The toilet is something that no public place can do without, and designers do not forget about it. We have collected for you a selection of the most unusual public toilets in the world — from Norway to Japan — many of which can safely claim to be real architectural masterpieces

Concrete “wave” Uredd in Norway, a project of HZA studio

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Lars Grimsby, Statens vegvesen

This unusual public toilet is located in Helgeland on one of the longest tourist routes in Norway. Tourists come here to admire the picturesque nature, watch the northern lights and visit the country’s second largest glacier. At one of the stops there is this object, designed by the architectural studio HZ from Oslo. It was named Uredd and in addition to the toilet itself has a concrete observation deck with benches made of stone, a seating area and steps descending to the sea.

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“Space capsules” on the streets of San Francisco

In 2021, such “space shuttles” will appear on the streets of San Francisco, which will replace the existing non-ecological buildings of the mid-1990s. The project was developed by Smithgroup studio, which won a competition in 2018 to equip the city with 25 public toilets and 114 cabins. Futuristic metal and glass structures will be equipped with digital screens, interactive information displays, green flower beds and plants.

The “Brutalist” Toilet in China

The Chinese studio Shulin Architectural Design has renovated a public toilet in the Xiaoshan district of the Chinese city of Hangzhou, turning an old, dilapidated building into a modern architectural object. Now locals gather here to chat, sitting on benches, and tourists wash fruits bought in the neighborhood at the market.

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Mirror toilet in Norway, a project of Morfeus studio

The desire to merge with the landscape was the main task when designing the Norwegian recreation area Bukkekjerka. This small complex, which is called the most beautiful public toilet in the world, was created by the architectural bureau Morfeus. The main volume of the pavilion is formed by a concrete slab, which wraps around it with a broken line and turns into paths diverging in different directions. A small rectangular room is built into the resulting loop, the walls of which are lined with stainless steel polished to a mirror shine. The only panoramic window with a view of the ocean is equipped with mirrored glass.

Minimalist toilet in Japan

This minimalist public toilet stands in the parking lot of the Japanese city of Nakanojo on Honshu Island. His project was developed by the Japanese studio Kubo Tsushima Architects, whose task was to create a recognizable urban object for the art biennale taking place in the city, and at the same time make it functional and practical. The architects decided to beat the idea of cleanliness and chose white color, white interiors and the most concise design for the toilet. In terms of the building has a Latin letter S, access to it is carried out from both sides.

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Modular toilet in the Black Forest

Duravit company took part in the plumbing equipment of such a highly artistic public toilet, which opened in April 2019 in the German town of Titisee in the Black Forest, which annually receives up to 400 thousand tourists from all over the world. The building has a modular design developed by Kramer GmbH from Umkirch bei Freiburg: on a total area of 74 m2 there are five modules combined in two (for women and for men). The fifth smaller module is designed for people with disabilities. The exterior of the building is decorated with portraits of Bavarians in folk costumes made by the famous Black Forest photographer Sebastian Wehrle. Inside, the establishment is fully equipped with Duravit products, whose headquarters are also located in the Black Forest.

Transparent toilet, a project by So Fujimoto

The toilet, as a rule, is the most “closed” area. The more unusual is the project of the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, who designed a completely transparent booth and installed it in a green area near the Ichihara railway station in Chiba Prefecture. The 20 sq m playground is surrounded on all sides by a two-meter wooden fence. There is a railway nearby and trains can be heard. Thus, the architect wanted to erase the boundaries between architecture, man and nature.

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Rustic toilet, a project of tato architects studio

We also found this public toilet in Japan: it stands in the town of Sedoshima in Kagawa Prefecture and is a concrete structure under a free-standing wooden canopy with a gable roof, designed by Tato Architects studio. The canopy is covered with glass tiles, so that during the day it practically merges with the surrounding houses (there is a famous factory for the production of soy sauce according to old recipes nearby). In the evening, electric light breaks through the glass, exposing the modern architecture of the building.

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Eco-friendly toilet in Japan

Lixil Group, a leading Japanese manufacturer of building materials and household items, has ordered the construction of a public toilet that would meet the ideas of sustainable development and ecology. The project was implemented by designer Dick Olango from OSA Social Design Group. Everything in it is 100% eco—friendly – from the materials used for construction to thoughtful technological solutions. In particular, natural ventilation and light, rainwater are used here, and all waste is used for the production of natural fertilizers.

“Green” toilet

Have you ever seen a toilet with a transparent glass door and completely planted with green plants, as in nature? Yes, So Fujimoto, but not only. This is how Brazilian architects Carolina Oliveira, Juliana Kapaz from Unik Arquitetura Studio and Patricia Salgado from Estúdio Aker see modern public toilets. The cabin doors are made of polarizing glass: when they are closed, an electric discharge is applied and the glass becomes opaque. A bench and mirrors are installed opposite the booths. How do you like this idea?

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