In the streets of Hamburg, Germany, a new form of urban deterrent is turning public urination into an instant lesson in cause and effect. Known as “anti-pee paint,” this specialized nano-coating creates a superhydrophobic surface, repelling liquids so completely that anything touching it slides off with remarkable force. The result? Anyone attempting to relieve themselves on a treated wall experiences an immediate and unforgettable splash-back. The technology borrows from nature, mimicking the microscopic structure of a lotus leaf. Tiny ridges and air pockets prevent any liquid from adhering, meaning walls remain clean while offenders get an eye-opening consequence — all without the need for confrontation, fines, or patrols. It’s an ingenious blend of physics and human psychology: the paint doesn’t punish with authority, it punishes with instant feedback. First popularized in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district in 2015, this approach has since been trialed in other cities like London and San Francisco. While the coating is costly, city authorities note significant savings on cleaning and maintenance, and a marked decrease in repeat offenses. Beyond hygiene, it’s a striking example of how urban design and material science can work together to shape behavior. For engineers, urban planners, and city residents, anti-pee paint is both a marvel of nano-engineering and a lesson in poetic justice. The streets stay cleaner, the message is immediate, and the offender leaves with a story they won’t soon forget.
I’d argue that keeping piss off of walls is making the world a better place, no? Especially in a high traffic area in dense European cities, the smell can be quite strong
Couldn’t they just… have some (more) public toilets, or have any existing public toilets open for more hours?
In my unsubstantiated opinion, those who pee on walls don’t bother looking for a public toilet.
As a person with an irritable bladder. 90%+ of the time a public washroom or easily accessible washroom would be preferred and would stop me from peeing on random shit.
But you do know that you can just not piss up against a wall, and just piss on the ground… right? Or better yet, make a game of it, and piss on the wall at different angles. You and your mates playing piss wars against the wall and trying to avoid each other splashback would be of interest to a lot of pissheads on the way home after finishing the kabab.