Preserving the Past, Delivering for the Present
The refurbishment of an early 1960s public toilet block for Ipswich City Council (ICC), demonstrates how small-scale infrastructure can be meaningfully reimagined. This project retains the integrity of the existing structure while upgrading it to meet modern standards for accessibility, safety, and amenity.
The building, although modest, has long served the surrounding community. Rather than replacing it, we chose to work with what was already there, respecting its role in the local context while improving how it functions. The layout was reconfigured to enhance safety and legibility, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles were applied, and low-maintenance materials were selected to support long-term use and reduce upkeep.
We are proud to have worked alongside Ipswich City Council on a project that values retention, civic identity, and design-led public infrastructure. The result is a quiet, purposeful upgrade that improves community amenity while honouring the site’s history.
More Than a Toilet Block
Working entirely within the original footprint, the amenities were reconfigured to deliver significantly more than the original facility. What was previously two male and two female cubicles has been reworked to accommodate five unisex toilets and one accessible cubicle. Additional basins were added within the secured zone to improve capacity and user comfort.
At the building’s edge, integrated bench seating and 24-hour-accessible drinking bubblers encourage passive surveillance, informal gathering, and everyday use. These additions extend the amenity beyond its core function and embed it more fully in the civic life of the park. Once a dark and inefficient facility, it now operates as a clear, legible, and community-oriented public asset.
Detailing throughout was approached with long-term use and operational simplicity in mind. Locking and latching mechanisms were purpose-designed as part of the custom steelwork, ensuring durability, simplicity, and ease of use in both locked and unlocked modes. The facility is naturally ventilated, and the planning supports ease of upkeep and public interface.
The original hardwood beams and rafters, previously concealed, were revealed through the introduction of a perforated mesh ceiling. This move allowed light to filter through to the cubicles below, enhanced airflow, and added visual height and depth to the compact interior. The result is a space that feels lighter, more generous, and more meaningfully engaged with the public realm.
