November 19 is world toilet day. The best public toilets in the world include those with see-through walls, Norwegian amenities with magnificient fjord views and strange-looking toilets on the Wellington waterfront where the toilets have long necks and tails with amazing architecture…

Toilet with a view

Top of the heap are amenities with a view to die for, on the edge of a cliff overlooking one of Norway’s largest fjords.

Transparent toilets

Stegastein toilet with see-through walls, Quartier du Flon, Lausanne. Designer Olivier Rambert from Oloom included a safety feature to raise the alarm if the person inside the toilet doesn’t move for 10 minutes, the door opens and the walls become transparent again.

Peeing in/for nature

These hay bales have a funnel design. When combined with hay bails they turn to compost within six months. Great four festivals, but not so practical for women.

Retractable urinals in London and Amsterdam

These urinals only pop up when you need them and sink out of sight during day time.

Glowing toilets at Wembley

In the middle of a newly landscaped and pedestrianised area in Wembley, London, the Gort Scott-designed facility is more than 5 metres tall. While the base is concrete, above head height the structure is a filigree, shiny metal screen, maintaining privacy but allowing in light and ventilation.

Wooden beams

The Tokinokura lavatories in Chikusei city, Japan have toilets slotted between two buildings of historic value north of Tokyo. The beams support a roof with a steep gradient as triangular windows allow light to flood in.

Rolling Stones Urinals

Urinals inspired by the Rolling Stones lips and tongue logo are seen in a bar in Paris.

Exhibitionists toilets

A one-way mirror is seen above the urinal at Streeter’s Tavern in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Customers using the the bathroom can see into the main area of the bar, but cannot be seen by the people at the bar.

WORST TOILETS

On the other end of the spectrum there are countries around the world that lack adequate toilets. South Sudan in particular has a sanitation crisis as 93% of the population lacks access to adequate latrines.