Hundertwasser Toilets, Public restroom building in Kawakawa, New Zealand
This facility is a public restroom in the center of Kawakawa in New Zealand, designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The structure shows curved lines, embedded glass bottles, colorful ceramic tiles, sculptures, and a tree growing through the roof.
The Austrian artist designed the facility in 1999 as his final architectural work before his death in 2000. The local community commissioned him to create the project as a way to put the small town on the map and transform an ordinary restroom into a work of art.
The building carries its creator's name and reflects his belief that public spaces should feel alive and connected to their surroundings. Visitors walking through the curving corridors and beneath the living tree experience his philosophy of harmony between people and environment firsthand.
The building is open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM and includes wheelchair-accessible entrances. Visitors will find the facility right on the main street in central Kawakawa, where parking is available nearby.
The embedded glass bottles in the walls allow natural light to enter and cast colored patterns across the uneven floors inside. The facility attracts more tourists than many other attractions in the region and has made the small town a well-known destination.
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