Where did all the public bathrooms go?
This article explores the history of public urinals in 19th-century Paris, detailing their evolution from functional public health solutions to architectural landmarks. It contrasts the historical necessity of these structures with the modern lack of accessible public restrooms.
Why it matters
The decline of public infrastructure like restrooms reflects broader shifts in urban planning and the prioritization of public health versus aesthetic or commercial concerns.
Here’s a pop quiz for you: What purpose did this little kiosk serve?
It’s quite a pretty little building—note the delicate grilles, the ornately etched glass, and the little bouquet of metal flowers bursting from the roof.
But of course, there is one key clue missing from the photograph: the smell. Or rather, the stench . This was one of Paris’s infamous public urinals—a pissoir (or vespasienne , if you’re inclined to be polite).
There was a moment around the mid-1800s in Paris when public urination began to be treated as a public health issue. A series of devastating cholera outbreaks led people to begin regarding human waste as a danger rather than a mere nuisance. Something had to be done.
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