The renovated public toilets in Strait Street, Valletta, are proving to be quite an attraction with 600 people visiting yesterday, the day they were first open to the public.

Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli said the people who visited came from all walks of life and they did not seem to mind paying the 30c fee to use the toilet and view the exhibition.

Attendance today is also flowing with some people expressing amazement at the work of art.

While retaining its function, the toilets have been turned into a design piece offering exhibition space.

The red apertures are providing contrast to the exterior grey walls and 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. To make the space look larger, highly polished reflective surfaces have been used on a wall separating the 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.