What is The Restroom Archive?
The Restroom Archive is an ongoing repository of 3D scans of restrooms designed, built, and maintained by Jake Welch. What began as a joke in 2023 has become a years-long practice of 3D scanning restrooms in restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, bars, coffee shops, and other establishments across the U.S. and Europe. The scans are intended to document the diverse nature of these uniquely private, publicly accessible spaces. By documenting their characteristics, atmosphere, decor, and artifacts left behind by visitors, Jake hopes to reveal how public restrooms reflect the creativity and impertinence of humans when they know no one is watching.