The "transparent washroom" at Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park (Photo: Satoshi Nagare)

The sanitary public bathrooms in Japan are role models for all, still, locals have found ways to take them to the next level. The Japanese charity Nippon Foundation initiated the Tokyo Toilet Project, inviting several famed architects (including Tadao Ando) to transform 17 public restrooms in the capital into “toilets for everyone”.

The first one unveiled in August is an intriguing transparent construction, which walls turn opaque once the door is locked. This allows monitoring of its hygiene and usage from the outside. The architect even envisions the structure as a “lantern” for the park at night, breaking the stereotypical image that public restrooms are dirty and dark. How would you revamp Hong Kong’s WCs?

Social worker from the Christian Concern for the Homeless Association taking participants on a "live tour" of Sham Shui Po. (Photo: Kaifong Tour)

Our city may be a tiny speck on the world map, yet each of its districts owns its character and culture. Open your eyes and ears, and you’d uncover a lot of interesting details, even receiving a “culture shock”. Social enterprise Kaifong Tour rekindles Hongkongers’ imagination towards our communities through tours, guide training and route design.

How have they remodelled their projects amid the epidemic? Doing live tours! In an exploratory workshop last month, a host and experienced social worker wandered around Sham Shui Po with a camera – under bridges, into cubicle apartments, and through modular social housing. All the while participants sit comfortably at home without breaking a sweat!