A confident addition to the well-used Twizel Market Place, these public toilets have been designed with the robustness necessary for Twizel’s often harsh alpine environment. The building’s form has been inspired by pump houses and industrial structures associated with the South Canterbury hydro dams, yet is also sympathetic to the local landscape. The rich mixture of materials and colours are reminiscent of the surface of the lakes and the dry hills and mountains that surround them. A noteworthy attribute is the tough steel canopy that defines a public forecourt and connects this modest building to Twizel’s urban realm.