The Bathroom Has Changed a Lot Over The Ages Since The Dawn of Western Civilization

The bathroom has changed a lot over the ages since the dawn of western civilization. And of course a lot of that has to do with technology. But, in many ways, the basic role the bathroom, and the kind of human activity and need to found there hasn't really changed at all in terms of practicality, and even style. What do I mean? Well, guest writer Michael Cheung is here to explain. The bathroom, a place great importance throughout our lives in our homes, has a long history. The uses and improvements in the bathroom have changed throughout the years, but what was it like in the past? Let's take a tour, dating all the way back from the ancient world, when the bathroom was used as a place to cleanse the body before entering a sacred area – the "Age of Cleanliness". Keeping clean and considering what was sanitary began to become important in cultures where civilization began. But, the sumptuous and the indulgent became important too in what would become the modern bathroom. Now the real questions are, what exactly has changed, and what has basically stayed the same? Bathroom fixtures, decor, and comfort Drainage and sanitation was developed all over the ancient world, most notably by the Romans. But, they had their own versions of the kind of luxury we expect today. These days, fixtures such as spa jets on walk-in bathtubs and even automatic temperature settings are standard. But even if the technology wasn't as sophisticated, Roman baths, and the use of stone tile and ceramic tile were just as stylish then as they are today. In addition to their communal bathhouses, The Romans had built large thermal bathtubs as a place for private relaxation and rejuvenation. Following the Romans today the bathtub (whether it's big or small) is still considered a tranquil dwelling for relaxation, often times a place to escape and to just unwind from the stresses of our daily lives. Sound familiar? Bathtubs today are now much more advanced thanks to modern technology. But the bath has played a similar role for thousands of years. Keeping clean was still the practicality, but comfort and stress relief is what humanity has always sought out when designing, and spending time in a bathtub. Bathroom design to change with our lifestyles Obviously, our lifestyles have changed throughout the years, and so our needs and wants have changed as well. The role the bathroom played in our lives has still balanced out the idea of comfort with pure practical concerns, with more weight on either side of the spectrum from age to age. In more recent years, bathroom layout was generic, because it only served one purpose whether you were old or young; to keep clean. Yet now in the 21st century, we're more sensitive to things like mobility and safety issues for the young, and the elderly. And our bathroom layouts and the technology we can turn to in the bath have changed along with those concerns. Yet, we still borrow stylistically from the past, with stone vessel sinks that can be found in eras from the ancient world to now being a good example. Function and style have evolved together. Technology, the bathroom, and a green approach As mentioned earlier, technology in bathtubs has come a long way. The bathtub, once a plain old container that held water when taking a bath, and now there are multi variations from a standing up shower to a walk-in bathtub. Technology has now also helped cut costs of making bathtubs with materials such as acrylic, fiberglass, etc. Yet another thing that has remained in place where technology is concerned is the idea of conservation, and deferring to the natural world when it comes to heating. For instance, the Romans used natural springs to heat their water and their homes, which saved on having to burn more biomass like wood than they needed. In the same way in the 21st century, we use energy smart tubs to make energy use to be more efficient. conserve our natural resources. Bathrooms today now have the option for vanity lighting fixtures that feature LED lighting. Romans used strategic skylights to make maximum use of natural light, just as we are doing today. Once again the principle is pretty much the same The bathroom has changed, the bathroom has stayed the same Our bathrooms have certainly changed throughout history in terms of technology; times change and so do our wants and needs. Technology has allowed us to adapt. But the basics of comfort, style, cleanliness, conservation have pretty much stayed the same, because that's what people have always looked for in a life at home. Source: builddirect