Modern Kawaya. Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall
18/08/2020.
[Shibuya - Tokyo] Japan
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
The Ebisu Park Toilet designed by Wonderwall leads by Masamichi Katayama interior designer is the fifth proposal available for use from August 5 are in five locations in Shibuya ward, Tokyo as part of the of The Tokyo Toilet project.
There are other 4 project: designs by Shigeru Ban (2), Fumihiko Maki, and Nao Tamura. On August 31will open In Nishihara Itchome Park the project by Takenosuke Sakakura, and on September 7 in Jingu-Dori Park will be the proposal by Tadao Ando, with the remainder completed by spring 2021.
There are other 4 project: designs by Shigeru Ban (2), Fumihiko Maki, and Nao Tamura. On August 31will open In Nishihara Itchome Park the project by Takenosuke Sakakura, and on September 7 in Jingu-Dori Park will be the proposal by Tadao Ando, with the remainder completed by spring 2021.
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Ebisu Park Toilet by Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Photograph by Satoshi Nagare
Masamichi Katayama to design his proposal review the origin of toilets in Japan, the kawaya concept, written initially as 川屋 and later 厠 (also pronounced kawaya). Kawaya was a hut (ya 屋) that stood over the river (kawa 川) dating back to the Neolithic. These huts were of primitive and simple designs, often made of hardened soil or pieces of wood bound together.
Trying to envision the appearance and atmosphere of the primitive kawaya of the past, Masamichi Katayama proposed an “ambiguous space” that is simultaneously an object and a toilet by randomly combining 15 concrete walls.
Trying to envision the appearance and atmosphere of the primitive kawaya of the past, Masamichi Katayama proposed an “ambiguous space” that is simultaneously an object and a toilet by randomly combining 15 concrete walls.
Project description by Masamichi Katayama
This is a design proposal for a public toilet inside Ebisu Park. The proposal is part of Shibuya City’s THE TOKYO TOILET project.
We kept in mind a facility that distances itself from architectural concepts and elements: an object that stands casually in the park as if it were playground equipment, benches, or trees.
In Japan, the origin of toilets is kawaya, written initially as 川屋 and later 厠 (also pronounced kawaya). Kawaya was a hut (ya 屋) that stood over the river (kawa 川) dating back to the Neolithic times of early Jomon period (10,000 to 6,000 BCE). These huts were of primitive and simple designs, often made of hardened soil or pieces of wood bound together.
Trying to envision the appearance and atmosphere of the primitive kawaya of the past, we built an “ambiguous space” that is simultaneously an object and a toilet by randomly combining 15 concrete walls. The spaces between the walls lead users into three different areas designed for men, women, and everyone. The design creates a unique relationship in which users are invited to interact with the facility as if they are playing with a curious piece of playground equipment.
More information
Creator
Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall.
Client
Builder
Dates
Completed.- August 05, 2020.
Location
Ebisu Park. 1-19-1 Ebisu-Nishi. Tokyo. Japan.
Photography
Satoshi Nagare, SS Co.,Ltd. Hojo Hiroko.
Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall
Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall. Interior designer. Principal and founder of Wonderwall inc. Professor at Musashino Art University Department of Scenography, Display and Fashion Design. Notable projects include UNIQLO Global Flagship Stores (New York, Paris, Ginza, etc); INTERSECT BY LEXUS (Aoyama, Dubai, New York); JAPAN HOUSE LONDON, a project led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Toranomon Hills Business Tower Retail Environment and ARCH, which opened in 2020. Katayama received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the FRAME AWARD 2020 sponsored by the Dutch design magazine FRAME, following Phillip Stark in 2019.
Categories
Our selection
