The Toilet House, Suwon, South Korea

We don't stop amazing at the world architectural wonders but the idea of such a bizarre house, of course, came only into Mr. Sim Jae-duck's mind who rebuilt his house in 2007, where he had already spent 30 years, into "Toilet House". He was the chairman and founder of the World Toilet Association, and to spread more widely the awareness about the importance of Toilet hygiene and sanitation he built this two storey house. This led to his nickname Mr. Toilet. His campaign focused on setting international standards for clean public toilets and treating restrooms as sanctuaries that protects human health. Sim stated, that epidemics caused by poor sanitation around the world cost two million lives a year.

The Toilet-Shaped house is located in Suwon, 40km south of Seoul and was named Haewoojae, which signifies in Korean "a place of sanctuary where one can solve one's worries". The steel, white concrete and glass house, with a symbolic bowl-like opening in the roof, involves two bedrooms, two guestrooms, and three deluxe lavatories.

Mr. Sim Jae-duck was born in a toilet (because his mother believed that people born in restroom will enjoy long lives), and die in this one in 2009. According to his will, the house was transferred to the possession of municipal government of Suwon and was turned into a museum. Here you can find biographical facts about Mr. Toilet, detailed information about the house and founding and development of the World Toilet Association.

By Lilit Khalatyan, www.building.am

Photos: www.koreabridge.net