Toilets with transparent walls installed in busy park
One country has come up with a genius design for public toilets in a busy park, by eliminating two of the biggest concerns people have with public bathrooms.
The Nippon Foundation is building 17 public toilets across Shibuya, Tokyo, as part of The Tokyo Toilet project, which aims to create restrooms which can be used by everyone.
The 17 public toilets will be renovated by the Nippon Foundation in collaboration with Shibuya City and 16 “leading creators” will enhance the design of the exisiting public toilets to make them accessible for everyone -”regardless of gender, age, or disability, to demonstrate the possibilities of an inclusive society”.
One creator’s innovative design has captured attention worldwide.
Award-winning architect Shigeru Ban has come up with a completely transparent design, but when the door is locked, the exterior walls turn opaque, giving the person inside complete privacy.
The toilets are also to light up of a night time, doubling as art to look like a lantern.
The design addresses two major concerns almost everyone has with public toilets.
“There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those located at a park,” The Tokyo Toilet’s page on Shigeru Ban says.
“The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside.”
The transparent exterior will allow users to check on both issues.
Japan is already hailed as one of the cleanest countries, however the revamp is to dispel the negative stereotypes which are associated with public bathrooms, which The Nippon Foundation says limits the use of public toilets in the country.
“In addition to the construction, we have arranged for ongoing maintenance so that people will feel comfortable using these public toilets and to foster a spirit of hospitality for the next person,” The Nippon Foundation said.
Mr Ban has designed two lots of public bathrooms - at Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park - and both have been operational since August 5.
The project is set to be complete by 2021 and strives to embrace the uniqueness of each facility.
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