Imagine two restrooms for public use. One is located near a bustling community playground and sports complex. Another is a remote trailhead that is surrounded by open terrain.
Both of them provide the same fundamental service, but treating the two buildings as identical does not consider the way in which different locations function.
Image credit: romtec.com
Good public restroom facilities begin with the site. Who will use it? What is the maximum number of people who can visit simultaneously? What are the services offered? How far can visitors expect to walk? What is the architecture that surrounds the building?
These questions can affect most of the subsequent decisions.
Begin with how people move Through the Site
Restroom placement shouldn’t be considered separately from the rest of a park. When a facility is a sport huge crowds can be gathered around games and events. The location of a bathroom near a playground has to be convenient for families, as well as safe and accessible for pedestrians. In a city-centric setting, it may be necessary to incorporate sidewalk restrooms in a smaller footprint while complementing other streetscape elements.
The structure itself isn’t the complete experience. The place of the building’s location can be influenced by several aspects, such as its accessibility, proximity to activities routes, entrances and pathways.
Remote sites create a different issue
Now move the project away from developed streets and utility infrastructure. A scenic view, a campground, trailhead, or other remote recreational area may not be able to connect to the sewer system that is commonly used. If the situation is right vault toilets are an alternative to toilet facilities to serve areas in which traditional plumbing infrastructure might be inaccessible or not practical.
The conversation about design is completely different. Project teams do not have to choose a building prior to analysing the site and deciding what restroom system would work best.
Capacity Should Be Reflective of the actual usage
The pattern of visits to an unassuming neighborhood park and regional sports facilities are different. Demand for peak hours is crucial. An event that seems to be a success in a typical Tuesday afternoon could face very different conditions on a weekend festival, tournament or community event.
Making plans around actual usage can help owners consider bathroom capacities layout, layout, fixtures maintenance access, 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 remains a part of the conversation
The appearance of a restroom is important, but it isn’t to be neglected because the purpose is more significant. The bathroom is an essential aspect of the public realm. Roof shapes, siding colours fixtures, masonry, and other features of architecture can help relate it to nearby concession or pavilion buildings or the natural surroundings the design concept, or even a neighborhood.
Romtec’s individualized approach permits team members to choose from a variety of types of materials and colors, forms external treatments and shapes, rather than being restricted to a single appearance.
Design for the Environment not just the purpose
Romtec works with park owners contractors, owners and landscape architects to design, provide and construct public restroom buildings. Its expertise includes the documentation of buildings and codes, ADA considerations as well as the engineering process, selecting components and construction across the United States.
The important starting point, but it’s surprisingly simple. Start by asking what restrooms you can build on your site. Start by understanding what is already happening on the site which includes people, activities and infrastructure. Create the building that belongs there.