Imagine two restrooms for public use. One is located near a bustling community playground and sports facility. One is a trailhead in a rural region that is surrounded by vast open spaces.
Both of them provide the same fundamental service, but treating the same buildings would ignore how differently those places work.
Site selection is key to creating high-quality public restrooms. Who can use the facilities? How many guests can be in the facility simultaneously? What services are provided? How far can visitors expect to take a walk? What is the design of the building?
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The answers to these questions will impact the majority of decisions that are made.
Start With How People Move Through the Site
The location of restrooms should not be considered separately from the rest a park. At a sports venue the visitors can arrive in large numbers during games and other events. It is vital that the bathroom for an area for play be situated at a suitable location that is accessible to families, as well as be able to fit into the pedestrian circulation. In a downtown setting, sidewalk restrooms may have to work within a tighter footprint and complement nearby streetscape features.
The building is only one part of the overall experience. Location is influenced by surrounding environment accessibility, access, and activities.
Remote sites pose a unique problem
Make the project more remote from existing roads and infrastructure. It is possible to not connect a scenic view or trailhead, campground, or even an existing sewer system. If used properly, vault toilets can provide an alternative to conventional plumbing systems in areas which are either difficult or not practical.
The design process is completely different. Instead of picking a structure team, the design team must evaluate the existing conditions on the site to determine which restroom system will work best in the particular location.
Capacity should reflect the actual usage
The visitor patterns of the quiet neighborhood park as well as regional sports facilities are different. Demand during peak times is vital. A facility that feels adequate on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon may face different conditions on a weekend festival, tournament, or community event.
Owners may plan their home around the needs of the bathroom, taking into account the size, layout and fixtures, as well as accessibility for maintenance.
The flexibility of the prefabricated park toilets can be extremely beneficial to companies that are interested in the building. Instead of having to force the space to follow a particular model, the construction can be customized to meet the specifications of the project.
Although Architecture is an integral part of the conversation
Functionality doesn’t mean appearance has to be overlooked. A bathroom is an obvious part of a public landscape. Forms of roof, siding, colours, masonry, fixtures and other features of architecture can aid in establishing a connection with adjacent pavilions or concession structures and the natural environment, an established design theme or community.
Romtec’s unique approach enables project teams to incorporate different colors and materials, shapes external treatments and forms, instead of being restricted to a single appearance.
Design for Place, not Only for Function
Romtec works with park owners contractors, owners and landscape architects to design, build, and install public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documents codes, building documentation, ADA considerations, engineering design, selecting components, and construction throughout the United States.
It’s amazing how easy starting points are. Start by deciding what type of restroom you want to build. Begin by studying what is already happening on the site, including people, activities and infrastructure. Plan the structure that will fit within.
