Lord Foster claims architectural throne with designer toilet

Lord Foster, creator of the British Museum's Great Court, brings you his latest work. It is the latest architectural icon. It is lyrical in its lines, poetic in its symbolism. It is the architect-designed toilet.

Perhaps the controversy over his Millennium Bridge across the Thames, cruelly nicknamed "The Wobbly Bridge", has given Lord Foster the desire to concentrate on a more domestic line of architecture. Perhaps he just wanted his work to be a part of the nation's daily routine.

Whatever the reason, Norman Foster might have just created his most popular legacy and convinced doubters that architecture can be central to their lives.

His WC forms part of the new Foster Collection, a "stunning range of sanitary ware" which also features wash basins, taps and bidets. The range was premièred at a design fair in Frankfurt and has now gone on sale at CP Hart, a London bathroom store. A store spokesman said: "They have just gone on sale so we do not have any sales figures as yet, but we are expecting it to be the best-selling range ever. Because it's Lord Foster, everyone will want it."

It could also mean that the loo will for the first time become a focal point when showing guests around the house. "Ah, I see you have a Foster," might become their awed gasp. The Foster loo will cost you £542. It might seem a lot at first glance. But then who can be crass enough to worry about money when you are talking about a toilet which the official brochure describes thus: "The design ethos behind the range is that of two circles joined by straight lines ... symbolising the eternal bond between man and water."

Lord Foster describes his bathroom ware as having a "consistent geometry". He adds: "Bathroom suites normally consist only of the ceramic items ­ bath, shower unit, washbasin, toilet and bidet ­ requiring people to match taps, accessories and other bathroom furniture as best they can. The Foster practice has a holistic and integrated approach to the design of interiors and believes this separation to be artificial."

Who could resist being an integrated part of that eternal bond on a daily basis?