Located in the city of Majialong in the Shenzhen province of China, architectural firm Zhubo Design has come up with a design for a border-less public toilet block that cleverly makes the structure disappear into the surrounding greenery. Assimilating into nature with ease, the building blurs the boundary between architecture and nature.

Using mirrored stainless steel to construct the façade of the structure provides the reflective surface necessary to create the illusion of the building disappearing into the surrounding greenery. The shiny surfaces also reflects a user’s visage, making them a part of the landscape and turning the simple public amenity into a self-referential art installation.

Adding to the connection with nature, clear ceilings and dormer windows bring in plenty of natural light. This not only creates a bright atmosphere, it also helps to save on energy consumption by reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. Courtesy seats are set among the trees to provide users a pleasant place to sit and wait if needed.

The structure contains three gender-less compartments – encouraging gender-neutral inclusivity – as well as a wheelchair-accessible cubicle. Additionally, a semi-enclosed fixture in the centre of the layout contained two urinals and a sink especially for children. This makes toileting of male minors more convenient for mums and dads – and probably more fun for kids!

Agencies responsible for facility upkeep have also been considered. This new type of structure comes with a range of technological additions that make security and maintenance management easier. Integrated technology facilitates passenger flow statistics, behavioural analysis, emergency notifications, as well as reporting on maintenance requirements and safety issues. Users can also use the technology to access information on air quality, temperature and humidity using a QR code system. Current statistics indicate around 500 people per day are using this facility.

It’s a brave new world, people!