"The Gentle Toilet of Funamori"

*Entry for the Hachioji City, Funamori Park, Public Toilet Design Competition.

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     Hachioji City is blessed with abundant water and a rich natural environment, and has historically flourished through industries such as sericulture, silk twisting, and textile production.

     Adjacent to the site stands Koyasu Shrine, the oldest shrine in Hachioji City, which has long watched over this land and the people passing through it. Even today, the area is sustained by plentiful spring water and serves as a place where many people come and go—commuters using nearby stations, those walking in haste, and others who wish to pause for a moment.

 

     Public toilets face various challenges in recent years; however, we believe that the most essential quality is “gentleness” toward users. Here, “gentleness” encompasses both kindness, meaning consideration and care for others, and ease, meaning clarity and accessibility that allow anyone to use the facility intuitively. From these two perspectives, we propose The Gentle Toilet of Funamori.

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     Inspired by local culture, nature, and the flow of people, the architectural form takes the image of a ship’s sail—symbolizing textiles nurtured by spring water. Through this design, we aimed to create a building that gently embraces its users while allowing them to sense the history and culture of the place. The exterior landscape design inherits the circular motifs found in the ripples of spring water and the overall layout of Funamori Park, expressing these elements through circular forms.

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     This toilet is conceived not merely as a functional facility, but as a place where users can feel safe and quietly take a moment to rest. In addition to gender-neutral and women’s toilets, a child-priority toilet for parents and children, as well as a universal toilet, are provided to accommodate a wide range of users, including children, elderly people, and sexual minorities.

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     Regarding safety, the design considers visibility from the surrounding area, along with the installation of security cameras and a well-planned lighting system, to ensure that everyone can use the facility with peace of mind. From a maintenance perspective, clear pictograms and multilingual signage are incorporated so that the toilet can be used correctly and intuitively by all users. By adopting simple materials and structural systems, the design facilitates easy inspection and repair, enabling the facility to be kept clean and well maintained over the long term.

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     Rooted in the local community, gentle to people, and enduring alongside the memories of the city—The Gentle Toilet of Funamori is a proposal that explores a new form of public space.