The World’s Strangest Bathrooms
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
It might not sound like a lot of fun to use an outdoor urinal in the cold streets of the Dutch capital, but this is - pardon the French - pissing with a purpose. The utilities company Waternet erected these little bathrooms with the intention of sending their contents to a recovery plant to be filtered for phosphorus and ultimately contribute to the production of struvite fertilizer for farming and gardens. Some studies even suggest that the urine contribution of one individual will provide enough nutrients to grow food for themselves and another person.
Chongqing, China
It’s certainly not the most glamorous of World Records to hold - but this strange establishment in China takes pride in being the largest public bathroom in the world. Boasting over 1,000 toilets over 30,000 square feet and four storeys, the building is intended to promote “toilet culture” and make the trip and enjoyable and memorable experience. Here you’ll find urinals shaped like open crocodile mouths and others with the welcoming smile of the Virgin Mary. There are rumours that plans are underway for setting up a supermarket nearby to sell toilet-related products to tourists. Too much?
Akashi, Japan
Apparently costing about 270,000 USD to build, this beautiful aquatic-themed bathroom rests inside Mumin Papa Cafe - for ladies only! Who wouldn't want a bunch of exotic fish and a token giant sea turtle for a little toilet company? It seems a source of delight to the internet that the turtle is male - surely that's not the strangest thing about this whole set-up?!
Basel, Switzerland
Using a public bathroom? Ain't nobody got time for that! This one-sided mirrored cubicle provides a little excitement for those thrill-seekers who can't let even the most mundane of activities slip by without injecting them with a little adrenaline. Designed by Monica Bonvicina on the premise that people "Don't Want To Miss A Sec", it certainly adds a new dimension to the toilet-going experience. Luckily, it was a temporary exhibit and now long gone - because if you used it at night and switched the light on inside, the walls would lose their reflective quality and you might find yourself in an unusual predicament.
Queenstown, New Zealand
This men's bathroom in the 5 Star Sofitel Hotel certainly takes novelty seriously! Apparently the most popular room in the entire hotel, even attracting tourists in its own right, the urinals sport blown-up images of surprised-looking women wielding measuring tapes and cameras. Might not make for the cosiest of loo trips!
Your house?
Huddersfield-based designer Paul Hernon had sympathy for those living in tiny apartments - so he decided to design a pretty extraordinary bathroom which everyone can find the space to fit in! Known as 'the Vertebrae', this vertical fold-up bathroom unit has been compared to a Swiss Army Knife in terms of efficiency - and at only 9000 GBP, who could resist?
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