The transparent public restrooms of Pritker award-winning architect Shigeru Ban will be up and running when in use.
At first it is difficult to understand how a public toilet with transparent walls can possibly help to create fears of toilet – but a counterproductive design by one of Japan’s most innovative architects aims to do just that. .
All over the world, public restrooms are getting a riot. Even in Japan, where toilets have a higher standard of hygiene than in much of the rest of the world, residents have a fear that public toilets are dark, dirty, smelly and scared.
To cure public phobia, the non-profit Nippon Foundation launched “The Tokyo Toilet Project”, with the task of renovating 16 renowned architects in 17 public toilets in the public parks of Shibuya, one of the busiest commercial areas of Tokyo.
The mission was to implement innovative design to make public bathrooms accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age or disability, with the aim “that people will feel comfortable using these public toilets and a spirit of hospitality for the to promote the next person, “according to a statement from the Nippon Foundation.
So far, the most discussed design comes from Pritzker award-winning architect Shigeru Ban, whose transparent toilets appeared this month in Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park and the Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park.
The two units each have three cubicles, which are surrounded by transparent tinted glass in cyan, lime green, blue, yellow, pink or purple. The transparency design has a practical reason, which is to easily check a person inside before entering.
“There are two concerns about public restrooms, especially those in parks,” explains The Nippon Foundation, the non-profit organization. “The first is whether it’s clean inside, and the second is that no one is secretly waiting in line.”
The design relies on a new smartglass technology that turns the walls upside down when the door is locked. “At night, they light up the parks like a beautiful lantern,” according to The Nippon Foundation.
Along with the two facilities designed by Ban, “The Tokyo Toilet Project” has also opened three other public restrooms, created by interior designer Masamichi Katayama in Ebisu Park; Pritzker winner Fumihiko Maki at Ebisu East Park; and New York-based furniture designer Nao Tamura at Ebisu Station.
In the coming weeks, restrooms of architect Takenosuke Sakakura in Nishihara Itchome Park and Tadao Ando, yet another Pritzker Prize winner, will open in Jingu-Dori Park. The rest of the project’s renovations are expected to open in the spring of 2021.
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