Swiss Public Toilet


Picture:Clock Published on August 8th, 2006 in Other

This post is a bit off topic, but since it’s from my home town, Basle (that’s in Switzerland if you wondered), I decided to post it anyway. It is remotely technical though.

Switzerland has had a long tradition of modern design and Basle is host to a few of the biggest exhibitions world wide. For example, there’s “Basel World” a very popular watch & jewelry fair (the Chinese invade our city each year when it starts). Then there’s also “Art”, an exhibition which – you guessed it – is about displaying art like paintings, statues and other artsy stuff. It is so hugely successful, that they even decided to found a co-event in Miami which also takes place once a year. So those events attract a lot of people from foreign countries. And where’s that toilet located at? It’s in the middle of the exhibition area, the “Messeplatz”, so most visitors should see it.

Here are the pictures of Basle’s newest… uhm… design masterpiece:

public toilet3

public toilet2

public toilet1

To be honest, I had problems peeing in there, guess I’m not used to peeing while a few dozen people walk right by.

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98 comments

    Risotto August 9th, 2006

    The mirror walls will probably become transparent when someone steps in and the door has been closed :) .

    Jim August 9th, 2006

    It is not handicapped accessible I see. Probably occupied most of the time with folks having sex “publicly” anyway.

    Ian August 9th, 2006

    I don’t think it’s one-way mirror at night, is it?

    Ceadda August 9th, 2006

    Why is this almost year old news story the latest news? They’ve been talking about these for ages…

    Goat August 9th, 2006

    Ceadda, unfortunately, not everyone in the world is as ’special’ and up to date as you when it comes to breaking news about toilets.. Personally, I had never heard of it before so thanks to the author for posting this antiquated information

    OpsanBlog August 9th, 2006

    Are you ‘toilet shy’?…

    …

    Andrew August 9th, 2006

    Yeah I agree with Ceadda. Ive been seeing this thing all over the web for the last year and everybody who posts it thinks its the coolest “newest” thing. Please give this damn bathroom a rest!

    toil August 9th, 2006

    FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRPPPPPPPPP UNCONTROLLABLE DIARRHEA ALL OVER THE WALLS

    Andy August 9th, 2006

    Looks like a prison toilet. Nice, compact, one piece, stainless.

    swiss man August 9th, 2006

    i bet u can see inside the thing if ur up close :)

    swiss boy August 9th, 2006

    imagine u have sex in there, and u need to bust? perfect

    Matt August 9th, 2006

    Who are these bathroom insiders that seem to feel that this particular bit of watercloset gossip is somehow old. I am on the web at least 8 hours a day during and after work and have been for the last 5 years. I have never seen any one talk about droping the kids off at a see through public pool.

    Get over yourselves and let someone share.

    Bob August 9th, 2006

    What i wonder is, in office buildings reflective glass or tint works great during the day, but with some back light you can see right into a modern office building at night…. anyone used this crapper at night? ;)

    rgawenda August 9th, 2006

    For Matt. Perhaps you shoud change your web browsing habits :) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4326340/
    London unit of same model, this one (video included) is dated March 5, 2004

    Goat Roaster August 9th, 2006

    Cripes, Abe Lincoln was assasinated on on one of these things – get with it Goat!

    The earth is round, too!

    [...] Check it out [...]

    sinful August 9th, 2006

    good place to masturbate, when the one you desire is just near outside :D

    joe August 9th, 2006

    sinful, your mom moved to switzerland?

    [...] – Link Technorati Tags: [...]

    Kalinga August 9th, 2006

    I’d def get my girlfriend in there for a quickie.

    Not Sick August 9th, 2006

    You guys are sick.

    Matt August 9th, 2006

    For rgawenda. Thank you. When I need up to the minute potty news, I know where to turn.

    Incidentally, I wasn’t doubting that an article had been previously released but simply pointing out that even if one were to sit and read completely different news stories all day long, there might be a small chance that someone might miss something. Don’t you think?

    me August 9th, 2006

    @sinful:
    Exactly what I was thinking. That would be upskirt heaven.

    [...] Check out the full story here. (No Ratings Yet!)  Loading … [...]

    Huppa August 9th, 2006

    cool

    arrakis August 9th, 2006

    a closet exhibitionist’s wet dream

    JohnnyBee August 9th, 2006

    Wow but what’s happen if a guy decides to break the windows with a rock? Is it unbreakable? I’m not sure but… I imagine the face of the guy shitting when suddenly the windows are crashed by a rock and everybody around look at him… very annoying… not?

    Think about it ;)

    Bot, I’m agree with Kalinga… it’s a good place for a quickie, but I don’t think that it’s sound-proof LOL!

    Anyways, I don’t think that the days Who one will see this toilet in Canada is coming soon. :(

    John Thomas August 9th, 2006

    Great Toilet! Part of a larger list that hit Digg the other day: http://www.digg.com/gadgets/Top_10_Techie_Toilets_Accessories

    DazedBystander August 9th, 2006

    I think it would be fun to get a group of people to surround it and stare into it, just to freak out the person who is doing their business…

    junkit August 9th, 2006

    what is this a jail simulator? sit on a cold ass toiletsink with god knows how many disgusting things you are sitting on, and take a shit with dosens of people right in front of you, so when you get your turn you won’t mind pissing and shitting in front of 20 inmates!

    great idea. idiots.

    Johnny T August 9th, 2006

    You people….

    “I’ve on the web since Al Gore invented it and I haven’t seen this toilet!”

    Well, then you lead a sheltered life, and if you would get some balls and get off of AOL you might see some real websites. Get real, this is at least two years old.

    OhMann August 9th, 2006

    I still dont know wky these dumb asses think we have to know everything at all times, i’ve never seen this, and i’m all day on the net…. but i bet i saw stuff that you guys didnt, so back off, and lets keep sharing the info… thats what the whole net is about anyway. i’m sorry if i’m not as web savvy as you oh great all mighty internet lords that know everything at all times.

    By the way, freaking awesome idea!! Thanks for posting this, dont listen the those dumb f***ks, they dont have nothing else to do…

    Brian V August 9th, 2006

    I want one

    james August 9th, 2006

    Why is cum yellow while urine is yellow???

    So you can tell whether you are cumming or going…

    james August 9th, 2006

    err…

    Why is cum white while urine is yellow???

    So you can tell whether you are cumming or going…

    Jon August 9th, 2006

    Should we really have to anticipate rock-wielding vandals every time we build something?

    [...] To be honest, I had problems peeing in there, guess I’m not used to peeing while a few dozen people walk right by. read more | digg story [...]

    concerned August 9th, 2006

    that shadow on the floor is of concern
    is there supposed to be a shadow behind the mirror?

    Swiss design at August 9th, 2006

    [...] Through Digg (a very useful resource for interesting information) I hit upon this link to a Swiss Blogger and his post on the latest in Swiss Designed toilets. I would feel weird using one of these as you will discover when you pop over to see! [...]

    [...] Swiss modern design at its best. Would you dare to pee in this toilet? read more | digg story [...]

    Hezron August 9th, 2006

    WOW!!

    [...] My birthday is coming up, does anyone want to buy me a high speed camera or a swiss public toliet? [...]

    japon August 9th, 2006

    harakiri

    olaf August 9th, 2006

    lol

    Marcio Teixeira August 9th, 2006

    One ought to feign giggles and point at it every time they walked by this thing, just to unnerve whomever happened to be using it at the time. How many people would retain faith that the one-way mirror actually was one-way mirror if everyone outside acted as if weren’t?

    – Marcio

    logtar August 9th, 2006

    Fulfull many fantasies in one place, LOL.

    |/\| August 9th, 2006

    “Very good for psychos that would like to have some quality time with their hands wilst looking at women (or children) passing by.”

    oh, so i see you’ve already used this toilet? congratulations.

    Todd August 9th, 2006

    When I first looked at the picture, the wash basin looked like a drinking fountain, which really turned my stomach. :-)

    //burnz.wordpress.com August 9th, 2006

    Swiss Public Toilet…

    Swiss modern design at its best. Would you dare to pee in this toilet?
    Link: Swiss Public Toilet

    ……

    Razvan August 9th, 2006

    Funny, with a polariser becomes almost possible to see inside.

    ashusta's I.S. life August 9th, 2006

    I Miss Switzerland…

    From http://www.yatblog.com/2006/08/08/swiss-public-toilet/Maybe the Basel Accords aren’t interesting to everybody, and I know that the Swiss are famously xenophobic, but still you gotta give props to people with such a unique sense of humor…….

    gangbanging_4_jesuses August 9th, 2006

    I would totally masturbate in there!!

    David Grant, Vancouver, BC August 9th, 2006

    Swiss “public” toilet…

    I thought this Swiss public toilet in Basel was pretty funny. I think it would be fun to pee in there. As someone pointed out it may not be a one-way mirror at night.
    …

    joshbee August 10th, 2006

    this is awesome art !

    Crow August 10th, 2006

    Hey, people tend to get pee on walls, who knows, maybe even poop. So are you going to be sitting on this thing, looking outward, and seeing pee splatters all over the place?

    MisterZero August 10th, 2006

    I think that the Mirror is one way. It can see out, so you feel weird, but nobody can see in.

    Nique August 10th, 2006

    How come that lady has no reflection?

    old but interesting August 10th, 2006

    The lady does have a reflection! The angle of the photo meant that only her hand is caught in the mirror.
    I just wonder how they’re gonna keep that thing clean. Cause every little speck of pee etc… is gonna show up in there.

    susan August 10th, 2006

    There is a bathroom in Brisbane, QLD australia where in the boys urinals it is a wall that is shared with the pub so when you are peeing (a man) it would seem that you are peeing in front of peopel in the bar but in fact that they do not even know it is there.

    Butch August 10th, 2006

    I think I remember seeing this article in 1968. I think this is what pissed off Charlie Manson.

    Mofo August 10th, 2006

    Do you think it would be a good place to masterbate?

    Regi August 10th, 2006

    Those Swiss, who knew? I thought they were only good with Clocks and Knives, oh and Kshoes!!

    John August 10th, 2006

    I think the designers missed out- this would be huge in Germany or Japan!

    Dingo August 11th, 2006

    The Swiss don’t masturbate…

    Sam’s site · For Andy August 11th, 2006

    [...] Crazy Ass Toilet. [...]

    [...] The Swiss have quite a knack at combining modern toilet design with industrial 2-way mirrors. [...]

    Boomer August 11th, 2006

    So what do you do when you run out of toilet paper? Pick out someone walking by, crack open the door, and ask them to get you a fresh roll? At least you can watch them all the way to the store and back. ….. I wonder if this thing tips over…. ( @ )

    Tinkanew August 11th, 2006

    Who cleans it?
    What if you clog it and there is a big huge line up needing to use it and people are just staring at you when you get out and the next person walks in and the yell something to you…
    Do you run?

    Haha, that’s so stupid.

    Are people really that retarded that they can’t hold their piss in until they find a real toilet?

    and for the person who asked why she has no reflection, it’s because she is a vampire.

    borat JASŁO August 13th, 2006

    i think it’s very good idea couse when you are inside you can see souraunding area and people but they can’t see you and they don’t know what you are doing there

    George August 14th, 2006

    it would be great to do serious exercise in there and count how some many people are lining up for it outside.

    Little Miss Humble August 15th, 2006

    Hmmmmmm, very interesting. I would love to take a massive … in it and make sure I take a Gary Larson book to read with me. Never know, some sicko might get turned on watching.

    miss kitty August 16th, 2006

    how strange would that be?!?!?!? creepy!!!!!!!!

    [...] 链接 Technorati Tags: 玻璃, 瑞士, 厕所, 大镜柜 [...]

    leap August 16th, 2006

    鏡面廁所…

    勇者無懼系列：瑞士公共廁所\r\n\r\n其實用雙面鏡來設計整個廁所，有點像是傳說中半島酒店piss on Hong-kong的設計。在討論串…

    Awia =) August 21st, 2006

    Shit happens :)

    [...] Swiss Public Toilet – To be honest, I had problems peeing in there, guess I’m not used to peeing while a few dozen people walk right by… [...]

    [...] Their artistic sense really shines in public art projects, however — like architectural contests, creative painting of radar camera boxes, and generally constructing their public spaces well. What surprises me is when they go super modern and cutting edge. Take this toilet, for example. [...]

    [...] Swiss modern design at its best. Would you dare to use this toilet? click the image to read more          [...]

    » Swiss Public Toilet October 25th, 2006

    [...] Page Summary: –> Risotto August 9th, 2006 The mirror walls will probably become transparent when someone steps in and the door has been closed . I am on the web at least 8 hours a day during and after work and have been for the last 5 years. I would feel weird using one of these as you will discover when you pop over to see. (mesaj?m? da veririm, oras? ayr?) –> mustafa August 10th, 2006 vay beee medeniyet i?te.read more | digg story              [...]

    [...] Swiss modern design at its best. Would you dare to pee in this toilet? Click here to view the pictures. [...]

    [...] Published on February 28th, 2007 in Fun This complements my other post about a public toilet pretty well. Nice idea… [...]

    Manic Mom March 6th, 2007

    And wouldn’t it be hilarious if someone standing outside was pointing and laughing and making face and hand gestures to the person inside even tho that person could not be seen??!!

    bluelqe March 11th, 2007

    It’s hard to believe!

    alex April 11th, 2007

    hi nice site.

    Liz3 June 24th, 2007

    Great thing! I only wish we had this kind of toilet in Geneva!

    Evecel August 14th, 2007

    Geesh, I live in Baar, ZG, Switzerland and never new anything about this! I go to Basel several time a year because it IS a great city and there’s many museums and exibitions. My husband lived there for many years when he was younger and he praises almost anything coming from Basel. At his age of 71, I don’t know how he’ll react. I will definitely get him to drink enough before we get to Messeplatz for the next exibition so that he needs to use it before we enter a building.

    impact September 5th, 2007

    We’re Japanese TV production. We’re interested in this article and we would like to use these pics for few seconds in our TV show. Could you reply to us? We’ll send an e-mail about details later.
    Take care.

    [...] read more | digg story Posted by Administrator on Tuesday, August 8th, 2006 [...]

    Max.. November 18th, 2007

    wer’e interestend in this article abd we would like to use theses pisc for few seconds in our TV show…I’m sorry my speak

    arnold July 5th, 2008

    great story!

    Swiss Public Toilet August 29th, 2008

    [...] read more | digg story [...]

    [...] from: yatblog.com This entry was written by Allan Cole, filed under Misc. and tagged Bar 89, Bathroom, Soho, Swiss, [...]

    Dave October 17th, 2008

    they need to build one in reverse!!! mirrored in, see thru out!!! HAHA

    plumbing contractor in utah November 26th, 2008

    Its toooo much Public!! HAHAHA

    OranGeeZ February 23rd, 2009

    WOW..2009,

    it’s the first time i’ve seen this toilet : )

    Toilet How To March 21st, 2009

    First time I’ve seen it, too. I am wondering as well how it works at night. I can only presume the exterior lighting is always kept brighter than the interior.

    [...] An amazingly-private public toilet from a street corner in Basle, Switzerland (via [...]

    toilet repair January 7th, 2010

    Yeah, there is no way I would be comfortable using that bathroom, I would be paranoid that everyone was watching me. lol

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