Toilet of Bamboo Bathing

森林的樹蔭。沐竹軒

Bamboo arcs in a gentle half-moon curve, lifting the roof as if in quiet embrace.
Here, wind, light, bamboo, and trees converge in sensory harmony,
allowing visitors to feel immersed in the forest’s shade.
Located beside the shared rest platform and along the shortcut between the Visitor Center and the second parking lot, the restroom facility is one of the most frequently used in the area. Yet issues persist: surrounding mechanical equipment is visually intrusive, privacy is compromised by open sightlines from adjacent paths, and the lack of accessible features and buffer zones reduces comfort and inclusivity.
The design responds while retaining the existing structure. By opening the roof, extending semi-outdoor space, refining the façade, and adding an accessible restroom, the intervention creates an environment that is practical, comfortable, and private. Behind the restroom facility, the shortcut path descends from higher ground, exposing restroom users to direct sightlines. To address this, the new single-slope roof rises in front and lowers at the back, shielding views from above.
At eye level, circular openings punctuate the façade, paired with an extended eave. These allow users to frame the surrounding greenery while preventing passersby from peering inward. At the restroom entrances, doors are removed and portions of wall cut away, reinforced with slender steel columns, creating visual porosity that connects interior space to the surrounding landscape.

• Client：Taichung Branch, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
• Design Team：ProtoPlain Architects, ProtoPlain Tectonic Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Structural Design：Chien-Min Li
• Construction Team：ProtoPlain Tectonic Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., YUMU Manufacture & Research
• Architectural Photography：OS Photography Studio
• Location：Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area
• Area：121.91 m2
• Height：4.6m
• Design Period：Dec 2022 – Jul 2023
• Construction Period：Apr 2024