Imagine two public restrooms. Picture two public restrooms. The other is situated at a remote trailhead, which is surrounded by vast open spaces.
Both offer the same basic service, but treating these as identical structures will not take into consideration the different ways in which these sites operate.
Image credit: romtec.com
Site selection is key to making excellent public restrooms. Who will be using the facilities? How many people may arrive at a time? What is the service offered? How far will visitors have to walk? What is the design of the structure?
The answers to these questions will shape the majority of decisions that follow.
Begin by looking at how people navigate through the site.
Toilets’ location shouldn’t be considered as a separate thing from the design and other elements of a park. When a facility is a sport there are visitors who arrive in large groups around activities and games. The location of a bathroom near a playground has to be easy for families to access, as well as safe and accessible to pedestrians. In a downtown area it is possible to squeeze sidewalk restrooms into an area smaller than the other streetscape elements.
The building is just one aspect of the total experience. The location is influenced by the surrounding environment accessibility, walkways, and the activities.
Remote sites can cause a different Problem
The project must be relocated away from the paved street and utilities infrastructure. It could be difficult to connect a scenic overlook and/or trailhead with an existing sewer system. Vault toilets can be an option that can be used in places where conventional plumbing infrastructure is difficult or impossible.
This alters the discussion about design. Instead of deciding on a specific building the project team should look at the existing conditions on the site to determine what restroom system is the best one for the area.
Capacity should reflect actual use
A park in a peaceful neighborhood and a sports complex regionally don’t have the same kinds of people who visit. Demand at peak times is important. The peak demand is vital.
Making plans around actual usage can help owners consider bathroom dimensions layout, layout, fixtures access for maintenance, and other operational demands prior to construction begins.
For organizations researching prefabricated park restroom buildings, flexibility can be particularly valuable because the building can be configured around the project’s requirements instead of forcing the site to accommodate a predetermined model.
Architecture Still Belongs in the conversation
It’s not a requirement that the appearance of a bathroom be ignored. Public restrooms are part of the landscape. Roof forms, siding, colours fixtures, masonry and other architectural elements can help relate it to adjacent pavilions or concession structures as well as the natural surroundings, an established design theme, or even a neighborhood.
Romtec’s unique approach to project management allows teams to blend different material, colors, shapes and exterior finishes instead of having to adhere to the same appearance.
Design for Place, Not just for the Purpose
Romtec collaborates with park operators contractors, park owners, as well as landscape architects to develop, construct and construct public restrooms. Its expertise is in documents for building construction and code requirements, ADA considerations as well as engineering, selection of components and construction throughout the United States.
It is surprising how simple the beginning point is. Make a decision about the kind of restroom you want to build. First, you must understand what’s already happening on the site, including people, activities and infrastructure. Create the building that is appropriate for this location.
