Dezeen Magazine

Bureau A installs pink marble urinal at Zurich car park

Zurich citizens can now relieve themselves at a pink marble public pissoir, installed at an open-air car park by local architecture firm Bureau A (+ slideshow).

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

Composed of pink Portuguese marble imported from Lisbon, the Fountain 2017 piece is one of three installations curated by Silvia Converso, Michele D'Ariano Simionato and Caterina Steiner as part of the Common Ground art project.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

"In the form of a noble fountain, a classical figure of occidental culture, Lisbon sends a solid salute to rich Zurich," said a statement from Bureau A, which recently installed a miniature cardboard city at a Geneva childrenswear store.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

Occupying several parking spaces of Zurich's Pfingstweid car park, the urinal is composed of four large marble panels that rest on a wooden frame.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

The liquid from emptied bladders is channelled along the base onto a pothole filled with gravel and small plants.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

A neon light sticks out from the top right corner to serve as clear signage for night time visitors.

The car park itself is situated on the remains of an ancient common, and the urinal was prompted by discussions around the area's historic role as a shared space.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

"Public space needs to stay public, open and support debate and creative proposals of any kind, whether they are social, political or cultural," said the studio.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

"A contribution where people can meet, be revolted to whatever, play, drink, sleep, love. Anything should be possible within a public space."

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

The Common Ground installations are hosted as part of the car park's ongoing Art Container project, which launched in June 2015 to commission and promote contemporary art in an independent and non-commercial exhibition space.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A

Dutch designers Aandeboom recently proposed a rethink of the urinal with a tree-mounted design for Roskilde Festival, and Copenhagen studio UiWE suggested the Pollee urinal for women, which was also trialled at the event.

Fountain 2017 by Bureau A
Plans – click for larger image