Sat, 29 Mar 2025

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 'My house used to be a disgusting public toilet block'

Public conveniences have become houses, a theatre, shops and bars across the country.
A former public toilet in Sheffield is up for sale on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of £70,000, sparking memories of similar conversions around the UK. In London, architect Laura Jane Clark transformed an abandoned underground restroom into her home after years of fighting to keep it from being demolished. She said: "I wanted to live under here and the council eventually agreed." Clark's experience is not unique - Janet Martin, a 70-year-old former nurse, turned a derelict toilet block in Crystal Palace into a performance space in honour of her late aunt. The venue, Phyllis Maud Performance Space, now hosts 35-seat events. Public toilet conversions have become increasingly trendy and popular in recent years, with some being repurposed as galleries, breweries, and even homes. Amjid Hafiz, owner of Latte Caffe on Abbeydale Road in Sheffield, said: "The history of the building is a positive thing" - his shop was originally built as a toilet. Clark believes that renovations need to be done carefully to preserve the character of these unique spaces, but also notes that any regeneration is good regeneration. The future of the £70,000 "townhouse" up for sale remains unwritten.
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