How many of you are bathroom enthusiasts? OK, not many… Well, maybe Jonathan Jones, today’s guest, can get you more excited about them? Enter Jonathan:
Going to the bathroom is usually an unremarkable experience. When we think back over the events of a day, we rarely count our bathroom trips as events worth remembering, but there are weird and wonderful bathrooms in the world that demand the attention of patrons, making a memorable trip of what would normally be a banal bathroom visit.
In the city of Basel in Switzerland, there is a public bathroom that appears to be covered in mirrors on the outside; however anyone inside the bathroom can see out clearly as if the walls were made of glass. Artist Monica Bonvicini’s designed the bathroom, which she entitled ‘Don’t Miss A Sec’. The work explores our fear of missing out when we go to the bathroom. Those brave enough to use this strange bathroom can see everything that’s going on in the world outside but anyone who finds it difficult to pee in front of other people might want to go elsewhere!
2. The World’s Largest Restroom
Chongqing in China is house to the world’s largest bathroom, with a grand total of 1000 toilets. The gargantuan restroom has an Egyptian theme and is made of recycled materials. Many of the urinals are unusually shaped, with some resembling open crocodile mouths and others having the head of a woman. Calming music and televisions are there to put patrons at ease and make their bathroom experience as enjoyable as possible. Officials in Chongqing hope that the quirky bathrooms will draw tourists to their city.
1. Urinal Art
In 1917, Marcel Duchamp shocked art critics and the public alike when he turned a urinal on its side, signed it ‘R. Mutt’, called the piece ‘Fountain’ and claimed that it was art. While not quite a bathroom, this urinal is perhaps the most famous urinal in the world as it called into question the nature of art itself and was a key piece of the Dada movement. Several authorised reproductions are on display in museums around the world, including the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Over the years, several performance artists have attempted to pee in these urinals, including the famous duo of performing artists, Yuan Cai and Jian Jun Xi.
So next time you go to the bathroom, spare a thought for the weird and wonderful bathrooms worldwide that aim to make our trips to the bathroom memorable experiences and be glad of the privacy afforded by your home bathroom – it shouldn’t be taken for granted!
This article was written by Jonathan Jones, an art enthusiast and part-time staff member at a company specialising in bathrooms Dublin.
Nest Expressed 
1000 toilets! crikey! I don’t think it would drive me to visit the city but i’m certainly intrigued! Also the first idea is strange, but I kind of like it…. :S
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I know, right?! Talk about overkill!
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By far the most unusual post I’ve read all day. I would think it strange, but fact of the matter is…as strange as it was, I couldn’t quit reading and stayed to finish. When you can do that, and your posting about bathrooms, your doing something right! I’d love to say more, but something has suddenly come up and I’m feeling inspired. Have to run now, off to my boring bathroom! Nice post, and we look forward to your future posts. You think you can do one real soon on mens workshops and what they do in there? LOL
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Glad you enjoyed the post, although I can hardly take credit for it, since it’s a guest post by Jonathan Jones.
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# 3 -Finally a bathroom for those who want a Lady Gaga experience and think peeing in public is a good experience.
# 1 Why just urinals, fellas ? Why not something for the ladies? You could decorate the rim of a toilet like a perfume bottle ( cannot let the Lady Gaga thing go) or who wouldn’t like to defecate in a toilet with a Rush Limbaugh face painted on it?
#2 -Carrie has got that one covered! 😉
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A very nice and complete commentary. I also think number 1 is a bit sexist – in this day and age everyone should have equal rights to embarrassment 😉
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That is right! Freedom for all!
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Yes all of this just makes me want to hold it till I get home, which would be a big problem if I were in Switzerland or China.
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Well…they do have toilets on the planes…but there’s a good chance they aren’t a huge step up from these 😉
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Peeing into an open crocodile mouth could prove quite dangerous for those with dangling bits. Just saying…
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Keen observation! Also…that just gave me an idea for a whole new competitive extreme sport!
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I have no doubt you’ll find participants. Probably from an American Reality TV show.
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