Hunker in the bunker

Cultures always vary in surprising ways. That's one of the reasons we started this blog: to track those variances in a way which both entertains and edifies. And so we've looked at transportation, security, boobs--I mean advertising, chairs, dancing meatballs, and Santa Claus. Heck, we've even looked at thermodynamics. But there's one place we haven't taken you yet, and that's to la toilette.

Now, don't worry. I just want to show you the outside of a Swedish public toilette, because it's rather a funny design. In Scandinavia (not just Sweden--we've seen this same design in Estonia, too), you design public toilettes basically by crossing a circa 1950s US-government-recommended backyard fallout shelter...

Um, excuse me. I'm trying to wait out a nuclear attack, here. Sheesh!

...with the Musée D'Orsay.

Because barrel vaults and half-moon windows obviously reflect good taste.

At the business end of our Swedish architectural sausage machine, we get this:

A tasteful place to answer nature's call during a nuclear attack.

But I really shouldn't pick too much on Sweden. After all, it's not like this is the most unusual toilette in the world or anything. (Don't take my word for it--click the link and see for yourself...) And let's face it, toilettes are pretty funny no matter how you design them.