Originally scheduled to open in time for Euro 2012, a new toilet in the vicinity of Warsaw’s National Stadium has incensed locals after it was revealed the city has spent zł. 4.6 million on the facility – nearly four times over the original budget. Constructed from Siberian larch, the slick modernist structure has sparked outrage after costs were allowed to spiral out of control. The location, close to the Wisła river, has been partially blamed for the overspend. “The foundations had to be very deep,” excused Marek Piwowarski, a spokesman for City Hall, “the Saska Kępa area marks the old river corridor of the Wisła, so this all added to the cost.” Additionally, the building has been designed so the ground floor can be dismantled and the stairs raised in the event of a flood. 

Hidden in a single enclosure, the project is slated to contain two sections independent of each other: a toilet and changing area, which will also rent out sun loungers in season, and a second pavilion containing a café. But having already batted away criticism after spending zł. 64,000 repairing the rainbow installation on pl. Zbawiciela (which was then promptly torched during Independence Day riots, just a week after completion), officials remain unrepentant. “If you ask me,” commented Piwowarski, “taking everything into consideration I’d say it’s well worth the money.” Due to finally open in spring, a tender process has now been launched to lease the vacant space to a café. Let’s hope it’s not a dump.  (AW)