The Cathedral Refectory is for me a stunning example of sympathetic architecture. The way the contemporary structures highlight and enhance the centuries old masonry is a great example of how to do these things right - even if having exposed masonry with 'do not touch' signs where people queue for the toilets is never really going to work.
Fortunately one thing that will never happen is damage to the masonry by people drying their hands on it when exiting the conveniences. This is because the refectory toilets have a brilliantly powerful & efficient hand dryer installed. This is a vent-axia, an oft-recurring name in the hand drying world. The design was slick and reminded me of the Triangulus in McDonalds - it too having a small triangle which is a moody, sultry red when resting but glows an energetic, stimulating blue when in use. The main aesthetic difference is the vent-axia is a brilliant white as opposed to its dark mirror, the black Triangulus.
The Vent-Axia is also the equal of the Triangulus in terms of power and efficiency. This is one of those all-too-rare dryers that is so powerful it visibly moves the veins in my hands with its regal blast of hot air. If this dryer was a big bad wolf it could topple the house of bricks, smash the pig into little bits and cook them into crispy bacon, all in one breath. To illustrate this I did temporarily leave the venue and return with a pig but unfortunately they wouldn't let me in. I did however manage to record this audio sample which should give you an idea of its tremendous roar, like an angry hellcat. It was in fact powerful enough to drown out the music upstairs.
All in all a quality product that easily makes my top 5. A few weeks ago I posted a damning video indictment of the Vent-Axia Dryline. It seems only fitting that in the toilets of the majestic Norwich Cathedral that I, much like Jesus would if he reviewed hand dryers, forgave Vent-Axia its sins and saw it reborn in the name of the son, the father, and the holy Airblade.
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