Public Toilet

[waheed]

Here's a picture of a public toilet in HOUSTON:

[waheed]

now see how it looks from inside..!!



That's made entirely out of one-way glass. No one can see you in there,
but when you are inside, it looks like you're sitting in a clear glass box.
Would you / could you use it ???

[Cobra]

I would use it for a laugh! It's nice and light in there, isn't it?

[MackemX]

what if you got the inside of the windows wet?, would it be see through?

what if the sun shone directly through it on a late winters evening?, surely a shadow would be cast on the other side if it does let some light in

[MackemX]

I've just seen that the toilet indeed shows a shadow inside so maybe you would see a slight shadow on the opposing side

p.s. looking again, it looks like a photochop as there's a few discrepancies. Isn't this an April Fool from a while back?

[JohnnyCNote]

It makes one wonder who'd think of making such a thing....

[BJ_M]

it is in Switzerland, not texas ...

and posted about here several times before

It is a work of art more than an object to use (it has been only used a few times)


The concept of how we react to "seeing but not being seen" was put to the test by 38-year-old architectural artist Monica Bonvicini in December 2003, when her work entitled "Don't Miss A Sec" was installed at a construction site (the future home of the Chelsea College of Art and Design) across the road from London's Tate Britain museum. (The same work was also displayed at an art exhibition in Basel, Switzerland, in June 2004.) Bonvicini's creation is a public toilet enclosed within reflective glass walls that allow the user to see out but prevent those outside from seeing in, an exhibit that challenges whether we can adapt to the idea of being able to view others passing in close proximity to us while we engage in an activity which we don't want them to view — even when we know full well that they can't possibly see us. As a spokesman for Ms. Bonvicini explained:

It will arouse curiosity because people can come and just use it, although there is a question of whether people will feel comfortable doing so.

They may be wary of desecrating a work of art or may be uneasy that because they can see out, other people can see in.

There could be this feeling that there is some form of switch to change it and let people see in, but of course there isn't.

Jeff Boloten, who works at the Tate Britain, noted:

Playing with the idea of the most private bodily function and having to sit on a street corner is just bizarre.

The construction site makes it interesting because portable toilets are at construction sites all the time, but, the Tate Britain's a respected institution; the juxtaposition makes it more unique.

The title of the work refers to Ms. Bonvicini's observation that attendees at art openings were afraid to leave the room for fear of missing a key entrance or comment, hence her "Don't Miss A Sec" exhibit "reflects peoples' reluctance to leave the spectacle, and allows the art-goer to remain in the action, even while on the toilet." Her use of a stainless steel toilet and sink unit was inspired by the fact that the "Don't Miss A Sec" exhibition site once housed Millbank Penitentiary, a 19th century prison facility.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/toilet.asp

[Conquest10]

Those things are never 100% not-see-through-able.

Myself, I would never be able to go in that thing. I can't even go in the stall when I hear someone outside just hanging around.

[jimmalenko]

Myself, I would never be able to go in that thing. I can't even go in the stall when I hear someone outside just hanging around.

Stage-fright ?

[Conquest10]

Myself, I would never be able to go in that thing. I can't even go in the stall when I hear someone outside just hanging around.

Stage-fright ?

You've never had that happen? When you walk in and there's some guy just sitting there in a chair reading a magazine. You go into the stall and you can hear him flipping through the pages and occasionally clearing his throat.

[jimmalenko]

I never said it hasn't happened to me ...


I was "empathising" ...




It's like when you go to a football game, and there's 50 people using the urinal and 4 deep waiting ... you've had a skinful of beer and he don't want to play the game ...


... or ...... so ...... I've ...... heard ......

[Cole]

If that toilet was situated in London, it certainly wouldn't be see through now. It would have had several dozen kids use it who would have left their tags scratched into the glass, leaving it 'frosted'.

[tgpo]

Wonder how hot is it in that thing. Sitting outside in the sun all day, if someone forgets to flush, then I bet no one would use it.

Personally, as long as there is a lock on the door, I use it.

[ZAPPER]

When you got to go, you got to go! While I do prefer privacy, if it is a place designed for the purpose I will use it (as long as it is fairly clean and doesn't stink too bad) Even a shadow coming thru the glass wouldn't be too bad if it was a Pepto-bismol moment!

That thing looks nice compared to some of the crappers on job sites or in the wild. On some job sites, highrises mainly, the have a port a pot that is like half height and open from what would be half way up for a normal outhouse. And the urinal is moulded into the back outside of the unit. So a fellow could be squating on the inside and another fellow could walk up from behind and tinkel. (Very disturbing).

I have also seen crappers in the semi back woods that are just a seat over a hole, if you want privacy you put your rain poncho on.

Now the ones that are tuff to use are the hole in the floor that we call Turkish Toilets, a room with holes around the perimeter and no grab bars or privacy screens and usually not very sweet smelling.

[LSchafroth]

We have a Country bar here in Des Moines, Iowa that you stand at teh men's urinal and look out the one way mirror. The mirror is right where everyone sits on the high stools and lean on the wall.

Strange to be takign a leak and looking at a girl stare at your direction.

LS

[BJ_M]

...........................

I have also seen crappers in the semi back woods that are just a seat over a hole, if you want privacy you put your rain poncho on.

Now the ones that are tuff to use are the hole in the floor that we call Turkish Toilets, a room with holes around the perimeter and no grab bars or privacy screens and usually not very sweet smelling.

like many ive seen in china and asia -- just a trough in the floor in one big room ..

no water and no TP except a bucket full of used rags ...

[MackemX]

In Thailand I walked into the ladies by mistake as it was pitch black in this out of town bar and I nearly fell over

I couldn't see the little stone squat pots on the floor