• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Inside Public Toilet, Downtown Austin’s Latest Pop-Up Spot
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

Inside Public Toilet, Downtown Austin’s Latest Pop-Up Spot

James Rambin October 6, 2017 Comment

Public Toilet. Photo by James Rambin.

Austin’s thriving pop-up scene keeps the city’s tastemakers on their toes, with restaurant concepts, avant-garde exhibits and mobile boutiques defining the cutting edge of cool. So when I got wind of an exclusive new pop-up concept opening last week at the corner of East Sixth Street and the I-35 Frontage Road, I obviously knew I had to get inside by any means necessary.

It’s called Public Toilet, and it’s the latest hotspot in a city already fixing to melt from sheer hotness. Public Toilet, also known to the locals as Baño Público, is so hot that each visitor is only allowed to stay in the space for 10 minutes at a time — reminiscent of the time limits imposed at ultra-hip art installations with hour-long waits just to snap a photo. What could possibly be inside? Here’s what I found:

The interior of Public Toilet. Photo by James Rambin.

When I called Public Toilet a hotspot, what I meant was that it was new and exciting, not that it was literally hot inside. In fact, it’s very cold, almost surprisingly so. There is an air conditioner on the roof, you see.

The spare, industrial vibe of the trailer’s interior embodies Austin’s down-to-earth contemporary aesthetic, right down to the ironic juxtaposition of the toilet and words “NON POTABLE WATER” painted on the wall above, an obvious wink to the works of surrealist masters Magritte and Duchamp.

Rules posted inside Public Toilet. Photo by James Rambin.

Part of the Public Toilet experience is about following the rules, which include the stern 10-minute time limit. Rather than a regular sink, the minds behind the radically minimalist space streamlined the experience by installing a hand sanitizer station by the door. 

A hand sanitizer station inside Public Toilet. Photo by James Rambin.

If you wanted to really lean into the pop-up’s speakeasy experience, you might consider drinking a few slugs of the alchohol-based hand sanitizer, a possibility Public Toilet’s designers brought up in the planning stages of the installation — but it appears that they’ve gotten over their concern. 

Leaving Public Toilet with a fresh new perspective. Photo by James Rambin.

Like many pop-ups, if Public Toilet is successful, there’s a good chance the space will eventually make the transition to a brick-and-mortar concept. And that’s a good thing, because this project will change lives. You heard it here first.

 

Editor's Suggested Posts

With Clever Design and Data, Austin Hopes to Solve Its Toilet Problem

With Clever Design and Data, Austin Hopes to Solve Its Toilet Problem

Block 87 Plans Reveal 37-Story Tower at 7th and Trinity

Block 87 Plans Reveal 37-Story Tower at 7th and Trinity

Waterloo Park's Scale Model Is a Glimpse into Austin's Future

Waterloo Park's Scale Model Is a Glimpse into Austin's Future

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 78701, downtown, public art, restrooms, sixth street

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native and fifth-generation Texan, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

300 Bowie Street #703
Austin, TX
Photo of 300  Bowie Street #703, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1326444)
$699,980
31
  • Lot Size
    101 sqft

  • Home Size
    983 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour
Previous Post: « West Fifth Ping Pong Bar Project to Restore Historic Former Antone’s Space
Next Post: Austin’s I-35 Problem Has a Solution. But Can We Get It Right? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

FEATURED Listings

44 East Avenue #2205
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #2205, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8345255)
$1,475,000
29
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,232 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

555 E 5th Street #725
Austin, TX
Photo of 555 E 5th Street #725, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9482800)
$545,000
20
  • Lot Size
    88 sqft

  • Home Size
    817 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour
48 East Avenue #2210
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Avenue #2210, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5004162)
$1,569,500
38
  • Lot Size
    17,904 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,277 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

300 Bowie Street #703
Austin, TX
Photo of 300  Bowie Street #703, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1326444)
$699,980
31
  • Lot Size
    101 sqft

  • Home Size
    983 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour
619 Tillery Street #B
Austin, TX
Photo of 619  Tillery Street #B, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 4009706)
$839,619
30
  • Lot Size
    3,050 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,796 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

austin condo report

Featured Buildings

  • 360 Condos
  • Austin City Lofts
  • The Independent
  • The Shore Condos
  • 70 Rainey

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Austin Condos For Sale

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Avenue Lofts
  • Brazos Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2022 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...