What Japanese Toilets Teach Us About Public Space
1.5K views · 2026-07-08
Space & ArchitectureDesign Thinking
In Tokyo, some of Japan's most celebrated architects and designers were asked to redesign one of the smallest pieces of public architecture: the public toilet.
I visited all 17 toilets in the Tokyo Toilet Project to explore what makes them so different. Along the way, I discovered this project isn't just about beautiful architecture. It's about trust, maintenance, accessibility, and the belief that even the most ordinary public spaces deserve thoughtful design.
If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, I've also included a map of all 17 Tokyo Toilets in the link below.
📍 Tokyo Toilet Project Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1X6Mu4Yzorm47l5BTVW7016XA0GmuDZg&usp=sharing
If you enjoy exploring architecture, design, and the way buildings shape our experience of cities, consider subscribing for more architecture documentaries and design explorations.
WHO AM I
I’m Vlanka, principal of VERB/. I also teach architecture at University of Southern California.
Connect with VERB/:
Website: https://www.verbarchworkshop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verbarchworkshop
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@verbarchworkshop
Timestamps:
00:00 The Smallest Public Architecture
02:19 Can You Trust a Public Toilet?
07:17 Why Do These Feel Different?
08:43 Can a Toilet Be More Than a Toilet?
12:19 What These Toilets Reveal About Cities
#Architecture #Tokyo #Japan #PublicArchitecture #TokyoToilet #Design
I visited all 17 toilets in the Tokyo Toilet Project to explore what makes them so different. Along the way, I discovered this project isn't just about beautiful architecture. It's about trust, maintenance, accessibility, and the belief that even the most ordinary public spaces deserve thoughtful design.
If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, I've also included a map of all 17 Tokyo Toilets in the link below.
📍 Tokyo Toilet Project Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1X6Mu4Yzorm47l5BTVW7016XA0GmuDZg&usp=sharing
If you enjoy exploring architecture, design, and the way buildings shape our experience of cities, consider subscribing for more architecture documentaries and design explorations.
WHO AM I
I’m Vlanka, principal of VERB/. I also teach architecture at University of Southern California.
Connect with VERB/:
Website: https://www.verbarchworkshop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verbarchworkshop
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@verbarchworkshop
Timestamps:
00:00 The Smallest Public Architecture
02:19 Can You Trust a Public Toilet?
07:17 Why Do These Feel Different?
08:43 Can a Toilet Be More Than a Toilet?
12:19 What These Toilets Reveal About Cities
#Architecture #Tokyo #Japan #PublicArchitecture #TokyoToilet #Design