Why do we have so few public toilets in UK cities? It’s hard to think of two more fundamental social needs than a) not being forced to relieve yourself on the street and b) not having other people relieve themselves on the street – yet the public toilet is an ignored and vanishing public amenity. The British Toilet Association reports that 40% of public toilets have closed since 2000 – Victorian facilities in particular attract developers, not least because their dignified buildings endure: solidly built, centrally located and still embedded in the daily flow of the city. When maintenance costs are high and councils are struggling, it is easy to convert a sturdy urinal into a fancy bar or flower shop that brings in rent.

Against this backdrop, a new wave of architects has begun to emerge who are reframing the problem and bringing new expression to the building type. They are supported by innovative councils and, sometimes, government grants. This may mark the start of a trend, driven by a convergence of conditions: growing public attention to access, the clear scarcity of toilet provision and a renewed sense of purpose within local authorities. These architects are emphasising not only public toilets’ necessity, but also the potential for public luxury.

Some remarkable examples are in London. As director of Studio Weave, I’ve overseen two new public toilet buildings in the past year – one in Woolwich and one in Maida Hill – funded by the boroughs of Greenwich and Westminster respectively. Both projects were championed by forward-thinking........

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