Imagine two toilets in public. Imagine two restrooms that are public. One is a trailhead in a rural location which is surrounded by open space.
Both buildings offer the same service but if they were built in the same way it would be impossible to comprehend how the two locations function.
Image credit: romtec.com
Good public restroom buildings begin with the location. Who will use it? How many people can arrive simultaneously? What amenities are there? What distance do visitors have to stroll? What is the architecture that surrounds the structure?
Answering those questions can shape nearly every decision that follows.
Begin by watching how visitors traverse the site.
The placement of restrooms should not be considered in isolation from the rest of a park. In a sports facility the visitors can arrive in large groups around games and other events. The location of a bathroom near a play area must be easy for families to access, as well as safe and accessible for pedestrians. In a downtown area, sidewalk restrooms may have to operate within a restricted footprint and complement nearby streetscape features.
The structure is only one aspect of the total experience. Location is affected by the surroundings accessibility, walkways, and activities.
Remote Sites can create a Unique Issue
The project should be moved away from the developed street and utility infrastructure. It may be impossible to connect a scenic view or trailhead, campground, or even a conventional sewer system. In appropriate applications, vault toilets provide an alternative that allows restroom facilities to serve locations where traditional plumbing infrastructure may be difficult or impractical.
The design discussion is different. Instead of deciding on a building first, design teams examine the existing conditions on the site and decide which bathroom system makes sense for the location.
Capacity Should Be Reflective of Real Use
A peaceful neighborhood park and a regional sports facility do not have the same traffic patterns. Demand for peak times is crucial. It’s not enough to have a facility that is in good shape on an afternoon on a Tuesday.
Before building, homeowners should consider the actual usage of restrooms, including their size, layout, and requirements for maintenance.
The versatility of prefabricated park restrooms can be a huge benefit to the organizations considering the facilities. Instead of having to force the site to be a certain design, the structure can be customized around the requirements for the project.
Even though Architecture is still an element of the conversation
The look of a restroom is important, but it shouldn’t be overlooked because the function is more significant. A public restroom is a part of the landscape. Forms of roofs, sidings, colors, masonry, fixtures as well as other architectural features can aid in establishing a connection with nearby pavilions, concession buildings, natural surroundings, or an established design theme for a community.
Romtec’s customized approach permits project teams to use a variety of designs, materials, colors, and exterior treatments instead of being restricted to one uniform appearance.
Design for the Place It’s not just about the function.
Romtec works with park owners as well as landscape architects and contractors to design, supply, and install restroom buildings and other public buildings. Its expertise is in documenting the construction process and code requirements, ADA considerations as well as the engineering process, selecting components and construction across the United States.
The key starting point however, remains surprisingly simple. Begin by deciding on the type of bathroom you’d like build. Be aware of the surrounding, the people, and activities that are already in place. Make the design suitable for this place.