Bathroom Break: Designers Create New Generation of No-Gender Restrooms
Gender Neutral Restroom Sign, Baby Wale Restaurant DC Flikr. This story was reported by the American Media Institute . Goodbye to the urinal? In many places, a gender-neutral revolution in bathroom design is afoot. Born in the offices of architects, the design upheaval is quieter than the noisy public debate over gender bathroom equality , but designers are clearly bending to political winds and client demand. Public space is being changed for generations to come. New designs without gender labels are already showing up around the country. The Fourth, a restaurant in New York City’s East Village, has only a single restroom , featuring three private, floor-to-ceiling stalls labeled “unisex,” three labeled “women” and one for the handicapped. All are accessed through a common door. The Fourth has no dedicated men’s room. Other private buildings in New York that feature all- gender restrooms include the Whitney Museum , relocated to a new Renzo Piano-designed structure last year in ...