San Cristóbal de La Laguna Installs High-Tech Automated Public Restrooms
San Cristóbal de La Laguna has installed three high-tech, self-cleaning public restrooms in its historic center to improve urban services and accessibility for all residents.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is upgrading its historic center with a new network of high-tech public restrooms. According to the news platform ¿Quién Es?, the City Council has installed three automated units in response to residents' requests for better basic services in the heritage district.
These restrooms feature a unique design: a 180-degree rotating axis that alternates between two toilet bowls. While one is in use, the other is hidden in a technical compartment, where it is automatically cleaned with pressurized jets, biodegradable agents, and compressed air. The floors are also self-cleaning, using a drainage system and porous tiles to maintain hygiene in high-traffic areas without the need for constant manual labor.
The facilities will cost one euro per use and are located in key areas: near Plaza del Cristo, Plaza del Adelantado, and the stretch between Calle San Antonio and Plaza Doctor Olivera. Ángel Chinea, the Councilor for Works, confirmed that the final utility connections are underway, noting that the installation process had to follow strict heritage protection rules.
The project also prioritizes accessibility. Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez highlighted that the restrooms meet universal design standards and include specific features for ostomy patients. The City Council worked closely with the Canary Islands Ostomy Association to ensure these needs were met. Once these first three units are operational, the local government will assess their performance to decide whether to expand the program to other parts of the municipality.