Imagine two restrooms for public use. Imagine two restrooms that are public. One is a trailhead in a rural location surrounded by wide open spaces.
The two buildings provide the same services, but in the event that they were designed as identical buildings it would be impossible to discern how these sites function.
Public restrooms that are good for the public begin with the location. Who can use the facilities? How many guests can be in the facility at the same time? What are the services offered? How far must visitors walk? What architectural style is surrounded by the structure?
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These answers will influence nearly all of the decisions that follow.
Begin by watching how visitors navigate through the site.
The location of toilets should not be thought of separately from the rest and design of a park. In a complex for sports massive crowds could congregate around events and games. The location of the restroom near a play area must be suitable for families, as well as safe and accessible for pedestrians. In a downtown setting, sidewalk restrooms may have to work within a tighter footprint and complement nearby streetscape features.
The structure itself isn’t the whole experience. Location is affected by the surrounding environment accessibility, access, and activities.
Remote sites create a different problem
The project should now be moved away from the paved streets and utility infrastructure. A scenic viewpoint, campground, trailhead, or remote recreation area may not be connected to conventional sewer service. When used appropriately vault toilets may provide an alternative to conventional plumbing infrastructures in places which are difficult to access or impossible to install.
The conversation about design is completely different. Teams working on projects do not need to select a building before looking at the site and deciding what restroom system would work best.
Capacity should be reflected in Actual Use
A peaceful neighborhood park and an athletic facility in the region don’t have the same crowd patterns. In peak times, demand is crucial. It is not enough to have your facility in good condition on an afternoon on a Tuesday.
Owners can plan their construction around the use of the bathroom, based on its capacity, layout and fixtures, as well as access for maintenance.
The flexibility of park restrooms that are prefabricated can be very beneficial to businesses considering the facilities. Instead of requiring the building to follow a particular design, the structure can be customized around the needs of the project.
Architecture Still Should Be Part of the Conversation
The look of a restroom is crucial, however it should not be ignored because the function is far more important. A restroom is a visible part of a public landscape. Roof forms, siding, colours, masonry, fixtures and other architectural features can help it relate to nearby pavilions, concession buildings, natural surroundings, or a well-established design theme for the community.
Romtec’s customized approach allows for project teams to include different materials and colors, shapes external treatments and shapes, rather than being restricted to a single appearance.
Designing for the Environment, not just the Goal
Romtec collaborates with park owners and contractors in order to install and provide restrooms and other public buildings. Its experience includes building documentation and code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering components, selection of the right component, and construction throughout the United States.
The most crucial starting point is surprisingly simple. Don’t begin by asking what restrooms you could build on the spot. Learn about what’s taking place on the site, including people, activities and infrastructure. Design the structure that belongs there.
