Imagine two public toilets. Imagine two restrooms for public use. The other is located near a trailhead that is remote, with a vast open space.
Both buildings offer the same services but when they were designed as identical buildings it would be difficult to comprehend how the two locations function.
Good public restroom buildings begin with the site. Who will use the facility? How many people may arrive at once? What utilities are available? How far will visitors have to walk? What architecture surrounds the building?
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How you answer those questions will influence the majority of decisions that follow.
Start with observing how people navigate around the site
Restroom placement shouldn’t be considered in isolation from other areas of a park. People can arrive in large numbers to an sports venue to see events or games. The restrooms for playgrounds need to be ideally located for families and fit comfortably into the traffic flow. In downtown settings, the size of sidewalk restrooms might be smaller, and they could be required to blend with other streetscape features.
The structure itself isn’t the complete experience. The location of the building is affected by numerous elements, including accessibility, the proximity of activities routes, entrances and pathways.
Remote sites create a different Issue
The project should be moved away from the paved street and utilities infrastructure. The conventional sewer service may not be accessible at a scenic view point or in a remote recreation area such as trailheads, campgrounds or in other locations. When used appropriately the vault toilets could provide an alternative to traditional plumbing infrastructure in areas that are difficult or unpractical.
This alters the design discussion. Instead of choosing a building the project team should look at the existing conditions on the site to determine which restroom system is best for that location.
Capacity should reflect actual usage
A quiet park in the neighborhood and regional sports facilities don’t experience the same visitor patterns. The demand for peak hours is vital. An event that seems to be a success on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon can face different conditions on a weekend festival, tournament, or any other type of community event.
Before construction, owners should take into consideration the actual use of restrooms, including their capacity, layout, fixtures and maintenance requirements.
Flexible prefabricated restroom buildings could be a valuable resource for organizations that are studying them. They are able to be designed to suit the needs of the project instead of forcing the space into a model.
Although Architecture is a part of the conversation
Function doesn’t mean appearance should be ignored. A public bathroom is a part of the natural landscape. Forms of roofs, sidings, fixtures, colors, masonry as well as other architectural features may help in connecting it to adjacent pavilions, concession structures and natural surroundings or a well-established design theme for the community.
Romtec’s unique approach permits project teams to mix different material, colors, shapes and exterior styles rather than having to stick with the same appearance.
Design to be a Place Design for the Place, Not just for the Purpose
Romtec collaborates with park operators contractors, owners and landscape architects to design, provide and construct public restroom buildings. Its expertise covers documents for building construction, code concerns, ADA issues, engineering design, selecting of components and construction in the United States.
The most crucial start point is really simple. Don’t begin by asking which restrooms you can construct on your property. Learn about the surroundings, people, and the activities that are already in place. Then design the building which is a part of it.