A few years ago I was in the middle of a pub crawl, traveling west towards Covent Garden by bus. Given the nature of the crawl one won’t be surprised that I was in dire need of a piss. When the bus stopped, I charged towards a public toilet I knew to be just across from the base of the Waterloo Bridge. I had, however, been fooled. The long standing public toilet had been transformed into a fucking night club.

The absurdity of the transformation notwithstanding, the shift from utility to nighttime haunt in this space triggered in me a valuable question – where were public toilets headed? For a time I believed they were moving into Crate & Barrel stores. Then I was banned from each and every one of them on the Island of Manhattan. Apparently their urinals are not as public as thought.

In London, especially, the tradition of public toilets has migrated from a Victorian notion of civic need (to be fair, there are still a few of these) to the type of frightening stand alone box. Recently a series of architects were spurred by RIBA to rethink the public toilet. Some folks reacted to Victorian pride, others follow current “green” thinking. All are worth checking out. (via ArchDaily).

More toilet designs after the jump.

Who says Twitter is useless? If it weren’t for this professional time-wasting device, Style Salvage wouldn’t have been able to turn us onto this interview with Monocle founder Tyler Brûlé. Brûlé is, to say the least, a polarizing figure.

He’s a man who has one of the few thriving magazines in the downturn – but he’s also a man who thinks nothing of interviewing himself. The article doesn’t dig as deep as we’d like (are those sales figures worldwide or in the UK only?) but it is an entertaining read. Go read the full article here.

What’s the first thing you look for when you shop? Actually, don’t answer that – if you’re on this blog then you must have some appreciation of craft and quality. But for most, price is the most important factor in buying. Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture is a new book focusing on how the culture of low price goods has affected the economy.

Ellen Rupell Shell recalls how the idea came around, “The idea sprang from a trip to a shoe store. After being shown a pricey pair of Italian leather boots, Shell opted for Chinese imports at one-fourth the price. The boots, not surprisingly uncomfortable, were soon thrown in the closet “where they landed in a heap of other unwearable ‘good deals’… a bargain hunter’s pile of shame.” Read a review of the book at USA Today.

Available now from Amazon.

01. Le Corbusier’s Claude & Duval factory, France

“While Modernist architecture revelled in dreams of machine-living and functional industrial-like aesthetics, there are today only few examples of industrial Modernist typology still standing. One of the most important of them all, Le Corbusier’s Claude & Duval factory in St-Die-des-Vosges was built in 1952 and has been a working textile factory ever since. Claude & Duval produces today high fashion pieces for the likes of Balenciaga, Chanel, Celine and Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester, who owns her own Le Corbusier designed house in Antwerp.” (wallpaper)

02. Stat Icon Keys

“Nickel-plated and fitted for standard Kwikset locks, the company plans to expand its key types to include SC1 blanks, as well as others. The designs currently include chess pieces, animals and house icons, with more forms to come in the next few months.” (coolhunting)

03. Nature Factory / Suppose Design Office (above)

“Suppose Design Office has just shared with us their latest work for the Diesel Denim Gallery in Aoyama, Japan. While Makoto Tanijiri, the principle of Suppose, has designed over 60 residences (several of which we have featured previously on AD) his work also includes commercial and exhibition spaces. Tanijiri and Masaaki Takahashi, an independent writer and editor specializing in various fields of design and this exhibit’s curator” (archdaily)

04. Men Without Sports Knowledge/Skills Are Inadequate Human Beings

“‘Ad for a Canadian non-profit called KidSport, claims that a lack of knowledge about sports makes you (as a man) literally less skilled at life.’This is from Sociological Images, a blog I’ve been really enjoying lately.’” (murketing)

Cool Hunting’s Karen Day, informs us of a new undergarment line with eco-friendly tendencies. “Launching today, Pact makes wearing eco-friendly underwear all the more friendly. Partnering with famed industrial designer and futurist Yves Behar, the brand refashions how people perceive apparel in the 21st century by considering every aspect of bringing their product to market through a socially conscious lens, starting with the integration of a social aspect into the design itself.” A small portion of each unit sold goes to charity which is a fine way to give back.

Kornerd drops looks from their Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Fashoinisto has this to say on the collection. “Another day and another dark collection from down under. Fragile and somber, Kornerd approaches the season with soft layers in black and gray. As pants get slimmer if at all possible, tanks, waistcoats and sleeveless sweatshirts get longer, fitting in perfectly with the pace of trendy fashion.” (photos:fortomorrow)

More looks at the Kornerd Spring/Summer 2010 after the jump.

At 6800$US, the new Ernst Benz Chronoscopes for John Varvatos may be seen as recession splurging, but when you dip into the world of premium timepieces, you must think big. Each watch is based on vintage timepieces discovered by Varvatos. Strapping wise, you have the option to choose between crocodile or bison to finish off the simple black or grey faces. These watches are exclusive to the John Varvatos Store in New York City. (timezone)

Take a full look at the Ernst Benz Chronoscope for John Varvatos after the jump.

Liberty has stock on the new To Ki To for Barbour collection which includes a Liberty exclusive trench coat. “Barbour has teamed up with Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida to launch a new limited edition Beacon Heritage Range capsule collection for Autumn Winter 2009… he has taken Barbour’s distinctive style and added his own signature design to create a unique collection, which includes Bicycle, Horse Riding and Driving jackets…”

More looks from the To Ki To for Barbour Beacon Heritage Autumn/Winter 2009 after the jump.

Blaak Homme drops a pair of yellow painted denim jeans. “Slim fit jeans by Blaak Homme covered in yellow paint. The jeans have a 4-button fastening. They have two side pockets and two back pockets.” With the heat leaving a layer of sweat across New England, these are probably not the best choice for August, but come September, you’ll be fine. (farfetch)

More looks at the BLAAK HOMME Painted Denim Jeans after the jump.