Ett nödvändigt arv - De offentliga toaletterna som kulturarv och deras värde

Abstract

The Cultural heritage can sometimes be concealed by the notions of predetermined minds and actions. The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics of the public toilets as material objects and intangible cultural heritage. This has been done through gathering of source material concerning the public toilets from the 1860’s until today, in the city of Göteborg, Sweden. The study shows that it is not possible to present only the architectural and technical history of the public toilets, without also presenting the intangible history. It was found that the public toilets served as a hidden refuge for homosexual men from 1920 and forward. It was also found that public toilets had values that were not acknowledged within public cultural heritage listings. A reevaluation of the public toilets as a part of cultural heritage would lead to a representation of homosexual men as part of the cultural heritage. Title