The Hiroo Higashi Park toilet rises like a monument from a park on a hill where a cluster of condominiums stand. Adjacent to the park, a narrow sidewalk lined with trees is where people commuted to and from work, which made it a difficult environment for the construction crew. The roofing material consists of five sections of 16 mm thick steel plates, with each weighing nearly one ton. That made it difficult to carry in, although to be used as is as a finishing material they were necessary for their smoothness. The tempered laminated glass in the back of the building is also divided into three sections. We could not bring a crane on site, so it took a team of about 10 technicians for installation. The simpler the building is, the more critical installation accuracy becomes, although we are proud of the beautifully installed and highly finished product.

The creator himself visited the site during the construction phase on many occasions to thoroughly check on-the-ground conditions. He took particular care to confirm with all of those who worked on the illumination display panel, and I was impressed by his ability to make snap decisions on matters under consideration. Construction went on for roughly five months, from dismantling the existing structure until the new building’s completion. Everyone involved in this project, as well as our Procurement Department, Equipment Department, and many others worked as a team to complete construction in short period. After completion, I have the good memory of hearing that people thought highly of how the company worked with such sense of speed.