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Architecture

Men's lavatory transformed into an underground cafe

By Bridget Borgobello
March 12, 2013
Men's lavatory transformed into an underground cafe
London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block in London into a cafe
London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block in London into a cafe
View 9 Images
London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block in London into a cafe
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London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block in London into a cafe
The urinals have been polished up and converted into bench style seating
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The urinals have been polished up and converted into bench style seating
The team even went to the lengths of restoring many of the toilet’s original features including the 1890s Doulton & Co. urinals
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The team even went to the lengths of restoring many of the toilet’s original features including the 1890s Doulton & Co. urinals
“The Attendant” cafe is located in Fitzrovia, London
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“The Attendant” cafe is located in Fitzrovia, London
Orignal attendant office door which now leads into the small kitchen
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Orignal attendant office door which now leads into the small kitchen
London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block into a chic London cafe
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London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russel have transformed an abandoned public toilet block into a chic London cafe
This was the original battered stairwell- now thankfully transformed!
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This was the original battered stairwell- now thankfully transformed!
Original Doulton & Paisley urinals made in Lambeth around 1890
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Original Doulton & Paisley urinals made in Lambeth around 1890
The Attendant before it's clean and restoration
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The Attendant before it's clean and restoration
View gallery - 9 images

We’re definitely fans of recycling here at Gizmag, but The Attendant is recycling in a way we've rarely seen – and might not want to see again. When London residents Pete Tomlinson and Ben Russell saw a "For Rent" sign outside a disused underground Victorian restroom, they were for some reason inspired to transform the space into a chic urban coffee shop.

No doubt after an intense industrial strength plus clean, the pair started work on the café and even went to the lengths of restoring many of the toilet’s original features, including the tiled walls, flooring and 1890s Doulton & Paisley urinals. The urinals have been polished up and converted into bench style seating for local patrons. While the remodel is quite innovative, we’d hesitate before ordering any cakes.

Suitably named “The Attendant,” the café opened last month and curious (or should I say courageous) Londoners can find it located underground on Foley Street in Fitzrovia.

Source: The Attendant via PSFK

View gallery - 9 images

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ArchitectureCoffeeUrinalsLondonToilet
9 comments
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget is an experienced architecture, travel and design writer who has been contributing to New Atlas since 2010. Based between Melbourne and Rome, she and has a keen eye for innovative design, green technology and space saving solutions. Bridget is fluent in Italian and enjoys covering major events in Italy, including the Milan Design Week and Venice Biennale.

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9 comments
Tiainen Arttu
This is definitely the classiest example of this re-purposing of lavatories, but there is for some reason at least three bars/pubs made in old restrooms in Finland. One of them is even a karaoke bar.
Jens Kristianson
Great idea! However, I would feel a bit queasy to drink or eat anything in an old lavatory. Of course it has been perfectly cleaned, but still the thought of it.
EddieG
"But My Lord, we heard you were the highest peer in the land!"
Buellrider
If you had a few to many then you could really get pissed in one of these places.
Marco Corona
The cafe looks sleek and clean. But, I can't figure out the purpose of the slit in the middle of the seat of the bar stools. (Maybe I don't want to know, lol). :-D
Expanded Viewpoint
Good grief! As soon as I saw the headline, (no pun intended there!), I immediately thought of the premise of the movie The Producers. Try to find something that will most likely fail, and then abscond with the investor's money when it does. Maybe it will make a profit, maybe it won't. It's just a risk like most anything else in life.
Randy
Bob Flint
What a missed opportunity to be able to drink, and not have to get up and leave, to go for a wiz.
Run supply lines overhead, splitting off to each stall, swipe your card, make a selection, position mouth under dispenser, or optional sterile mouth piece, and enjoy the game played on your personal monitor. Once it needs to get out, discreetly open fly, and recycle. Auto flush takes care of the rest while you refill, not to miss a thing.
Gregg Eshelman
Bob Flint, you've just described The Matrix. ;)
Fred Borman
Don't order the urinal cake.