Awards for Rotorua’s Redwoods forest toilets
The Redwoods Visitor Centre public toilets in Rotorua
25 June 2014
An innovative design that mixes function with Maori art and a conservation theme has won two awards for Rotorua architect Darryl Church, designer of Rotorua District Council's new public toilets at The Redwoods Visitor Centre.
Mr Church's designs picked up both the Commercial/Industrial Architectural Design Award and the Resene Colour in Design Award at the Bay of Plenty ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards on Saturday (21 June)
The forest toilets are a series of individual cylindrical cubicles wrapped in corten steel, and replicating the sturdy trunks of the surrounding trees. They are interspersed among large redwoods and interconnected by a wandering forest boardwalk.
Maori kowhaiwhai patterns mixed with contemporary native bird imagery, by Rotorua artist Kereama Taepa, have been laser-cut into the steel shrouds encasing each cubicle. The result is an innovative artistic rendition of a conservation theme, in keeping with the forest location.
Competition judges said the toilets were an artistic and sensitive response to an area of high natural beauty.
The Redwoods and their large network of walking and mountainbike forest trails are a popular destination for both local residents and visitors to Rotorua. For more information on the Redwoods visit redwoods.co.nz. For more information on The Redwoods shroud art toilets click http://redwoods.co.nz/about/artwork-toilets/