms.

Rise Up
The cylinder is actually made up of two parts divided about half way up. When the toilet seat is lowered, the upper half surrounds and encompasses the lower half. To raise the seat, the user pushes down on the metal ring at the bottom with their foot. Flushing is also done by pushing down on the ring.

Suggestion
Alatar made the controls with the foot for sanitary reasons. Although this could be an issue if the user has difficulty lifting their feet or cannot use them at all. I would still like to see separate controls that can be used by the hand.

Conclusion
Other than that suggestion, this is a nice design concept. Giving users the control to raise their toilet to a height that works for them. I’ve seen other toilets that can raise and lower electronically, but they did not have the cool minimalistic look this one has. To see more of Darshan Alatar’s resume and portfolio visit this link.