Bad Design Style: Case #2

This week I’ve written a couple articles on accessible bathtubs with Kohler’s Elevance rising wall bathtub and the concept Flume Bathtub. So for the second entry of Bad Design Style let’s take a look at a poorly designed bathtub. I found the picture of the walk-in bathtub above while viewing a website that explained what walk-in bathtubs are. There were many good pictures of different walk-in bathtub examples. However when I saw this one I stared and studied it for a long time trying to figure out how this would be accessible.

First the size is extremely small which is fine if space in a bathroom is an issue. However my problem is the door which swings in. Normally this can be good because the force of the water keeps the door seal tight. In this case the door should be swinging outward. Why? Because once inside your legs are now in the way of the door being able to close. Even with the double hinged door shown, I still think this would be very awkward to use. Walk-in tubs with outward swinging doors and locking mechanisms are available. That technology should have been applied to this walk-in bathtub. Thus avoiding being Bad Design Style Case #2!

This door swing problem and design can also be applied to small bathrooms. If a pocket door is not an option but the space outside the bathroom door is big enough, have the door swing outward. A bi-fold door could also be used to save further space. This is a safety feature because if a person were to fall in the bathroom, they are then blocking the door from being opened. Delaying possible help and risking further injury if the door has to be broken down. In any construction design, doors and their swings must be taken into consideration for accessibility.