Public bathrooms are often overlooked, perceived as neglected and marginal pieces of city infrastructure. Public Changing is a project in which they are celebrated as social spaces accessible to anyone, designed as spaces for encounter, storytelling and imagination.
![](https://www.periscope.uk/media/projects/public-changing/_mediumImage/Meridian-Water-Infrastructure-Buildings_Periscope_09_Collage.jpg)
Illustration of the collected Public Changing buildings
Designed as a hybrid modular structure using locally sourced materials, Public Changing is a colourful and functional folly, providing public toilets, showers, changing rooms and lockers. In order to improve the stereotypical image of the public bathrooms as dirty and dark, the structure features a wildflower green roof, a tall chimney with a skylight, as well as two arched windows above the interior bench which allow light in to create a luminous space; while the interior will feature the natural colour of the plywood, the exterior will be painted in bright colours.
![](https://www.periscope.uk/media/projects/public-changing/_mediumImage/Meridian-Water-Infrastructure-Buildings_Periscope_04_Axonometric_210708_220310.jpg)
Exploded axonometric drawing showing construction methodology
![](https://www.periscope.uk/media/projects/public-changing/_mediumImage/Meridian-Water-Infrastructure-Buildings_Periscope_02_Collage.jpg)
Illustration of public changing buildings
![](https://www.periscope.uk/media/projects/public-changing/_mediumImage/P0190_Meridian-Water-Infrastructure-Buildings_Periscope_13_Axonometric.jpg)
Illustration of the collected public changing buildings
Anticipating increased use as the masterplan develops, the project proposes three conditions, starting with an individual folly placed in the landscape; a second condition in which two or multiple single structures are joined together, dictated by the needs of the context where they will be located; the final condition will deliver a permanent structure in which all individual structures will be dismantled and their materials utilised to create a semi-open pavilion, defined by openness and simplicity. Retaining the same functions, the internal arrangement is changed so that the toilets, showers, changing rooms and seating areas are arranged around a covered courtyard to support school sports later in the masterplan programme.
Client | Enfield Council |
Year | 2020 |
Project Value | £450,000 |
Sector | Architecture / Infrastructure |
Service | Architecture |