Qingdao, China

Lijiang Shen and Hengxuan Cui of GN Architects create a public toilet in Atour Village embedding it into a 7-meter-high hillside of the town’s central square creating a playful space between the pedestrian street and the square.

The architects eventually chose the site at the foot of the cliff, so that the opening of the bathroom yard faces the square, which is remarkably recognizable.

From the upper pedestrian street to see, there is a white deep pit in the woods, which is the top of the building.

The earth-covered top and plants together play a good transition and at the same time avoid the direct landing of large steps between the street and the square.

The use of the courtyard is a good connection with the main square so that the privacy and identification of the bathroom can be balanced.

This enclosed yard is like a deep pit on the hillside and visitors can only see the building after entering here.

There are also two square courtyards embedded between the buildings to keep users’ vision and space well-lighted and ventilated.

GN Architects hide all doors and windows behind the arc wall, the four functional entrances are navigated with signs, and the façade uses arc-shaped white composite aluminum panels, which are vertically stitched together and the 7-meter-high integral panel is most suitable for this single surface.

Under the rough outer walls and jungle cover, visitors enter a quarry pit that is being cut and polished.

The sunshine pours down, which is bright and clean, and the seamless texture of the surface enlarges this experience.

The design focuses on adding the infant room and the third restroom, as well as the concealed treatment of air conditioners.

Since no glass windows can be seen in the front of the courtyard, the lighting is arranged on the shady side of the arc wall and in the small square courtyards.

The early idea of ​​the architectural design came from the stone gambling game, like the rough cut out of the weathered stone skin, the tourists suddenly enter into a pothole with a delicate industrial sense from the rough natural environment, with this moment of the “wow,” this contrast is what the designers want to create.

Project: Atour Village Public Restroom
Architects: GN Architects
Lead Architects: Lijiang Shen and Hengxuan Cui
Project Director: Yanfei Cong
Structure Design: Zheng Xu
Façade Design: Qiyue Lu
MEP : Zhigang Fan, Tengteng Deng, and Chuan Zhou
Interior Design: Taoxiang Fan, Xuebo Chen, Yuqi Wang, Ming Wei, Weijing Huang, and Jiajia Qiu
Photographers: Wenjun Liang and Yong Zhang