Imagine two restrooms for public use. One is located near a bustling playground for the community and sports complex. One is a trailhead in a rural region surrounded by wide open spaces.
Both buildings offer the same service, however if they were constructed as identical structures it would be impossible to understand how different these locations work.
Image credit: romtec.com
The choice of the site is crucial to creating good public restrooms. Who will use the facility? How many people are able to arrive at the same time? What amenities are available? What distance will visitors be able to walk? What architectural style surrounds the building?
The answers to these questions will influence most of the choices that follow.
Start With How People Move Through the Site
The position of restrooms must not be considered separately from the rest of a park. People can arrive in large numbers at the sports facility to watch the games or other events. A playground restroom needs to be ideally located for families and fit comfortably within the pedestrian flow. In a downtown environment, it may be necessary to make sidewalk restrooms fit into an area smaller than the streetscaping elements.
The structure itself isn’t the whole experience. Access points, routes, activities and accessibility all impact whether its location works in the real world.
Remote sites cause a distinct issue
The project should be moved away from the road and utility infrastructure. It may be impossible to connect a scenic view and/or trailhead with an existing sewer system. If properly used the vault toilets could provide an alternative to conventional plumbing infrastructure in locations that are difficult or unpractical.
The conversation shifts around design. Instead of deciding on a building first, project teams are able to evaluate the site’s conditions and determine which restroom system is appropriate for the site.
Capacity must reflect real-world use
A quiet neighborhood park and an athletic facility in the region don’t experience the same visitor patterns. Demand at peak times is important. It is not enough to have your facility in good condition on the afternoon of a Tuesday.
Owners can design their building around the needs of the bathroom, based on its capacity, layout and fixtures, as well as maintenance access.
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 is Still Relevant to Us
Appearance is not ignored just due to its function. Bathrooms are a visible part of a public space. Forms of roof, siding, colors fixtures, masonry as well as other architectural features could aid in connecting it to adjacent pavilions or concession structures or the natural surroundings the design concept, or community.
Romtec’s customized approach allows for teams of project managers to use different material and colors, shapes as well as exterior treatment and shapes, rather than being limited to a uniform appearance.
Design for Place, Not Only for Goal
Romtec collaborates with park owners contractors, owners and landscape architects to create, design and construct public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documents and code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering choice of components, as well as construction across the United States.
However, the crucial starting point is surprisingly simple. Don’t begin by asking what restrooms you could build on the site. Start by analyzing the people, activities infrastructure, and the environment that is already there. Create the building that belongs there.