Contemporary city life demands increasing amounts of infrastructure to meet everyday needs, ranging from parks and efficient transportation to the incorporation of public restroom facilities. However, these spaces often come with discomforts, including lack of accessibility, absence of privacy, and poor cleanliness. Recognizing these issues, various architects have taken on the challenge of transforming these spaces into functional and pleasant environments, experimenting with innovative proposals to address these needs.
The design of public restrooms has become a field of exploration where efficiency is approached from various angles: the quality and durability of sanitary fixtures, the optimization of spatial layout to facilitate the flow of people, and the incorporation of elements that ensure privacy and comfort for the user. Beyond their basic function, these spaces are being conceived as landmarks in urban design, harmoniously integrating them with the surroundings, promoting universal accessibility, and, in some cases, exploring their potential as architectural objects that contribute to the landscape. Thus, public restrooms fulfill an essential need and reflect how architecture can enhance even the simplest aspects of everyday life.
Next, we present 15 public restroom and facility projects designed for parks and cities, which stand out for their innovation, urban integration, and solutions aimed at ensuring a comfortable and efficient experience for users.
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How Are Public Washrooms Shaping Places in China?Red Brick Public Toilet on Liuba Old Street / Shulin Architectural Design
Public Toilet in Shenzhen Bay Haifeng Sports Square / CCDI GROUP 21 Design Studio
Landscape Public Toilet of Liangzi Lake / UP Architecture
The Tokyo Toilet / SAMURAI
Small Bamboo Recess / Bansong Studio
Haru-No-Ogawa Community Park Toilet / Shigeru Ban Architects
Nantou Public Toilet / Edge Studio
Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office
Public Toilets in Zuzhai Village / cnS
Public Toilet Design in Chuancang Village / Fuyingbin Studio
Bath and Storage Pavilion / Bruno Rossi Arquitetos
Isemachi Public Toilet / Kubo Tsushima Architects
Göteborg Bathing Culture / raumlabor
Wembley WC Pavilion / Gort Scott
Public Toilets in the Tête d'Or Park / Jacky Suchail Architects
Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 19, 2020, and updated on November 18, 2024.