Shadows of a Forgotten World

In Vienna one can still find the covers to WWII civilian bomb shelters. Originally I thought these metal grates were either storm drains or vaults lights with missing glass, but I discovered that in fact they were covers for ventilation shafts and emergency exits. Across the territory of Nazi Germany basements in cities were designated as bomb shelters and sometimes ventilation shafts and emergency exits were built from them and covered by special covers. On the outer walls of these buildings "LSR" was painted in white along with an arrow pointing to the entrance. Emergency exits were marked with arrows and the letters "NA" ( examples of which can be found even in Lviv ). The air-raid covers that I found were made by a company called Mannesmanm.  "Luftschutz" means air-raid. 

I feel pretty confident that this unassuming little bump inside a building in the Pidzamche neighborhood of Lviv is in fact a "pee bump" (urine deflector) to prevent people from peeing in the corner. It's the first example I've seen of one located inside, but I can't think of any other function it could serve.

Anti-toilets or urine deflectors were placed in a city's building corners to prevent people from urinating on the street. Such a solution to urban hygiene has been used for centuries, as, for example, can be seen in ancient Venice. Here pissottas ("pee bumps") were installed as can be seen  here  and here . If one tries to urinate, they will be showered with their own pee. In Victorial London urine deflectors were installed, examples of which can be seen here . More examples from both Venice and London here . These still serve a purpose, though I think most people don't know what they are. Having read about "anti-toilets" before, as soon as I saw these metal barriers in Vienna and Klosterneuburg I knew what purpose they served. In Vienna and Klosterneuburg the anti-toilets are not deflectors but rather metal barriers that prevent people from standing in corners. Thus they also prevent people from loitering. Vienna  Klosterneuburg ...

Boot Scrapers Conscriptions Numbers Guard Stones Various

Traces of the past in Klosterneuburg, an ancient town right outside of Vienna. Boot Scraper Guard Stones  Hoist for Lifting Goods  Building Number and Conscription Number  Metal Shutter  Erbaut 1910 (Built in 1910)  Building Year (1876) and Conscription Number (286) 1339 - year the building was built? If so, super old!