Posh public powder rooms

Swiss authorities are bringing Geneva's public conveniences up to scratch at a cost of $13 million for just 35 new toilets, Swiss daily Le Matin reported Tuesday.

Each sparking new facility is designed by a different architect at a cost of $313,000 — about the same as a 1-bedroom, city center apartment. Three of the toilets have already been installed. "Inside they are functional and equipped to a high sanitary standard," the city council said on its Web site. "On the outside, each public toilet is different and adapted to its surroundings."

Patrons will be charged 50 centimes (US$0.42; euro 0.32) for each visit to a self-cleaning toilet, which is accompanied by music. But councilor Alain Dupraz said the construction costs were justified, telling Le Matin: "Some (older) toilets are vile and revolting."