Exeloo public facilities showcases local stories

7 Oct 2024

Exeloo designs new public toilets and changing facilities that reflect the community and the park or streetscape surroundings. Our designs blend in or, make architectural statements and we often work alongside design professionals to deliver award winning projects that communities can be proud of.

Designs that Stand Apart

Exeloo offers architectural and concept design free of charge. Together, with your inspiration our talented design team can bring the vision to life. We consider every unit from the inside out, including distinctive exterior designs matched to almost any location.

This might include structural design features or exterior decoration to add visual appeal. A great way to highlight design is to wrap the public toilet with an image that can showcase local heritage, tell stories or, celebrate an artist’s work. Wraps have been used to highlight regional fauna and flora, and blend in seamlessly with the environment. Wraps can reflect local heritage that triggers community pride which has been proven to reduce vandalism.

Community collaboration

When it comes to a new facility upgrade or installation, especially in a small town, the locals know their community the best. Collaboration between the councils and the community can lead to an installation that has its own unique characteristics and packs a meaningful impact.

Kapiti locals lead the charge

As part of the planning process of the new amenity block in Paraparaumu’s Maclean Park, Kāpiti Coast District Council called out for local artists to submit concept designs. The brief was for the project to be vibrant and colourful reflecting the stories, natural environment, community or activities appropriate to the site and the local community. They also requested that the designs reflect the life and soul of Maclean Park and its surroundings.

Paraparaumu Beach artist, Sarah Pou, was selected for her unique mural - one side features a visual map of Kāpiti, with landmarks of interest, including the village hall and war memorial arch. The other side is an underwater scene, featuring fish queuing for the toilet, police officer dolphins and more.

Council’s project management office manager, Dave Hardy, said the final design beautifully reflects the Kāpiti Coast in a fun way that appeals to the variety of age groups using the park.

“It’s one of the highlights of my career” – Sarah Pou, Artist

Working with iwi, the community and local children

Thomas Park in Morrinsville was a fantastic collaboration with the community. Thanks to funding from a generous philanthropist, the local council had the opportunity to completely re-imagine a community playground. The community school was involved in the concept designs, with a unique voting tool that engaged the children. They also drew photos of their faces which were used to adorn the Exeloo.

Playground Creations captured the local spirit in this video clip: https://youtu.be/xmZdskbw9ZA

“The donor and the community were elated. They beamed with pride at the playground they created. I voted for this, check out my face! Thomas Park Morrinsville – wow what a place”

Reflecting the environment

We have many an example of how the exterior of our Exeloo modules can be wrapped with imagery that reflects the environment that surrounds it or the beautiful vistas of the region (photos below):

Jubilee Park

Jubilee Park in Levin, affectionately nicknamed The Donald Duck Park, was nominated for Playground of the Year 2023. The innovative park boasts an Exeloo public toilet that has includes family changing rooms with baby changing tables, two fully accessible unisex toilets and a storeroom.

Totara Heights

This photo film overlay adorns a new multi-cubicle unit in Totara Park, Auckland. It was designed to reflect the beautiful surroundings of the extremely popular mountain bike track.

Lake Moananui

This unit installed in Lake Moananui was designed with a photo film overlay of surrounding lakes.

Talbot Forest

In Geraldine, the Exeloo toilet block is wrapped in a stunning photographic panorama of the nearby Talbot Forest, not only making the unit more attractive visually, but also helping promote the natural beauty of the local scenic reserve to visitors to the town.

Clyde Township

The old-world charm of Clyde is reflected in this exterior wrap design that is a nod to the gold-mining history of the region.

A new facility is being built at nearby Cromwell Bike Park and the community was asked to contribute photos for its exterior wrap design.

Across the Ditch

In Australia, community collaboration and flexibility of design led to the successful installation of new public facilities in Canberra city and parks. Three new Exeloo units were installed a couple of years ago, to support large population catchments, be accessible for people of all levels of mobility, as well as maintaining the heritage value of the area.

Working alongside the ACT government, local artists and RORK Projects, the team at Exeloo created public facilities that have generated a feeling of community pride. Distinctive designs unique to each location showcase local indigenous stories.

The story of the Kangaroo and Platypus was created by local Wiradjuri artist Kristie Peters, who said it was important to share the art and the stories so that people in the community can connect to them in years to come. See photos of these attractive units below.

A credit to all

“Each Exeloo installation is approached as a collaboration project with the local councils and communities, resulting in inclusive public facilities that are functional, visually appealing and have meaning to the community. Each installation has its own unique characteristic and is always credit to all the parties involved.” – Craig van Asch, Managing Director, Exeloo.

Visit our website gallery to see more photos of the many Exeloo projects, or contact Sales Manager, Josh Hunt to talk about how Exeloo can help to achieve your community objectives. Ph. 8088 393 566 or email sales@exeloo.com