Imagine two public toilets. One is situated next to a bustling community playground and sports complex. The other has a private trailhead that is surrounded by open terrain.
Both provide the same basic service. However, if you create them in identical structures, they could not function in the exact same manner.
Image credit: romtec.com
The site is the initial step to build a quality public bathroom. Who will be using it? How many people may arrive at once? What are the available utilities? How far are visitors required to walk? What architecture surrounds the building?
These questions can influence nearly every decision that follows.
Start with the way people move through the Site
The location of restrooms shouldn’t be thought of as a separate thing from the rest of a park. In a sports complex there are large crowds that be gathered around games and events. It is important that a bathroom serving an area for play be situated in a convenient location for families, and fit safely into the flow of pedestrians. In urban environments, the size of sidewalk restrooms might be smaller, and they might require a combination with other streetscape elements.
The structure is just one aspect of the experience. The location is influenced by the surroundings accessibility, walkways, and activities.
Remote sites create a different issue
The project should be moved further from the existing infrastructure and streets. A scenic view, a campground, trailhead or other remote recreational area may not be able to connect to conventional sewer service. If the situation is right vault toilets offer an alternative to toilet facilities to serve areas in which traditional plumbing infrastructure might be unattainable or inaccessible.
This alters the design discussion. Instead of selecting a building team, the design team must evaluate the existing conditions on the site in order to determine which type of restroom will work best in the particular location.
Capacity Should Be Reflective of the real-world usage
The pattern of visits to parks that are quiet and regional sports facilities differ. In peak times, demand is vital. Peak demand is important.
Making plans around actual usage can help owners think about restroom capacity layout, layout, fixtures access to maintenance, and other operational requirements before construction gets underway.
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.
Architecture Still Belongs in the conversation
Appearance is not ignored just because it’s a function. A bathroom is an obvious part of a landscape that is public. The form of the roof walls, sidings, colors fixtures and masonry could be employed to tie it into adjacent pavilions, concessions and natural surroundings, or a common design theme.
Romtec’s custom approach permits project teams to include different colors and materials, shapes, exterior treatments and shapes, rather than being limited to a uniform appearance.
Design for Place, Not Just the Function
Romtec works with park owners contractors, park owners, and landscape architects to create, design, and install public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documentation and code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering design, selecting components, and construction across the United States.
It’s surprising how simple the starting point remains. Decide on what kind of bathroom you’d like to build. Understand the environment, people, and the activities that already exist. Plan the structure that will fit within.