Why are transparent public toilets a genius solution for the Japanese?

Around the world, public toilets are not very clean. In Japan, where hygiene standards are higher than in the rest of the world, people often fear that public toilets will be dark, dirty, smelly and scary.

To address this problem, the non-profit organization The Nippon Foundation has launched "The Tokyo Toilet Project", bringing together 16 famous architects from across Japan. They will be tasked with renovating 17 public toilets in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's busiest commercial areas.

The program's goal is to create a public toilet model that everyone can use, regardless of gender, age... Up to now, the most outstanding design is the public toilet model with transparent glass walls by architect Shigeru Ban.

Shigeru Ban is a famous architect who won the prestigious Pritzker Prize. Currently, his toilet model has been deployed at Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park and Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park.

Both Shigeru Ban toilet units feature three compartments, surrounded by transparent glass walls in cyan, lime green, blue, yellow, pink or purple. The transparent design will make it easy for people to check the condition inside the toilet before entering.

“There are two main concerns with public toilets, especially those located in parks,” The Nippon Foundation shares. “First, Japanese people are afraid that the inside of public toilets is not clean, and second, they are afraid that bad guys are lurking inside.”

Shigeru Ban’s transparent glass wall design solves both problems. Of course, the glass walls turn opaque when the doors are locked from the inside. And at night, they glow like beautiful lanterns.

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