Inevitably, due to the nature of our business, we can’t help but appreciate the unique and unusual when it comes to public restrooms. It’s likely you’ve paid a visit to a myriad of side-by-side stalls throughout the years, so it may even be more likely that you’re aware of some of the other options that exist worldwide.
Today, we pay homage to the unusual. To the bathrooms that are planned “outside of the box.” To the toilets that make you take a second look. To the public restrooms that peak curiosity and continue drawing in crowds year after year. Here we feature 5 of our favorites.
The “Pop-Up” Potty
Designed as a means to combat public urination issues, the pop-up potties are telescoping urinals in England that are stored underneath the pavement during the day, and pop up for use each night. Unlike portable urinals, which have to be physically emptied of the waste, the pop-up version is linked to the main sewerage system so it is simply flushed away, and can also be used by 3 individuals simultaneously.
The Gold Toilet
At the 3-D Goldstore in Hong Kong, the store owner was was inspired by Lenin’s vision of building public restrooms made of gold. Everything in the restroom including the toilet, sink, tiles and doors are all made of solid gold. With gold at an all-time high, this has got to be one expensive bathroom.
This toilet, called “Don’t Miss a Sec,” was introduced by artist Monica Bonvicini and was installed as an art exhibit. The restroom is made up of semi-transparent glass, therefore,, the visitors of the street side public toilet can see through the one-way mirrored glass but passers-by can’t see the person inside the restroom. This john is not for the easily embarrassed.
In 2007, a city in China opened up a free four story restroom. With over 1,000 toilets in 30,000 square feet of public restroom space, they also went as far as choosing an Egyptian motif with some specially shaped urinals. If that’s not enough, they also play soothing music for all bathroom visitors.
In Ohio at a store called Jungle Jim’s International Market, new visitors to the store may be taken back when they ask where the restrooms are. Don’t let these porta-potty facades fool you, they’re just entrances to the real restroom – in which a standard side by side bathroom stall set up. They get points for the unexpected!