Imagine two public restrooms. One sits beside a busy community playground and sports complex. Another is a remote trailhead, surrounded by open space.
Both provide the same essential service, however, designing them as identical buildings will not take into consideration the different ways in which these locations operate.
Image credit: romtec.com
It is essential to choose the right site for making high-quality public restrooms. Who is the person who will be using the restroom? What is the maximum number of people who can visit simultaneously? What utilities are available? What distance do visitors have to stroll? What architecture surrounds the building?
The answers to these questions will determine nearly all of the decisions that are made.
You can start with observing how people use the site.
Toilets’ placement shouldn’t be taken in isolation from the rest and design of the park. Visitors may arrive in large numbers at an sports venue to see events or games. Toilets that are used for play areas need to be ideally located for families while fitting safely into the traffic flow. In a town-center setting it is possible to make sidewalk restrooms fit into a smaller footprint while complementing other streetscape elements.
The building is only one piece of the experience. The site of the building is determined by a variety of elements, including accessibility, the proximity of activities pathways, entrances, and paths.
Remote sites pose a unique problem
Move the project further away from the existing infrastructure and streets. A scenic viewpoint, campsite, trailhead, or remote recreation area may not have a practical connection to a sewer line that is conventional. Vault toilets are a viable option that can be used in locations where the traditional plumbing infrastructure is difficult, or impossible.
The conversation shifts around design. Instead of choosing a building team, the design team must evaluate the existing conditions on the site to determine what restroom system best suits the location.
Capacity should reflect the actual usage
The visitor patterns of a quiet neighborhood park and regional sports facilities differ. It is important to consider peak demand. A facility that feels adequate on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon might face different conditions on a Saturday tournament, festival, or any other type of community event.
Prior to construction, the owners should take into consideration the actual use of bathrooms, including their capacity, layout, fixtures and requirements for maintenance.
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.
The Architecture Conversation Still Belongs to Us
Functionality doesn’t mean appearance has to be ignored. The bathroom is visible part of a public space. Roof forms, siding, colors fixtures, masonry as well as other architectural features could aid in connecting it to nearby concession or pavilion buildings, the natural surroundings, the design concept, or even a neighborhood.
Romtec’s custom approach allows teams to use various materials, colors and shapes, as well exterior design, rather than being restricted to a conventional appearance.
Designing for the Place, not Just the Goal
Romtec partners with park owners and contractors in order to construct and supply restrooms and other public buildings. Its expertise includes the documentation of buildings and codes, ADA considerations as well as the engineering process, selecting components and construction throughout the United States.
The primary starting point, is, however, surprisingly easy. Don’t begin by asking yourself what kind of restrooms can be built on your site. Start by analyzing the activities, people infrastructure, and the environment that is already there. Create a building that is a good fit into.