RENOVATION AND RENEWAL INSTEAD OF REBUILD
03 Sep 2025
A public toilet facility in South Korea has been renovated and renewed, using a second layer timber facade to bring modernity and freshness to the public park. This redesign is part of a push to reuse and repurpose as opposed to rebuild, harness existing structures and adding new design elements to create an entirely different environment.
Located on the southern edge of Susongmot Lake in Daegu, South Korea, a public toilet facility dating back to the 1990s has been renovated by Daniel Valle Architects to meet current functional and environmental standards. The project redefines the relationship between built form and its natural surroundings through structural adaptation and material choice.
The renovation prioritises openness, daylight access and integration with the landscape. Several original concrete and stone walls were removed, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the interior. In their place, a new double-layer timber façade was introduced. Comprising 450 vertical studs set at alternating inclinations, the facade allows light to enter while maintaining visual privacy.
The design team at Daniel Valle Architects developed the timber structure to support ecological interaction over time. Climbing plants are expected to gradually grow over the facade, visually embedding the building into its setting. Bird nests have been incorporated between selected studs, enabling the structure to function as a small-scale habitat in addition to its public utility role.
This combination of material strategy, ecological accommodation and spatial reconfiguration transforms a utilitarian facility into an adaptable element of the lake’s public infrastructure, responsive to both seasonal change and long-term environmental growth.
DAEGU PUBLIC TOILET RENOVATION
LOCATION Daeugu, South Korea
ARCHITECT Daniel Valle Architects
PHOTOGRAPHY Daniel Valle Architects
