>15”
>30”
>15”
>60”
>15”
4”
>30”
An Operetta About Plumbing in Three Acts
2”
3”
>15”
>15”
THE GREAT >3”
>1/4”
Stink >1-1/2”
>1/8” >1/4” >2”
>21”
>3”
>21”
72”
72”
Wet Vent <6”
Stack Vent <6”
2” 3”
1-1/2”
4”
1-1/2”
3”
Overflow >1”
1-1/2”
3 sqft
Copper or copper-alloy Stainless steel
1/8”
Verified clay PP PVC PE PVDF
>30”
>70”
>30”
Seperate Storm Sewer
To Sewage Treatment Plant
<10’
ADAM CHASE, TENOR & COMPOSER CHUN-LI CHEN, LYRICS & SET <10’
4”
100’~400’
32”
6’8”
>15”
>30”
>15”
>60”
>15”
4”
>30”
2”
3”
>15” >15”
>3” >1/4”
>1-1/2”
>1/8” >1/4” >2”
>21”
>3”
>21”
72”
72”
Wet Vent <6”
Stack Vent <6”
2” 3”
1-1/2”
4”
1-1/2”
3”
Overflow >1”
1-1/2”
3 sqft
Copper or copper-alloy Stainless steel
1/8”
Verified clay PP PVC PE PVDF
>30”
>30”
Seperate Storm Sewer
To Sewage Treatment Plant
<10’
<10’
4”
100’~400’
32”
>70”
6’8”
Bathroom at your house
Opera House
INTRODUCTION T HE GREAT STINK, an experimental minioperetta in three acts, seeks to explore how collaboration between architecture, performance, and engineering can stimulate an understanding of systems in the built environment typically left unseen. To tell the story of hidden hygienic systems and their environmental impact, the project repositioned the residential bathrooms as a scenographic. In this scenario, plumbing pipes are re-imagined as instruments, hardware as props, and wet walls are refashioned into sets. Using standard elements in surprising ways and through calibrated juxtaposition, The Great Stink, namely plumbing and the human activities that require it, casts a new light on what we culturally prefer to ignore, The Libretto, in this approach, serves as a narrative trope that questions Eurocentric ideals around physical transcendence, perfectionist fantasy, and the environmental impacts these cultural constructs create.
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Act 1 9.77 Gallons free standing toilet
4 Gallons siphon jet toilet 1.98 Gallons
S-Trap
Improved Valve
Beaufort Wash-Down
Hinged Valve
Gravity Flush
Free Standing
WATER IS THE ENEMY Lyrics
T
he water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up The invention of the flush Count the water we deplete as such
Wastewater use per day Are 150 gallons per bedroom Needs meta-scale sewage systems and abundant water for plumbing to carry on
20th-century overhang water closet elevated gravity-assisted flush 1.9 gallons water 21st-century free standing toilet flush 1.6 gallons is 24% of indoor water
Sanitary Sewage systems create overflows for extreme weather Prevent the poops flooding of homes and streets However, 2 million Americans do not have access to clean plumbing on-site sewage system flooding out causing disease
Dry, clean, and waterproof Shiny, glossy, material must be used Attaching ceramic must be as high as 72 inches above bathtubs As low as 4 inches above the intersection of ground to keep moisture out
The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up
Building Code
Plumbing Facility Bathtub
Fixture Fittings Hygiene
Waste Residential
Waste Pipe
Waste Outlets
Outlets and
Fixture Connect
Wastewater Flow
Pipe Diameter
Lavatory
1-1/2”
International Building Code (IBC) and the International Plumbing Code (IPC) shall govern the design, construction, erection and installation of plumbing components, appliances, equipment and systems used in buildings and structures covered by this code. Toilet and bathing rooms shall be constructed in accordance with Section 1209. Private sewage disposal systems shall conform to the International Private Sewage Disposal Code. Code, the International Property Maintenance Code and the International Plumbing Code shall govern the use and maintenance of plumbing components, appliances, equipment and systems. Existing Building Code and the International Plumbing Code shall govern the alteration, repair, relocation, replacement and addition of plumbing components, appliances, equipment and systems.
Flush Tank
1-1/2”
4”
BUILDING CODE Why Code?
Fixture Water
Room Adjacency Floor Plans
Prohibit Location
Overflow >1”
3”
1-1/2”
Toilet room should not open directly to the room for food preparation.
Bathtubs shall be equipped with a waste outlet that is not less than shall be not less than 1-1/2” in diameter.
Any water closet that permits siphonage of the contents of the bowl back into the tank shall be prohibited.
from a residence shall be 150 gallons per bedroom per day.
waste it can move and the less likely it will be to clog. A 4’”pipe can carry about twice the waste of a 3” pipe.
Lavatory waste outlets shall have a waste outlet not less than 1-1/4” in diameter.
shall be located not less than 1” above the full opening of the
Waste Outlet
Waste Connection
Waste Building Drain and Sewage
Waste Building Drain and Sewage
Waste Fixture Vent Size
Waste Fixture Vent Size
Waste Below Ground
Shower
Pipe Combination
Junction
Change of Direction
Stack Vent
Wet Vent
Sanitary Sewage dry vent
Wet Vent
>3” >1-1/2”
>1/4”
<6”
Seperate Storm Sewer
<10’
Stack Vent <6”
<10’
To Sewage Treatment Plant
wet vent Combination waste and vent system shall provided with a dry vent connected at any point within the system or it shall connect to a horizontal drain that
by clean-out that is located at the junction or within 10’ of the developed length of piping upstream of the junction.
Interior Environment Hygiene
Interior Environment Health
Interior Environment Health
Interior Environment Health
Floors and Wall
Showers
Waterproof Joints
Showers
Waste outlets shall be no less than 1-1/2” in diameter, and for other than waste outlets in bathtubs, shall have removable strainers no less than 3” in diameter with strainer openings no less than 1/4” diameter.
A clean-out shall be installed at the change of direction when horizontal direction greater than 45o. If the change is greater than that and happens within 40’ of developed length of piping, the clean-out shall installed at the
total discharge into one branch will be no limit.
than 3”, accordance with drainage
Sanitary Sewer Systems help
vent to main drain prefer less
directly transporting water from storm drains to a nearby body of water.
Sewer Pipes Material
Hygiene Wall Structure
Pipes Size
Sanitary Drainage
Safeguard Wall
Size Reduction in Flow Direction
Copper or copper-alloy Stainless steel Verified clay
72”
72”
4”
PP PVC
4”
PE
2”
PVDF
Toilet, bathing,and shower room smooth, nonabsorbent surface. walls shall have extends upward onto the walls no less than 4”.
Compartments and walls above bathtubs with installed shower nonabsorbent surface not less than 72” above the drain inlet basing on unhygienic surface for extreme moisture exposure over times.
wall must be sealed to prevent moisture from getting into the
the height of the compartment and walls that are exposed to
Joint needed to keep the concealed area of the wall in a sanitary condition.
cause the surface to become unsanitary over a long period of time.
3”
Compartment materials are using ABS plastic, cast-iron, concrete, copper or copper-alloy, PP, PE, , PVC plastic, PVDF, stainless steel
Should provide a safeguard against toilet room used for food preparation functions, such as dumping of food scarps into a water closet.
Size of drainage piping shall not be reduced in the direction of considered as such reduction: 4”
Occupancy Ratio Fixture Minimum Numbers
Occupancy Ratio Fixture Minimum Numbers
Occupancy Ratio Fixtures Minimum Numbers
Occupancy Ratio Fixtures Minimum Numbers
Pipes Clean-outs
Pipes Wall
Pipes Slope
Apartment House
Lodging House
Congregate Living Facility
Single Family House
Horizontal Building Drains
Lead bends and Traps
Horizontal Drainage
5 or fewer guestrooms
16 persons or fewer
1 story
1/8”
100’~400’
Water closets/lavatories/ bathtubs or showers/ drinking fountains is 1 per dwelling unit, and 1 kitchen sink per dwelling unit; 1 automatic clothes washer connection 20 dwelling unit
Water closets/lavatories is 1 per dwelling unit, bathtubs or showers 1 per 10, drinking fountains 1 per dwelling unit, and 1 kitchen sink per dwelling unit; 1 automatic clothes washer connection per dwelling unit
Water closets/lavatories Male to Female is 1:10, bathtubs or showers 1 per 8, drinking fountains 1 per 100, and 1 service sink.
Water closets/lavatories/ bathtubs or showers/ drinking fountains is 1 per dwelling unit, and 1 kitchen sink per dwelling unit; 1 automatic clothes washer connection 1 dwelling unit
Building drains shall have clean outs at intervals no more than 100’ except where manholes are used, and it shall be located at intervals of no more than 400’.
and traps shall be not less than 1/8”.
2-1/2” minimum slope inch per foot 1/4 a, 3”-6” minimum slope inch per foot 1/8 a, 8” or larger minimum slope inch per foot 1/16 a. A Represent slopes for piping draining to a grease interceptor.
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Plumbing Facility
Accessibility Single-Gender Based
Slip-joint Connection
Accessible Fixtures
Accessible Fixtures
Accessible Fixtures
Accessible Fixtures
Floor Flanges
All Gender
>21” >15”
>60”
>15” >30” >15”
>30”
>21”
clearance in front of a water closer, urinal, lavatory or bidet to
A water closet, urinal, lavatory shall not be set closer than 15” from its center to any side wall, partition, vanity or other obstruction.
>1/8” >1/4” >2”
>15”
>15”
Slip joints shall be made with an approved elastomeric gasket and shall only be installed on the trap outlet, trap inlet within the trap seal, no less than 12” to access panel or unity space.
Partitions or other obstructions do not separate adjacent water closets, urinals, or bidets, the than 30” center to center between
Water closet compartments shall be no less than 30” in width and water closets and not less than 30” in width and 56” in depth for wall-hung water closets.
less than 1/8” thick for cooper alloy, 1/4” thick for plastic, and 1/4” thick and no less than a 2” caulking depth for cast iron.
being available for use by all persons regardless of their sex.
Accessibility Single-Gender Based
Accessibility Floor Plan
Dimension Ventilation
Dimension Openings
Dimension Pipes
Dimension Pipes
Dimension Compartments
Family Toilet
Travel Distance
Ceiling Height
Clearance
Floor Drains
Floor Drains
Showers
2” 3”
3 sqft
>30”
6’8”
32”
A single gender-based toilet can be unavailable for periods of up to 15 minutes when the current occupant is using for their availability.
To prevent health problems for occupants, the required toilet facilities must be located within 500’ travel distance, nor require travel beyond the next adjacent story above or below their location.
Minimum ceiling height 6’8”. Minimum ventilation should be a window of at least 3 sq ft, 50% operable, or MEP 50 cu ft per minute ducted to the outside.
Minimum clear opening at door 32”. Door swing should not interfere with other doors, including cabinets or the safe use
>70”
>30”
>3”
Floor drains shall have a drain outlet not less than 2” in diameter. For multi-family dwellings, such drains shall have an outlet no less than 3” in diameter.
Floor drains shall have a drain outlet not less than 2” in diameter. For multi-family dwellings, such drains shall have an outlet no less than 3” in diameter.
No less than 900 sq ft in interior cross-sectional area. Compartments no less than 30”. Top of threshold at the height no less than 70” above the shower drain outlet.
Act 2
THE TYRANNY OF HYGIENE
T
he lack of windows and natural light Unabsorbant material controls the aesthetic and delight Because White has higher reflected light So Bathroom can be neat and tight Between 36 to 40 square feet for an apartment or small home as standard size No less than a 21 inches clearance in front of a toilet to any wall, fixture, or door
Lyrics
What a freshness The minimum ceiling height is 6 feet 8 inches Minimum ventilation should be a window of at least 3 square feet 50% operable or detected air to the outside 50 cubic feet per minute Mold is less likely to develop in conditions with humidity levels below 50 percent Run the fan for 15 minutes after you shower What a glamorous There was a day without a sewage system Toilet used to attach to as an architecture extension Urbanization changed the game with waste
management centralization Denser, higher, and vertically living together Bathroom merged into building body
What a wellness Track the disease by wastewater onsite sewage system Mapping Cholera, COVID, and other microbes spreading Purify the evil order of high-dense cities for public goods Thanks to The great stink There is no real privacy only ideology What a whiteness The Beauty of pure and white As the ceramic and tile shine Dirt has no place to hide Keep you healthy and delight All fixtures, compartments, and finishes must be glossy, shiny, smoothy Prefabricated into the bathroom for an easy cleaning That is how the labor invested in cleaning has no place to hide That is how body, hygiene, and culture curated into our house That is how the bathroom and a family get-together and don’t go together
Domestication
Medieval
17th~19th Centry
11th Century castle-building garderobes
18~19th Centry
20th Centry
Act 3
POOP TRAVELS
O
Lyrics
ut of sight Out of mind
Floor flanges for bathroom fixtures shall be over ⅛ inches thick for copper alloy ¼ inches thick for plastic And ¼ inches thick and no less than a 2 inches caulking depth for cast iron Pipes size shall gain in the direction of flow From 3 inches to 4 inches carries twice of waste Rely on gravity for its discharge Centralized sewage system stack the fixtures vertically Create a wet wall that plugged on any floor within Kitchen Plug into another side Discard poops and food scarps all within the water closet The pipe combination system shall provide a dry vent connected at any point within the system
That serves vented fixtures on the same floor With connection point no less than 6” above flood level Horizontal pipes must have a 2.5 inches minimum slope inch per quarter foot Not to clog the drain Cleanouts at intervals should space less than 100 feet Change direction of pipes should install a cleanout when horizontal direction greater than 45 degree The junction shall be at or within 10 feet of the pipe length Single-family house sewage line hide 24 inches below ground Apartment centralized sewage system lie low 6 feet underground Sewage cumulating waste in networks should be 100 feet away from your house To poop or bath is just half equation in the bathroom Eliminating waste is the other half Out of sight, Out of Mind Out of sight, Out of Mind
London Sewage Systems
Plumbing Pipes- Bathroom
COLLABORATORS Chun-Li Chen
University of Michigan Taubman College Architecture + Urban Planning, Master of Architecture 2 Year Track
Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Chun-Li Chen is interested in challenging the norms of space in daily experience. With over 10 years of drawing experience, she uses sketches to understand spaces that often left unseen to observe human activities around them. Socials: Instagram @julie.c_life issuu.com/chun-li_julie_chen
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Adam Chase
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
Born in the Bay Area of California, Adam Chase (b. 2001) is a classically trained singer and composer who is finishing his studies at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Upon receiving his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, he’ll be pursuing his masters at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. Socials: facebook.com/AdamChaseTenor Instagram @adam_chase_ For more information please visit
Special Thanks to
https://thegreatstink.cargo.site/
Anya Sirota Mojtaba Navvab Pierre Lambla Mick Kennedy AOU Thesis Team