Classy public toilets kept closed

Classy public toilets opened in Valletta on Tuesday after speeches by a Parliamentary Secretary and a former University Rector have been closed since - but are due to reopen later today.

Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli said the public convenience in Strait Street was kept closed because some plaster works had to be redone.The issue has since been resolved.

The public convenience, while retaining its function, has been turned into a design piece.

The exterior grey walls now contrast with red apertures. The large window on the façade contains five lists of words, one for each window pane, starting with the letter V - inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel featuring Strait Street.

The same colours are maintained inside with different tonalities. And to make the space look larger, highly polished reflective surfaces have been used on a wall separating an exhibition space from the toilets.

The inside is presently dominated by a rectangular neon light work positioned diagonally against a highly-polished steel wall with a recording of a barmaid in conversation. The work symbolises the street's former spontaneous nightlife, renowned for its bars, popular dance halls and thriving prostitutes

Instead of the usual mirrors there are playful curtain shaped mirrors reminiscent of the cabaret shows.

There are small screens on the walls projecting advertisments.

The renovation design was made by Chris Briffa Architects. Visual Artist Norbert Attard was responsible for the audio-visual installation.

The red carpet reopening of the public toilets was made by Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said. Former Rector Rev. Prof Peter Serracino Inglott spoke of how he remembered Strait Street and the relation of Thomas Pynchon's novel to this event. He also delivered an appreciation about Norbert Attard's work.