Picture two public restrooms. One sits beside a busy playground for the community and sports complex. Another is at the trailhead’s remote location, with a vast open space.
Both provide the same essential service, but designing them as identical buildings could overlook the differences in how these locations function.
Image credit: romtec.com
Site selection is key to building excellent public restrooms. Who will use it? How many guests can be in the facility simultaneously? What are the available utilities? How far must visitors walk? What architectural style is surrounded by the structure?
These answers will impact most of the decisions that are made.
You can start with observing how people use the site.
The location of restrooms should not be considered separately from the rest of a park. People can arrive in large numbers to the sports facility to watch the games or other events. A restroom serving playgrounds needs to be accessible to families, while also fitting within the pedestrian flow. In urban areas the size of sidewalk restrooms might be smaller, and they could need to be complemented by other streetscape elements.
The building is only a small piece of the experience. Location is affected by surrounding environment and accessibility, as well as pathways and other activities.
Remote Sites create a Different Problem
Move the project away from streets that are paved and utilities infrastructure. The traditional sewer line may not be available at a scenic overlook or in an isolated recreation area trails, campgrounds, trailheads or any other area. If the situation is right vault toilets are an alternative for toilet facilities to be used in areas that traditional plumbing infrastructure could be unattainable or inaccessible.
The design discussion is different. Rather than selecting a building first, project teams will evaluate the conditions of the site and determine which restroom system is appropriate for the site.
Capacity should reflect actual use
A park in a peaceful neighborhood or a sports facility in the region don’t share the same patterns of visitors. The demand at peak times is crucial. It is not enough to be in good order on the afternoon of a Tuesday.
Before building, property owners must take into consideration the actual use of bathrooms, including their capacities, 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.
Although Architecture is an integral component of the conversation
The appearance of a restroom is vital, but it isn’t to be neglected because its purpose is much more important. A bathroom is an obvious part of a public landscape. Roof shapes, siding colors fixtures, masonry, and other architectural features can help relate it to adjacent concession buildings or pavilions and the natural environment, the design concept, or community.
Romtec’s custom approach allows teams to use different materials, colors and shapes as well exterior treatments, rather than being restricted to a standard appearance.
Designing for the Place, not Just the Theming
Romtec works with park owners contractors, park owners, and landscape architects to create, design, and install public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documentation as well as code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering components, selection of the right component, and construction across the United States.
However, the important beginning point is actually quite simple. Do not begin by asking yourself what kind of restrooms you can construct on your property. Understand the environment, people, and activities that already exist. Create a building that is a good fit within.