Tokyo’s new transparent public toilets are just awesome, know why

In a first, transparent public toilets have been installed in Tokyo parks. Of course, it is quite difficult to fathom how see-through walls can offer ease to toilet anxiety of people. Until this time, loos with views were a fad, but this new idea seems to turn the focus of view to you. But wait, let’s not shoot our imagination up the roof, and read on to know more about this abstract idea.

Public toilets usually don’t have a good reputation, and are mostly smelly, dirty, scary, and dark too. Although Japan has higher standards of hygiene, residents still harbour similar kinds of fear. Thus, to do away with this public washroom phobia of people, The Tokyo Toilet Project has been launched by a non-profit organisation, which will be renovating 17 public toilets in one of the busiest commercial areas of Tokyo, i.e., Shibuya’s public parks.
Referring to their unique design, the organisation stated that the idea behind applying this innovative design is to make public bathrooms accessible for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or disability. The goal is to make people feel comfortable when they use these public toilets, and foster a spirit of hospitality for the next person.

As regarding the washrooms, the ‘transparent’ toilets, designed by Pritzker prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, along with a dozen other leading designers, are made from coloured ‘smart glass’ that turns opaque when the toilet cubicles are occupied.
The foundation added that the latest technology turns the cubicles’ glass outer walls opaque after the door is locked. Further, these washrooms light up the parks like a beautiful lantern at night, the organisation added.