Public Toilets Case Studies with Pratt Institute: Copenhagen, Denmark

Research with MFA student Xinxiao Hui 

 

 

While Copenhagen may be listed as the fifth most densely populated city for public toilet per square kilometer in 2023, they are not always easy to find or accessible for all users. The average is 1.46 public toilet per square mile in cities, compared to Paris at 6.72.

As of January 2013, public toilets in Copenhagen are free of charge. City Council member Iben Wiene Rathje explained the change would be good for everyone. “Everyone benefits, especially the homeless women who either have to carry around a pocketful of two kroner coins or pee in the street.” She specifically mentioned women, as the opportunities for men to use a urinal were historically more plentiful than for a woman to find a toilet.

 

 

Copenhagen has 170 public toilets in the city’s parks, cemeteries, manned playgrounds and on the streets. Of the 170, 7 toilets are supervised and 92 are designed to accommodate those with physical disabilities. Many of the restrooms either require stairs to access or are not large enough for a wheelchair to enter. About 42% are open 24 hours a day, and 55 toilets, or approximately one third, are closed in winter.

The supervised toilets have approximately 2.5 million visits per year and are well known for the pleasant experience, given they are cleaned after each visit. 

In one location, at Vester Søgade 2A, there is an accessible toilet reserved for citizens with extensive mobility disabilities who can be accompanied by a helper. The toilet contains additional equipment including a passenger lift, height-adjustable shower bed and washbasin, and automatic toilet lift. The toilet is locked and users have to apply for access through the Danish Disability Organization.

 

 

Seven Supervised Toilets

At the end of the 19th century, the French styled Pissours (men’s urinals), similar to those in Amsterdam, with green, ironclad steel, were receiving a lot of criticism from the public. It was said they were too visible to the public eye, with a distinct bad smell of urine emanating from them, and they were found to disturb the public peace. For this reason the new public restrooms were built underground in the early 1900s and, in line with the new equal rights movements, equipped with facilities for both men and women.

The oldest ones were built in 1902 at Amagertorv with underground public toilets for men and women, and the remaining four, of the five original ones, were established between 1903 and 1907.

The last two staffed ones are modern facilities, of which the newest is the one at Nørreport Station, which opened together with the metro during the general renovation of Nørreport station. The one at the town hall square is located underground and was opened in 2019 when the metro station opened.

 

 

Wayfinding in Copenhagen

The government website map is an interactive platform that shows different types of public stalls including standard toilets, accessible toilets, supervised toilets, supervised and accessible toilets, and urinals. It shows the location and information regarding how many of the restrooms are accessible, the hours of operation, and how they are maintained or cleaned.

Another platform, called FindToilet, has an app that mirrors the website. Similar information is shown to the government website, with additional options to view the restrooms in street view and site location data sheets with images and descriptions.

 

 

Variety of Restroom Design

Copenhagen has had an evolved system of public toilets over time, which has led to an eclectic range of styles today. The oldest are the Pissours or urinals that are similar to the original Parisian models. The underground restrooms have more capacity, despite lacking equal accessibility for people with physical limitations. While some people generally do not like to use public restrooms, Copenhagen is unique for drawing visitors to see the century old beautifully crafted and maintained underground restrooms.

More recently, there are a number of newer self cleaning toilets, and several different freestanding toilets systems that combine one or two toilets, and sometimes a urinal. Each of these models has a unique aesthetic, with different materials, signage, amenities and accessibility.

 

 

The Freestanding Restroom

UiWE was commissioned by the City of Copenhagen to design a public restroom with Sara Nanna in 2013. In response to specific requirements to be robust and secure, the unit contains two toilet compartments and one urinal area. They are only open for seasonal use, and similar to the Portland Loo, the city ground becomes the floor within the module. Although a highly efficient design with minimal maintenance cost compared to other models, these gender inclusive toilet compartments are not wheelchair accessible.

The freestanding bathroom modules are successful in their ability to give privacy for those in need of a toilet. The interiors have private space with durable materials. Some models include automated cleaning or security systems, some are wheelchair accessible, and many use different signage to indicate who the bathroom is for and when it is occupied or vacant.

 

 

Conclusion

The range in public restrooms of Copenhagen demonstrates the evolving approach and social changes over the last one hundred years and more. Rather than replacing all previous infrastructure, the City largely adds new and has responded to public needs. The switching to free toilets in 2013 was projected to cost Copenhagen 400,000 kroner each year, which is now equivalent to about $40,000. The shortfall was made up for by cutting the opening hours of the city’s staffed toilets. Each manned toilet is now open for one hour less per week.

Despite fewer locations and not so obvious signage, the most popular and used restrooms are the old, underground restrooms that are supervised. This demonstrates the importance of maintenance and sanitation being key to public users. 

 

If any readers have further insight on Copenhagen’s public toilets today or are interested in continuing the conversation, feel free to reach out to Margot Kleinman at mkleinma@pratt.edu. All work included belongs to Pratt Institute.