植松千明がLIXILさんのA-SPECのワークスタイリングウェブマガジンにてコラムを書きました。

https://note.com/aspec_note/n/nfbdb9089468a?sub_rt=share_pw

植松千明がLIXILさんのA-SPECのワークスタイリングウェブマガジンにてコラムを書きました。
AIやトイレのダイバーシティに興味がある方はぜひご覧ください。

If you were visually impaired, wouldn’t you want the restroom you touch and feel to be clean and comfortable?

If your gender identity differed from the one assigned to you, which restroom would you use? Wouldn’t you prefer to use a restroom that feels friendly to your identity?

Many people choose their destinations based on the restrooms available. A clean restroom with just a bit of thoughtful design can completely change the crowd it attracts.

Restrooms are an everyday space for everyone, but considering how this space can meet diverse needs is where architects can truly showcase their skills.

In this article, I’d like to share the challenges I’ve encountered in restroom design and how diversity has shaped my career along the way.

How I Encountered Restroom Design
Renovation of the Nippon Budokan and Restroom Design
Discovering Diverse Identities Through Restroom Design
The Architectural Possibilities Revealed Through Restrooms
A-SPEC and AI:
- Ideas for Use and Future Expectations
- AI as “An Extra Pair of Hands”
- Solving Social Issues Through Architecture
- Leveraging AI for Constructive Solutions

About the Author

How I Encountered Restroom Design

My journey in restroom design began when I was 24 years old, shortly after leaving my first architectural firm after just one year to work as a freelance designer. Back then, I didn’t yet have my first-class architect license and was making a living by drafting drawings as a subcontractor for large-scale commercial facilities. While I felt disheartened by the gap between my ideals and reality, I constantly thought about how to enhance my value and increase my rates.

Perhaps because I was a woman, I often received requests related to restroom design. While many found such work uninteresting, I discovered joy in it. Restroom design plays a crucial role in attracting visitors to commercial facilities, and I was entrusted with making significant proposals. That marked the start of my journey into restroom design.

Images

Proposal Document 1: Exploring the Concept of Fun Restrooms
Proposal Document 2: Exploring the Concept of Fun Restrooms

I learned from various stakeholders about the importance of gender-neutral restrooms and accessible facilities. I also had to consider how to address the fact that restrooms are sometimes associated with higher crime rates. Balancing safety concerns while creating inviting spaces became a key challenge.

Later, when I joined Yamada Mamoru Architects, I continued to receive many restroom design assignments, perhaps due to the male-dominated environment. While some might see designing restrooms as uninspiring, it helped me carve out a niche. Restrooms are spaces deeply tied to diversity—addressing differences in gender, age, physical, and mental conditions. This process of responding to diverse needs steadily improved my design skills.

Renovation of the Nippon Budokan and Restroom Design

At Yamada Mamoru Architects, I served as the chief architect for the renovation and expansion of the Nippon Budokan, which was used as the judo venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Arenas like this attract large crowds, necessitating numerous restrooms.

We tackled various issues, such as alleviating congestion in women’s restrooms and ensuring inclusivity for people with disabilities and LGBTQ individuals. Designing so many restrooms in one project was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Image: Working on the Nippon Budokan Renovation Project

Discovering Diverse Identities Through Restroom Design

One day, I realized there were few restrooms in the world that I personally felt were “comfortable” or “easy to use.”

This awareness was brought into focus during a workshop with wheelchair users. One participant mentioned a reception counter height that was “usable but inconvenient.” Their comment reminded me of my own experiences of hanging my bag on high hooks in restroom stalls, thinking, “I can manage, but it’s too high.”

This experience deepened my understanding of diversity. I became increasingly interested in how diverse identities could transform architecture, making it a central theme in my career. My experience in the niche field of restroom design became a driving force for my career growth and professional development as a designer.

Images:

Advancements in Universal Design by Predecessors
My Approach to Diversity: Focus on Individual Needs to Raise Overall Satisfaction

For example, wheelchair-accessible restrooms are also user-friendly for parents with strollers. Focusing on one group’s needs doesn’t necessarily disadvantage others.

The Architectural Possibilities Revealed Through Restrooms

Nowadays, I often begin discussions with clients by asking, “What kind of restroom would you like?”

Restrooms may be simple spaces for personal necessities, but they’re also a great starting point for delving into individual needs and identities. Whether it’s natural light, greenery, specific lighting, or bold designs, restroom design can be surprisingly diverse and intriguing.

Japan is known for its clean restrooms, yet many, especially women, still avoid using public restrooms when outside. Furthermore, there are few restrooms people feel comfortable using outside of their homes, workplaces, or schools.

The small space of a restroom offers a profound glimpse into broader possibilities. As an architect, I feel there’s still so much work to be done. I aim to continue creating architecture that responds to diversity, starting with restroom design.

A-SPEC and AI: Feedback Section (PR)

The collaborative cloud-based design tool “A-SPEC,” developed by LIXIL, AMDlab, and Shuta Takagi Architects, has been a game-changer for public restroom design.

A-SPEC and AI

One word sums up my experience with A-SPEC: “fast.” Restroom design is detail-oriented work, requiring careful layout planning within limited spaces. A-SPEC reduces this burden, even for those less experienced with facility design.

Image: Screenshot of A-SPEC’s Quick and Convenient Design Process

Ideas for Use and Future Expectations
I use A-SPEC to generate initial proposals, then refine them to align with my vision. The tool offers patterns I wouldn’t normally consider, helping me reevaluate my design priorities objectively.

Image: A-SPEC’s Efficient Layout Suggestions

I hope A-SPEC will eventually support even more flexible layout options, such as specifying toilet stall sizes and fixture quantities.

AI as “An Extra Pair of Hands”
Using AI is like learning a new language—unfamiliar at first but rewarding with continued practice. I now frequently use image-generation AI to instantly share detailed concepts with clients during meetings.

Images: AI-Generated Restroom Designs

By embracing AI, architects can address social issues more efficiently, from improving work environments to promoting gender equality. AI is not just a tool but an extension of ourselves, enabling us to provide more constructive solutions for a diverse society.