Museums’ Interactive and Fun Bathrooms

Taking a look at the playful and innovative bathrooms of the Triennale and Macro Museum

Macro Museum, Rome and Triennale Museum, Milano – June 7^th and 19^th

Alan having fun with the interactive sink in the Macro Museum in Rome :D

Over the four weeks that we have been on the Italian Design Grand Tour, we have seen an incredible amount of famous Italian designers and visited a multitude of their studios and museums. As we were absorbing the Italian culture, the stories and their design style, there is a side note to all of these that are humorous yet very unique and interactive – the bathrooms.

There are two museums that we visited where these bathrooms are intriguing and worth mentioning in this blog – the Triennale Museum in Milan and the Macro Museum in Rome.

The bathroom sink in the Triennale Museum in Milan

In the Triennale, the walls include light installations that gradually change colors to set a pleasant and unique ambiance in such a room. The color changes are cued with the soundtrack playing in the background, which was a Chinese themed instrumental abstract piece with gongs and other sounds that interact with the light. I am not too certain as to why these particular sounds are chosen…maybe it makes the trip to the bathroom more comfortable?

Sink in the Marco Museum in Rome when unused

Color of sink when being used

Layout of the the faucets, taps, sensors and soap dispensers

In the Macro Museum, the washroom has an interactive sink where it is white when unused then turns red when it is being used. The orientation of the nozzles and sensors are creatively placed for a more abstract sink/counter concept. To finish off, the washroom is enclosed in complete stainless steel, including walls and stall doors.


Shannon, Victoria, Calvin