The Tokyo Toilet Project essentially aimed to redesign 17 public toilets in Tokyo’s Shibuya district with the help of 16 creators from around the world. It was commissioned by The Nippon Foundation. The project emerged to showcase Japan’s cleanliness and hospitality culture through public restrooms. Each of these facilities has unique designs. They are all well-kept and clean. Some of the architects who worked on The Tokyo Toilet project were the world-renowned Kengo Kuma and Tadao Ando. However, the Oscar-nominated movie Perfect Days which follows the daily life of a local janitor who cleans these public restrooms in Shibuya brought real fame to this project.
Here are some of the facilities of the project:
A Walk in the Woods by Kengo Kuma
This toilet is located in the Nabeshima Shoto Park and was designed by Kengo Kuma. The toilet is split into five different huts that were created to accommodate different needs (dressing, wheelchair, etc.) and are blended into nature with its design.
The Toilet in Higashi Sanchome by Nao Tamura
Origata, a traditional gift-wrapping method, inspired Nao Tamura in the design of the project. The bright red public toilet is separated into men’s, women’s, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. In Japanese culture, the color red drives away evil spirits and protects people from harm, which creates the safe space that Nao Tamura had envisioned.
The Toilet in Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park by Shigeru Ban
Shigeru Ban’s toilet has a transparent design to enable those approaching to check whether someone is inside. However, when occupied, the tinted walls become opaque for privacy. The walls are in soft orange, pink, and purple colors, and the toilet lights up at night. Shigeru Ban designed another toilet for the project as well.
Andon by Takenosuke Sakakura
Andon Toilet is located in the Nishihara Itchome Park and is named after the Japanese word for ”lantern”. There are three unisex toilets inside the facility and the walls glow after dark.
The Toilet in Hiroo Higashi Park by Tomohito Ushiro
Tomohito Ushiro, while creating a public space wanted to create a public art as well. The toilet lights up in 7,9 billion ways which represents the world’s population and symbolizes our differences. Tomohito Ushiro says that one will never see the same pattern of light twice on the toilet.
