Smart Hygiene Behind-the-Mirror Solution at Dublin’s National Botanical Gardens

stern’s total touchless experience

Touchless Washroom Design at Dublin’s National Botanical Gardens.

The Future of Sustainable Hygiene

Nestled in the heart of Dublin, the National Botanical Gardens combine timeless architecture with living nature.
When the facilities team sought to upgrade their public washrooms, the challenge was clear: introduce modern hygiene technology without disturbing the historic character of the space.

The answer came through Stern’s SWAR system a fully integrated behind the mirror solution that delivers Soap, Water, and Air from a single, touch-free unit.
Compact, sustainable, and elegant, SWAR allowed the Gardens to achieve a contemporary hygiene standard while preserving the calm simplicity of their architecture.

One Mirror. Three Functions. Zero Touch.

Behind its minimalist mirror façade, SWAR combines three critical washroom functions : soap dispenser, faucet, and hand dryer all sensor-activated and seamlessly synchronized.

Each unit includes:

• Infrared activation for hands-free operation

• LED indicators guiding users intuitively through soap → water → air

• Energy-efficient, low-noise drying system

• Optional integrated screen for visitor information or sustainability messaging

The result is a single, cohesive experience that eliminates clutter, improves hygiene, and simplifies maintenance ideal for heritage buildings where wall space, design continuity, and accessibility all matter.

Design Harmony for a Heritage Setting

In a site that celebrates natural beauty and architectural restraint, technology had to remain almost invisible.
The mirror-integrated design of SWAR achieves exactly that concealing its components behind clean reflective glass while delivering full functionality to thousands of visitors each week.

Architecturally, the unit aligns with the Gardens’ modernized interiors: neutral finishes, soft lighting, and durable materials that stand up to heavy public use without visual intrusion.

Sustainability Meets Simplicity

Every SWAR unit contributes to measurable sustainability goals:

• Up to 70% water savings compared with conventional fixtures

• Automatic shut-off sensors to prevent waste and overuse

• Low-power electronics for reduced energy consumption

• Fewer components → less maintenance, fewer replacements, and longer product life

By integrating three systems into one, SWAR reduces installation points, minimizes material use, and supports high-efficiency washroom design in both new and retrofit projects.

Behavioral Design in Action

SWAR isn’t just efficient it’s psychologically intelligent.
Its step-by-step activation sequence follows the user’s natural rhythm: soap → rinse → dry.
This order creates what behavioral-economics calls “flow adherence” guiding the user smoothly from one action to the next, reducing confusion and speeding up throughput in busy facilities.

It’s a subtle design choice with measurable impact: shorter waiting times, cleaner surroundings, and a more intuitive experience for everyone.

Minimal Maintenance. Maximum Reliability.

For facility managers, simplicity is key.
SWAR’s modular construction allows quick servicing from the front panel, without dismantling surrounding finishes.
The sealed, stainless-steel components meet international hygiene and safety standards, ensuring performance over years of intensive daily use.

As part of Stern’s Total Touchless range, SWAR can connect to IoT monitoring systems, enabling real-time maintenance alerts, refill status, and usage analytics — transforming facility management from reactive to predictive.

A Natural Fit for Modern Architecture

From airports to universities and now botanical gardens, SWAR has become a preferred choice for architects seeking both innovation and aesthetic restraint.
Its mirror-integrated format fits seamlessly in heritage sites, contemporary buildings, and public washrooms alike providing a timeless balance of technology and design.

The installation at Dublin’s National Botanical Gardens demonstrates how smart hygiene and architectural preservation can coexist beautifully.
By integrating Stern’s SWAR system, the Gardens achieved modern performance without compromising heritage aesthetics proving that even in the most traditional settings, innovation can be invisible, sustainable, and elegant.

Stern. Touchless by Design.