Is this the world’s most incredible public bathroom?
Some believe it is, with publications hailing it a ‘lavatory experience like no other’ and a ‘palatial sanctuary’. And – after scrolling through the pictures of it below – you can have your say in our poll at the end.
The deluxe bathroom is tucked away on the sixth floor of the Deji Plaza shopping centre in Nanjing, eastern China.
From a lavish hallway with a flower-speckled fountain to wallpapered walls embellished with Champagne-gold grilles, let alone being incongruous with the concept of a public bathroom, its design could even be deemed excessive in a five-star hotel.
Other standout features include a decadent dressing area with vanity mirrors fit for a film star and a voguish seating area, furnished with velvet-esque sofas and a striking accent chair.
Its plump cushions, displaying delicate tones of blush pink, mauve and orange, help to fashion a welcoming oasis where shoppers can flop down and rest in style, despite loo proximity.
Visitors can also admire the glossy black-and-white flooring, the sprawling plants and even the bathroom ceiling, which is gilded with bee-like gold ornaments.
The architecture firm behind the design, Shanghai-based X+Living, said the bathroom has become so popular that tourists are flocking to the shopping centre, just to see it.
Brand director Cecilia Huang told MailOnline Travel: ‘Many people specifically come to the mall to visit, take photos, and share them on social media, making it a phenomenal tourist attraction.
‘The high level of discussion has also attracted attention from some top-tier brands, such as Jo Malone, Maison Margiela and Burberry.’
X+Living was initially tasked with designing ‘a simple washroom upgrade’.
Cecilia said: ‘The client wanted to upgrade and renovate the space and configuration to match the luxury positioning of the Deji Plaza mall.’
What followed, however, was the firm’s more ambitious idea to create a ‘functional public space’ that ‘combines art appreciation and leisure experience’, she explained.
Shoppers are welcomed into the facilities via a long corridor that breaks out into three separate areas, comprising the ‘art experience hall’, the ‘rest area’ and the ‘washroom’, Cecilia said.
‘Furniture, washbasins, and other functional items were designed to be like art installations,’ she added.
The green wallpaper and curved grilles together with the greenery create a ‘vibrant atmosphere with an insect-inspired structure’.
Natural wood veneer in the toilet area, meanwhile, is designed to complement the Champagne-gold ‘artistic grilles’ and the fountain’s splayed flowers, creating an ‘elegant and fresh’ style based on the concept of a ‘Sanctuary Garden’.
It’s no wonder the bathroom is getting lots of praise.
Business Insider said the ‘fancy washroom’ is ‘like a whimsical garden straight out of a fairytale’ and a ‘lavatory experience like no other’.
While Architectural Digest said it ‘transports weary shoppers into a palatial sanctuary packed with plant life’, with strip lighting around the ceiling also helping to create a ‘soothing atmosphere’.
Functionality was not forgotten – in addition to regular bathroom plumbing, there is also a nursing room, an accessible toilet and a parent-child room.