THE TOKYO TOILET

Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park

1-54-1 Tomigaya

Photo by Satoshi Nagare

Glass Wall Defects

Accessible facility
Women
Men
Priority facilities for elderly people
Priority for expecting mothers
Baby care room
Priority for those with small children
Children’s toilet
Facilities for ostomy
Care bed
Baby chair
Changing board

Shigeru Ban

Architect

There are two things we worry about when entering a public toilet, especially those located at a park. The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside. Using the latest technology, the exterior glass turns opaque when locked. This allows users to check the cleanliness and whether anyone is using the toilet from the outside. At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern.

Architect, born in 1957 in Tokyo, Japan. Established Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985. Founded the NGO Voluntary Architects Network (VAN, now an NPO) in 1995. Besides designing houses and museums, Ban is also involved in disaster relief activities. Recipient of numerous awards including the Pritzker Prize (2014), the Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2014), and the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice (2017).

Glass exterior reveals the facility is empty, making it safe for use at night
The glass becomes opaque when locked
Toilet when the glass is transparent (front view)
The glass becomes opaque when locked
View from the street
Exterior (day)
View from the street
View from inside the multipurpose toilet
The color matches the playground equipment
Toilet when the glass is transparent (side view)
Braille blocks leading to the multipurpose toilet
Multipurpose toilet
Women's toilet
Men's toilet

Public toilets must stand the test of time. In addition to our focus on designing impressive facilities, we at THE TOKYO TOILET believe that providing a comfortable user experience through cleaning and maintenance is equally important. The Nippon Foundation, the Shibuya City Government and the Shibuya Tourism Association will work together to maintain these facilities. We will also work with professional toilet inspectors to periodically survey the toilets to ensure we are providing the best user experience.

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