Open and Close, Heaviness and Floating, Light and Dark
At first glance, the public facilities at Sendagaya Station give the impression that a heavy piece of concrete is floating in the air.
Positioned between the metropolitan expressway and subway station, the facilities were installed to meet the needs of an influx of visitors to the area for the Japan Olympics, as well as contributing to the future infrastructure of the city.
The architects began by reconsidering the function and usage of the conventional “public toilet” and seeking to improve on the impressions left by such places.
In the absence of a large floor plan, space was optimised in the vertical direction by maximizing the height instead. Two pillars, toilet booths, and hand-washing facilities are concentrated at the center of the construction, and the four exterior walls are raised 500mm above the ground.
By floating the walls, the designers were able to create a good connection between the interior and exterior of the building, as well as a certain transparency that allows those using the facilities to feel the presence of people around. This helped to get rid of the corridors and dead ends that lead to a sense of stagnation and uneasiness often felt in public restrooms.
The interior walls of the 7.5m high cube are finished with a texture of washed concrete, and slits in the roof draw light into the interior in an impressive way.
Careful material specification also helped counter the conventional perception of public toilets, including Akoya wood paneling, brass signage – giving a hotel-like appearance, and a shared central washbasin. These were all planned with an emphasis on rationality and diversity. By creating a space that is accessible, easy to use, and of high quality for everyone, the architects hope to change the perceptions of users, such that they will participate in maintaining a comfortable environment in the public restrooms, in a virtuous cycle.
By carefully creating a relationship of contradictions, such as heaviness and floating, light and dark, the architects sought to dissolve the boundary between the architecture and the surrounding city. The new facilities not only “serve” the city, but render the experience of time spent out and about more enjoyable for all.
Project: public toilet in sendagaya station / location: shibuya-ku, tokyo, japan / Architect(s): suppose design office / use: public toilet / site area: 75.92 sqm / structure engineer: tatsu (ZEN hol) / facility design: ohno japan / lighting design: moduleX / photo: ⓒKenta Hasegawa
