250000 euros for a toilet for influencers.

It's hard to predict what will appeal to tourists. Sometimes it's exceptionally beautiful landscapes, sometimes works of art or architectural wonders. However, it may happen that the most visited place by travelers turns out to be... a shed located off the beaten path. And it is precisely because of this that the authorities of the Australian city of Perth decided to spend over a million zlotys on a public toilet.

For the needs of sightseeing

Crawley Edge Boatshed, also known as the wooden boat shed built in the 1930s, located on the banks of the Swan River, owes its extraordinary popularity mainly to Instagram users. After many years of gradual deterioration, which almost led to the demolition of this small building, its renovation began in 2001. As a result, not only was the pier leading to it renovated, but the previously brown facade was also repainted in an intense blue color. It quickly turned out to be a bull's eye, and the secluded and not particularly suitable for visits by large groups of people shed began to gain more and more popularity among selfie lovers, becoming the most photographed place in the city, which hosts over 3.5 million tourists every year. Today, the hashtag #blueboathouse allows you to find thousands of photos of the small blue building, and some of them can even reach an impressive number of 55,000 likes.

Where the Instagrammer walks on foot

Unfortunately, although the boatshed located on the water undoubtedly looks truly exceptional, it causes a lot of trouble for the city authorities. The main issue is caused by the fact that the Crawley Edge Boatshed is not only further from the center of Perth than most local attractions, but also in a place where it is difficult to provide any infrastructure - including parking. As a result, tourists wanting to take a photo are forced not only to leave their cars on the streets of the nearby neighborhood, but also to make their way to the chosen spot by crossing Bay Road, one of the busiest streets in the city, which, with cars speeding by, is definitely not the most pleasant experience.

In such conditions, there is even more desire to take a break and look for a place to refresh, but so far the closest facility of this type was a restaurant located over 1.5 kilometers away. Taking into account that the nearest public toilet is 2.5 kilometers away, and the high interest in bathrooms makes it difficult for actual customers of the restaurant located by the river to use the restroom, which in turn leads to conflicts between its owner and tourists, the toilet crisis has become increasingly serious year by year. The authorities of the Australian city have finally decided to do something about it and have allocated 400,000 Australian dollars - equivalent to over one million Polish zlotys - for the construction of a public restroom that will meet the needs of crowds of influencers.

A Postcard from the Bathroom

With high hopes for a steady increase in the number of tourists visiting the city, especially from Asia, known for its numerous museums and international art festival, Perth not only spares no expense in building appropriate sanitary infrastructure, but also considers it an extremely important element of the facilities created for visitors. Therefore, as acknowledged by experts in digital marketing and social media, allocating hundreds of thousands of dollars for a public bathroom that meets all the essential needs of lovers of beautiful photos is fully justified, and even recommended. A toilet dedicated to such a recognizable and iconic place in the city, is undoubtedly a destination for many visitors to Crawley Edge Boatshed, and based on it, they can form an opinion about the overall hygiene and cleanliness of the city. Its task is not only to fulfill the usual role of a restroom, but also to demonstrate how much the Australian city cares about tourists, what values it follows, and what it strives for as part of its development policy.

So what solution was chosen? The authorities decided that the toilet, which had to deal with a high traffic volume, should not only be practical, but also aesthetically pleasing and efficient. The approved design is a solar-powered toilet, using renewable energy, built with sandstone, galvanized steel, and ochre-colored concrete. Thanks to the use of these materials, it blends in perfectly with its designated location, becoming a fully integrated standalone building that doesn't impose itself, but is also easy to find and offers the comfort and sense of peace needed by anyone who may feel lost in the frenzy of exploring a new place.

Relief for Everyone

A well-equipped public toilet, although often underestimated, is an extremely important element of urban infrastructure, especially in tourist and recreational areas. It allows visitors to see that their needs are taken care of and that there is a high level of hygiene in the areas they visit, as well as relieving restaurateurs and owners of other commercial establishments, who do not have to worry about disproportionately high traffic and consumption of supplies in their own public restrooms for customers. Preparing a comprehensive set of accessories, such as soap dispensers, toilet paper holders, and disposable hand towel dispensers, for the restroom, does not have to be a difficult task.Amounts reaching hundreds of thousands of Polish zlotys, and by purchasing the appropriate product sets, you can cheaply and well prepare a toilet that will make a good impression on visitors.

Ryszard Kurek