Lasting Impression: Rhythm and Blues

INSPIRED BY THE rhythmic waves of music and the visual energy of pop art, the newly renovated public restroom on the fifth floor of Deji Plaza shopping center in Nanjing, China, utilizes dynamic AV effects to immerse guests in a lively yet comfortable atmosphere.

Blue and white circular patterns cover both the walls and floor leading to the waiting area, where mirrors are installed overhead to create a hypnotic illusion of symmetry. Melodic music moves with the guests, shifting from classical chords into a jazz ambience depending on where they are located within the restroom.

The perception of restrooms as “the gray spaces that are often overlooked in daily life” allowed Shanghai-based architectural firm X+Living (which headed the renovation of multiple public restrooms in Deji Plaza) “to make artistic transformations. I hope to give the restroom series projects vitality through shaping a unique experiential sense,” said Li Xiang, Founder, X+Living.

As the music changes, the visual aesthetics transform as well, and the large geometric patterns on the walls become small dots that shimmer to mimic the beat of a piano. As guests exit, orange seating in the waiting area pops against the cooler tones, adding depth and warmth to the space.