The Secret Genius of Transparent Public Restrooms

Why don't people like to use public restrooms? Cleanliness, especially during a pandemic, is certainly the top reason, but worldwide the stereotype about public restrooms is that they are "dark, dirty, smelly and scary."

The Tokyo Project is an initiative launched by The Nippon Foundation that commissioned 16 designers to see if they could reimagine the public restroom. The design that has attracted the most attention so far is the most transparent as well ... literally.

So how does a transparent toilet solve any of these problems? One reason people hate public toilets is because you're never quite sure if someone is already inside, and the last thing you want to do is open the door to a creepy situation. When the walls are transparent, you can quickly make sure no one is inside and also make sure it is not a disaster in there before you open the door. The fact that it's transparent might also encourage people to treat it with a little more respect.

And don't worry, when the door is locked and you're inside, the walls turn opaque, so it's not an exhibitionist toilet concept for weird people. Shame on you for thinking that.