In Japan, the first public toilets made of glass were installed. These hi-tech bathrooms have been designed by sixteen designers and architectural firms from around the world and are part of the new Tokyo Toilet project, founded by the Nippon Foundation, a private non-profit charity that focuses on social innovation. . The first bathrooms of this type to have opened are those located in the Tomigaya and Yoyogi parks located in Shibuya, one of the most famous districts of Tokyo and were designed by the architect Shigeru Ban.
The walls are transparent when the bathrooms are free and opaque when occupied: it is no longer necessary to knock on the door to understand if someone is inside. The opaque ensures complete privacy that “vanishes” as soon as the lock is opened. “This allows users to always check if someone is already using the bathroom, without having to enter. Then at night the structure lights up the park like a beautiful lantern ”, explains the architect.
If the walls are transparent, users will be more likely to leave the bathroom clean and in good condition: “Japan is known as one of the cleanest countries in the world. Our public toilets also have a higher standard of hygiene than the rest of the world. However, the use of public restrooms is limited due to stereotypes that they can be dirty or smelly. To dispel these misconceptions, the Nippon Foundation has decided to renovate Shibuya's public toilets. In addition to the construction, we have arranged for continuous maintenance and cleaning so that people feel comfortable using these public toilets and to promote a spirit of hospitality for the next person ».
In the first week of opening, the bathrooms were invaded by a constant flow of visitors.
Another twelve new transparent public toilets will arrive between August 31 and the summer of 2021.
