Despite the common stereotypes that surround public restrooms, the
New Taipei City (新北市) Government set up a facility a year ago in
Jieshou Park in Sanchong District (三重) to prove that even public
Photo: Tsai Pai-ling, Taipei Times
restrooms can be described as fashionable.
The restroom — built in the shape of a perfume bottle — has
completely shattered the widely held perception that public
restrooms are dark, damp and smelly. In fact, the restroom is so
trendy that it has even been mistaken as the entrance to an MRT
station.
According to Shangde Borough (尚德) Warden Liu Hsi-ching (劉錫慶),
the restroom was constructed because Liu wanted local residents to
have access to a conveniently located restroom.
A NT$2.5 million (US$83,600) subsidy was used in the facility’s
construction and the designer modeled it on the bottle of a well-
known perfume brand and also used brightly colored mosaic tiles and
glass blocks in its construction, Liu said.
The addition of what resembles a spray nozzle on the roof makes it
appear as if the toilet were an enlarged bottle of perfume.
At night the restroom is lit up with multi-colored lights, which
helps generate a sense of romance, Liu said.
The restroom is equipped with three stalls for men and women and
the interior of the facility is spacious, well-lit and well
ventilated, Liu said, adding that it is also routinely patrolled by
community-organized teams and is regularly cleaned.
“Shangde borough is the face of Sanchong district and we hope the
facility can provide residents and visitors with a good impression
of Sanchong,” Liu said.
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