Xiaoputuo Public Toilet

Public restrooms that embrace and blend with nature.

Xiaoputuo Public Toilet

-Context

A Buddhist organization decided to renovate its temple garden in a mountainous district of southern Taiwan to accommodate more visitors and spread Buddhism. One of the first renovation projects was to rebuild the old public restroom at the entrance.

Situated on the edge of a small bluff overlooking the road, the restroom is one of the first features visitors see upon arrival. The site is surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of prayers from the nearby main temple. As the first new structure added to the long-established temple garden, our design aims to bring a harmonious and cohesive experience that complements the garden’s serene environment.

-Design Breakdown

To conform to the bluff edge and integrate with the trees on site, the footprint was derived from two staggered rectangles for the male and female bathrooms. These rectangles form an entrance at the front and a planter pocket at the back, creating more breathing room and minimizing impact on the surrounding plants.

Each design component of the restroom integrates aesthetics and functionality. We designed an asymmetric butterfly roof with a gutter situated atop the central partition wall, serving as the structural axis. The roof wings lift the ceiling upwards, inviting natural light and wind while echoing the traditional pitched roofs of the temples. The roof is supported by two rows of H-beams, each equipped with two linear LED lights mounted between the beam flanges, seamlessly integrating lighting with the structure.

In traditional temples, wooden decorations are commonly used in room dividers and window blinds to create a subtle and partially obscured visual barrier. Drawing inspiration from traditional architecture, we wrapped the restroom in a continuous horizontal wooden slat belt to define the façade. This belt, mounted on the walls and columns and elevated about 400mm from the ground, provides privacy while keeping the structure lightweight. The façade harmonizes with the temple garden’s traditional aesthetics and maximizes natural light and ventilation in the bathrooms.

Reflecting the Buddhist garden’s artistic taste and zen principles, we emphasized landscape design to ensure coherence with the temple garden. A linear pebble garden extends along the female bathroom walkway, while in the male section, a tree is planted in the pocket courtyard, enclosed by wooden slats. On rainy days, rainwater flows along the butterfly roof gutter and cascades down a rain chain into a pot, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. The indoor spaces are immersed in the sounds of birds, breezes, prayers, and temple bells, seamlessly extending the serene experience of the temple garden into every corner.