# Paris Restores Historic Underground Trocadero Passage into Public Restroom Chartier-Corbasson Architectes repurposes a neglected 1937 tunnel using industrial design and minimal intervention. - **Source:** [Dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bb1b7005-d334-4c48-be59-5b5c7df56f5e ## Historic Tunnel Repurposed Chartier-Corbasson Architectes transformed a neglected underground passage beneath Paris's Trocadero Gardens into a functional public restroom. Originally designed by Roger Lardat for the 1937 Universal Exposition, the tunnel had long served as a storage area for city cleaning services. This project is part of the broader OnE masterplan for the Eiffel Tower area. ## Design and Material Palette The renovation utilizes a distinct industrial palette featuring stainless and weathered Corten steel. These modern materials contrast sharply with the original flint walls, which still bear graffiti from US soldiers dating back to the end of World War II. Strategic artificial lighting further enhances the visual interplay between the new and old. ## Preserving Architectural Heritage The project focuses on minimal intervention to preserve the tunnel's original character. Restored bush-hammered concrete entrances now frame new sculptural gates. Original domed skylights were updated with custom glass blocks, while circular stainless-steel sinks mirror the geometry of the overhead domes, successfully integrating modern utility into the site's historical structural framework. ## Efficient Off-Site Construction To minimize disruption within the high-traffic Trocadero Gardens, the majority of the new elements were constructed off-site. This approach reduced on-site waste and allowed for a faster installation process. The design includes new stainless-steel gutters to manage water infiltration and introduces natural ventilation to improve the subterranean environment for public users. ## Functional Spatial Layout The restroom layout features a row of stainless-steel cubicles inserted between the existing flint-lined walls. This configuration creates a two-way route with doors opening on alternating sides. Some cubicles are tucked into existing curved niches at the tunnel's entrance, demonstrating a restrained approach that avoids unnecessary structural expansion or invasive site alterations. ## Elevating Public Amenities The studio describes the project as an effort to elevate ordinary urban spaces into dignified public amenities. By restoring meaning to a previously invisible area, the architects aim to impact the city's collective memory. The project is currently shortlisted in the Heritage project category for the upcoming Dezeen Awards 2026 competition. ## Broader Urban Design Trends This project aligns with a growing global trend of architects reimagining public toilet design. Similar initiatives include Studio Weave’s stone-clad block in London and the high-profile Tokyo Toilets project. These developments suggest a shift toward treating utilitarian infrastructure as significant architectural interventions that contribute positively to the surrounding urban landscape. ## Future Urban Implications The Trocadero project serves as a case study for intelligent urban transformation through direct reuse. By successfully balancing historical preservation with modern sanitation requirements, the architects demonstrate that neglected subterranean spaces can be reclaimed. Future urban planning may increasingly look to such adaptive reuse strategies to maximize existing city infrastructure. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dezeen.com/2026/11/11/public-toilets-chartier-corbasson-paris/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._