Take a look at two public restrooms. Imagine two public restrooms. The other serves a remote trailhead surrounded with open land.
Both offer the same basic service, however, designing the same buildings will not take into consideration the different ways in which these places operate.
Good public restroom buildings begin with the site. Who will use the facility? How many people may arrive at once? What utilities are available? How far will visitors have to walk? What architecture surrounds the building?
Image credit: romtec.com
Answering these questions can influence almost all of the decisions to come.
Begin by observing how people are moving around the site
The placement of restrooms should not be considered in isolation from the rest a park. When a facility is a sport there are large crowds that gather around events and games. It is crucial that the bathroom for a playground be located in a location that is convenient for families and also be able to fit into the circulation of pedestrians. In a city-centric setting the sidewalk restrooms might need to work within a tighter footprint and complement nearby streetscape elements.
The building itself is not the only thing you experience. The location of the building is affected by numerous elements, including access, activities nearby pathways, entrances, and paths.
Remote sites can cause a different Problem
It is now time to move the project from the paved streets and utility infrastructure. It may be impossible to connect a scenic overlook or trailhead to an ordinary sewer system. If the situation is right vault toilets are an alternative that allows toilet facilities to serve areas that traditional plumbing infrastructure could be unattainable or inaccessible.
This shifts the way we talk about design. Instead of deciding on a building first, project teams can evaluate site conditions and then determine which type of restroom is suitable for the area.
Capacity Should Reflect Real Use
A peaceful neighborhood park and regional sports facilities do not have the same traffic patterns. Demand at peak times is vital. A facility that appears to be adequate on a normal Tuesday afternoon could face very different conditions on a weekend festival, tournament or any other type of community event.
Prior to construction, the owners should be aware of the usage for bathrooms, their capacity, layout, and requirements for maintenance.
The versatility of prefabricated park restrooms can be very beneficial to businesses considering the facilities. Instead of forcing the space to comply with a specific model, the building can be adapted to what is required for the particular project.
Even though Architecture is an integral component of the conversation
Function doesn’t mean appearance should be overlooked. The bathroom is an essential part of the public landscape. Roof shapes, siding colors as well as fixtures, masonry and other features of architecture can help relate it to nearby pavilions or concession buildings, the natural surroundings, an established design theme, or even a neighborhood.
Romtec’s custom approach allows teams to work with various materials, colors and shapes as well exterior styling, instead of being limited to a traditional appearance.
Design for the Environment not just the purpose
Romtec works with park owners, landscape architects, and contractors to plan, construct, and supply restrooms and other public structures. Its experience includes building documentation as well as code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering choice of components, as well as construction throughout the United States.
But, the most important beginning point is actually quite simple. Don’t start by asking which restroom building you can put on the site. Understand the environment, people, and the activities that are already in place. Develop the building which is suitable for this location.