In July of this year, our studio participated in the Public Toilet Project Competition held in Pingshan District, Shenzhen. The competition’s goal was to enhance urban environmental quality and improve daily convenience for the public. The organizer selected 11 local sites to build two high-quality public toilets and nine prefabricated units.
Public Toilets in the Forest
Site 1 is situated within the green belt park adjacent to Danzi Avenue in Pingshan District, Shenzhen. The site benefits from excellent surrounding landscapes, covering approximately 130 square meters. Once completed, its primary users will be employees from nearby industrial parks, pedestrians, and drivers.
To challenge conventional perceptions of public toilets and emphasize a stronger sense of community, we divided the functional areas into separate blocks arranged around a courtyard-style layout. This approach draws inspiration from the unique Hakka enclosed house design known as “Da Wan Shi Ju,” transforming traditional residential spatial language into an open and inviting public space.
△ General plan of Da Wan Shi Ju (Left) and (Right)
△ East side rendering by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
The building is composed of four blocks housing the men’s bathroom, women’s bathroom, a third bathroom, mother and baby room, and management office. Environmentally friendly materials such as rubble and wood are combined with a steel structural frame, harmonizing with the surrounding greenery. The light, elegant roof promotes natural air circulation and allows daylight to brighten the interior, creating a cleaner, more welcoming space.
△ Interior rendering by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
Located within a green park, the design emphasizes harmony between architecture and nature. Landscape features such as benches and trees provide places for visitors to relax. The courtyard preserves existing trees and stone flooring, while recreational spaces are thoughtfully placed at the entrance and alongside the building.
△ Main entrance rendering by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
△ Axonometric drawing by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
△ Floor plan by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
Public Toilets Near the Mountains
Site 2 is located near the parking lot at the entrance of Kengzi Community Park in Pingshan District, covering roughly 70 square meters. Its primary users will be nearby residents and tourists.
The design draws inspiration from the nearby Mount Maluan. The layered mountains and dense vegetation are abstracted into a rational architectural form, creating a distinctive new image for public toilets that complements the surrounding environment.
△ Mount Maluan (left) and General plan (right)
△ North side rendering by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
The roof features a steel-wood structure, allowing for fast and eco-friendly construction. Multi-colored hexagonal tiles arranged with variations in depth and shade evoke the lush mountain landscape. The main structure consists of cast-in-place plain concrete walls, providing a natural, comfortable, strong, and durable enclosure.
△ Covered outdoor space by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
Due to the narrow site, the building is designed as a linear row housing the third bathroom, men’s and women’s bathrooms, mother and baby room, and management office in sequence. The clear functional layout and bright, lively colors aim to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for users.
△ East side entrance by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
△ Axonometric drawing by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
△ Floor plan by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
Prefabricated Public Toilets
Two types of modular prefabricated public toilets were designed: standard independent toilets and accessible toilets for disabled users. Nine units were created in total, allowing flexible installation depending on site requirements. These prefabricated models are designed to adapt well to different venues.
△ Plans and axonometric drawings by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
The design features smooth curves such as spirals and ellipses, creating a modern, simple aesthetic suitable for various settings. A steel frame supports durable stainless steel materials on both interior and exterior surfaces. Integrated water and electrical systems maintain spatial integrity and visual simplicity. High windows ensure ample daylight while preserving privacy during the day.
△ Main entrance rendering by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
The exterior facade uses mirror-brushed stainless steel and an arc-shaped form to blend the public toilet into its natural surroundings. This design fosters a dialogue between architecture and nature, allowing the building to seamlessly integrate into the forest environment.
△ Plans and axonometric drawings by Starry Sky Architecture Studio
We chose to participate in this competition because public toilet design is often overlooked in urban planning, despite being essential. Additionally, it had been a while since we worked on such an engaging small public building, which made the project exciting (laughs).
Our design approach focused on the connection between architecture and nature, balancing privacy with openness, and thoughtfully allocating public space. Although our proposal was halted in the second round of evaluation, we are pleased to share it with everyone.
Project Information
Project Name: Public Toilet Revolution
Project Type: Architecture
Location: Pingshan District, Shenzhen
Design Studio: Galaxy Arch Starry Architecture Studio
Design Team: Ji Xin, Ge Jiaqi
Owner: Shenzhen Guanzhu Architecture Culture Development Co., Ltd (Competition Organizer)
Status: Shortlisted Competition Proposal
Design Period: July 2022
Building Area: 200 square meters
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