The Restroom Archive Digitally Preserves Public Restrooms Using Smartphone Photogrammetry

The Genesis of The Restroom Archive

For the past three years, Jake Welch has been digitally preserving public restrooms through 3D scanning, culminating in a website called The Restroom Archive. Welch, the project's creator, initially started the endeavor as a joke, but it evolved into an ongoing repository of publicly accessible restrooms.

How the Archive Works

Upon visiting The Restroom Archive, users are presented with a random 3D scan of a public restroom, its location, and a written description. For example, a scan from the Gypsy Emporium Antique Mall in Hurricane, Utah, dated April 11, 2026, details its unique features, such as squirt gun paintings and access through a jail cell door.

The Technology Behind the Scans

The 3D renders are created using smartphone photogrammetry apps like Polycam. These applications capture hundreds of photos of an area and stitch them together to form a 3D environment. The resulting scans are imperfect, often showing seams, difficulties with reflective surfaces, and occasional artifacts like partial limbs or shoes from the scanning process.

Motivation and Observations

Welch's initial foray into scanning began with an IHOP restaurant as a joke, which then extended to a restroom. This led to scanning restrooms during a road trip, where he began to notice and appreciate the unique and often humorous details within each space, such as unusual trash cans or misplaced hand dryers. These observations highlight the varied and sometimes peculiar nature of public facilities.