I left feeling a little worried about these bathrooms. If one of them couldn't flush down a small wad of toilet paper, how would they fare with something arguably much worse? — Image by Freepik
When you imagine public bathrooms, the words "iconic," sculptural" and "classic" probably don't come to mind. Nor do the adjectives "clean," "safe" and "inviting," unfortunately. But that's exactly the type of mystical toilet that will wrap "fluid beauty around function" and transform San Francisco's city streets, according to local officials. I had to see for myself.
Twenty-five sleek, modernised public toilets — or "amenipods" — are slated to roll out as part of a new 20-year contract with the city, the two companies behind them announced. Funded by Paris-based "street furniture" company JCDecaux and designed by architecture firm SmithGroup, they've been lauded as futuristic and state-of-the-art by local news outlets. However, automated public bathrooms, also known as sanisettes, are already quite common in Paris.
