A new way of public space, where people gather around water. Toilet by Sou Fujimoto
26/03/2023.
[Shibuya - Tokyo] Japan
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
As part of 'The Tokyo Toilet' initiative, Sou Fujimoto has completed the design of a new restroom on Nishisando, in Shibuya, Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan, promoted by Shibuya Ward and The Nippon Foundation.
The project for "The Tokyo Toilet" began a few years ago shortly before the Olympics, initially scheduled for 2020 and finally held in 202. Given the foreseeable avalanche of visitors and recovering toilets as a symbol of the culture of hospitality in Japan, they considered the realization of public toilets in 17 places in the Shibuya neighbourhood with the help of 16 invited creators from all over the world.
Among the set of proposals are those made by well-known Japanese architects, including Amayadori by Tadao Ando in Jingu-Dori Park, Squid Toilet by Fumihiko Maki in Ebisu East Park, Transparent-opaque by Shigeru Ban in Yoyogi park, Toilet in Yoyogi -Hachiman shrine by Toyo Ito, among others.
The project for "The Tokyo Toilet" began a few years ago shortly before the Olympics, initially scheduled for 2020 and finally held in 202. Given the foreseeable avalanche of visitors and recovering toilets as a symbol of the culture of hospitality in Japan, they considered the realization of public toilets in 17 places in the Shibuya neighbourhood with the help of 16 invited creators from all over the world.
Among the set of proposals are those made by well-known Japanese architects, including Amayadori by Tadao Ando in Jingu-Dori Park, Squid Toilet by Fumihiko Maki in Ebisu East Park, Transparent-opaque by Shigeru Ban in Yoyogi park, Toilet in Yoyogi -Hachiman shrine by Toyo Ito, among others.
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by architecturephoto
sketch. Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto.
Sou Fujimoto designed the toilet inspired by the idea of a fountain, its organic shape develops an open-air scheme with smooth lines, allowing people of different ages and statuses to visit the area easily.
The design has a shape with a large recess in the center containing wash basins of various heights in one element, a small place where everyone from children to the elderly and all kinds of people can gather to wash their hands, drink water, and talk with each other.
The design has a shape with a large recess in the center containing wash basins of various heights in one element, a small place where everyone from children to the elderly and all kinds of people can gather to wash their hands, drink water, and talk with each other.
Toilet in Shibuya, Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto. Photgraph by Sou Fujimoto Architects.
"It is one vessel for everyone. It can be said that public toilets are a water source in the city, a fountain in urban life.
I would like to propose a new way of public space as a place where people gather around water.
We propose a hand washing space as a public water facility that is open not only to people who use the toilet but also to a variety of people with various purposes."
I would like to propose a new way of public space as a place where people gather around water.
We propose a hand washing space as a public water facility that is open not only to people who use the toilet but also to a variety of people with various purposes."
Sou Fujimoto
More information
Architects
Client
Shibuya Ward and The Nippon Foundation.
Builder
Daiwa House.
Area
Men's bathroom area.- 7.91m².
Women's bathroom area.- 5.64 m².
Barrier-free bathing area.- 4.81m².
Approach area.- 21.17 m².
Total area.- 39.53 m².
Women's bathroom area.- 5.64 m².
Barrier-free bathing area.- 4.81m².
Approach area.- 21.17 m².
Total area.- 39.53 m².
Fechas
2023.
Venue / Location
Nishisando, 3-27-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
SOU FUJIMOTO
Sou Fujimoto was born in Hokkaido, Japan on August 4, 1971. In 1994 he graduated in architecture at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo. He established his own architecture studio, the agency Sou Fujimoto Architects, in Tokyo in 2000, and since 2007 a professor at Kyoto University.
He was first noticed in 2005 when he won the prestigious AR – international Architectural Review Awards in the Young architect’s category, a prize that he garnered for three consecutive years, and the Top Prize in 2006.
In 2008, he was invited to jury these very AR Awards. The same year he won the JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) prize and the highest recognition from the World Architecture Festival, in the Private House section. In 2009, the magazine Wallpaper* accorded him their Design Award. Sou Fujimoto published “Primitive Future” in 2008, the year’s best-selling architectural text. His architectural design, consistently searching for new forms and spaces between nature and artifice.
Sou Fujimoto became the youngest architect to design the annual summer pavilion for London’s Serpentine Gallery in 2013, and has won several awards, notably a Golden Lion for the Japan Pavilion at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale and The Wall Street Journal Architecture Innovator Award in 2014.
Photographer: David Vintiner
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