Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior PhotographyPublic Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography, WindowsPublic Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography, KitchenPublic Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography, FacadePublic Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - More Images+ 37

  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Kenta Hasegawa
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  AutoDesk, Sanko, Trimble Navigation, V-Ray, Woodwise
  • Clients: Shibuya City
  • Design Team: Ohno JAPAN, ZO Consulting Engineers
  • Engineering And Construction: Shin
  • City: Shibuya City
  • Country: Japan
More SpecsLess Specs
Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Kenta Hasegawa

Text description provided by the architects. This building, located between the elevated Metropolitan Expressway and the National Stadium subway station, was designed to be a public space with a cultural aspect that will be used by a variety of visitors from Japan and abroad on the occasion of the Olympics, as well as to serve as an infrastructure for the city in the future. We started the project by reconsidering the impression, function and usage of the conventional "public toilet" from the premise.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography
© Kenta Hasegawa

In the absence of a planar expanse, we secured a large air space in the height direction, concentrated two pillars, toilet booths, and hand-washing facilities in the center, and raised the four exterior walls 500mm above the ground.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography, Windows
© Kenta Hasegawa
Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Image 41 of 42
Plan
Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography, Bathroom, Windows
© Kenta Hasegawa

By floating the walls, we were able to create a good connection between the interior of the building and the city, as well as a transparency that allows us to feel the presence of people, and we were able to get rid of the corridors and dead ends that lead to a sense of stagnation and uneasiness in public restrooms.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography, Bathroom, Toilet
© Kenta Hasegawa

The interior walls of the 7.5 m high cube are finished with a texture of washed concrete, and the soft light coming through the slits in the roof draws the light into the interior in an impressive way. It is a space where one can appreciate the "changes of seasons and time woven by nature," which are outside of our daily awareness, without intending to do so by changing the light.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Interior Photography
© Kenta Hasegawa
Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Image 42 of 42
Sections

The specifications that contradict the conventional perception of public toilets, such as the Akoya wood paneling, the hotel-like appearance of the brass signage, and the washbasin placed in the center so that men and women can share, were planned with an emphasis on rationality and diversity. By creating a space that is flat, easy to use, and of high quality for everyone, we hope to change the consciousness of the users, and that they themselves will participate in maintaining a comfortable environment, leading to a healthy cycle.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Kenta Hasegawa

By carefully building up the relationship between the contradictions, such as "a sense of floating due to heaviness" and "the presence of light due to darkness", I sought to dissolve the boundary between the city and the architecture, and to create an attractive boundary where nature and architecture resonate with each other.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography
© Kenta Hasegawa

The blank space in the building is left as a place for art, and as a public building in a mature city, it not only serves the function of "serving" the city, but also provides another meaning of enjoyment of walking around the city.

Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Kenta Hasegawa

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Public Toilet in Sendagaya / Suppose Design Office" 08 Feb 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/956620/public-toilet-in-sendagaya-suppose-design-office> ISSN 0719-8884

© Kenta Hasegawa

千駄谷公共卫生间,漂浮的墙体 / Suppose Design Office

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.