Hatagaya Toilet
Miles Pennington / UTokyo DLX Design Lab · Tokyo, Japan · 2023
Hatagaya Toilet, designed by Miles Pennington with the University of Tokyo DLX Design Lab, expands the idea of a public restroom into a flexible neighborhood micro-infrastructure. The project was conceived not only as a toilet but also as a place that can support changing public uses, such as exhibitions, information display, or small community functions. This broader civic role aligns with THE TOKYO TOILET project’s goal of using design to improve the perception and usability of shared urban facilities. Architecturally, the building treats sanitation as part of everyday public life rather than as a hidden service. Its openness, adaptability, and compact urban presence suggest a future in which even the smallest pieces of municipal infrastructure can become active contributors to community life, accessibility, and the quality of the pedestrian environment.