Ebisu Higashi Park Toilet
Fumihiko Maki · Tokyo, Japan · 2020
Ebisu Higashi Park Toilet, designed by Fumihiko Maki, is often nicknamed the “Squid Toilet” because of its distinctive roof and soft, curved geometry. The project creates a small public pavilion with a central courtyard-like quality, balancing openness with the privacy required by its function. Maki’s design gives the restroom an inviting presence in the park while maintaining a clear civic identity. Within THE TOKYO TOILET initiative, the building demonstrates how refined architectural composition can elevate even a very small public program. Its gentle form, careful planning, and recognizable silhouette help transform the facility from a background utility into a valued part of the park. The project reflects a mature architectural approach in which modest scale does not prevent spatial ambition or public significance.