Take a look at two public restrooms. One is near a busy playground for the community and sports complex. The other is a remote trailhead surrounded by open land.
The two buildings provide the same services but should they be constructed as identical structures it would be hard to know how these locations work.
Image credit: romtec.com
The site is a first step to build a quality public restroom. Who will be using it? How many people are able to arrive at the same time? What services are available? What distance will visitors be able to be able to walk? What’s the architectural style surrounding the building?
These questions can influence nearly every decision that follows.
It is possible to start by studying how users navigate around the site
The location of restrooms should not be viewed as a separate thing from other areas of a park. At a sports complex, visitors may arrive in large groups during activities and games. A restroom serving playgrounds needs to be easily accessible for families while integrating safely into the traffic flow. In a downtown environment it might be necessary to incorporate sidewalk restrooms in an area smaller than the streetscaping elements.
The structure itself isn’t the complete experience. The site of the building is influenced by many elements, including accessibility, proximity to activities routes, entrances and pathways.
Remote sites can cause a new Problem
The project should now be moved away from established roads and utility infrastructure. A scenic viewpoint, campground, trailhead, or a remote recreation area might not be connected to a sewer line that is conventional. In appropriate applications, vault toilets provide an alternative that allows restroom facilities to serve locations where traditional plumbing infrastructure may be difficult or impractical.
The conversation shifts around design. Rather than selecting a building first, project teams are able to evaluate the site’s conditions and choose which toilet system is appropriate for the site.
Capacity should be reflected in the actual usage
The visitor patterns of a quiet neighborhood park and regional sports facilities are different. The peak demand is crucial. Peak demand is critical.
Before building, homeowners should think about the use of restrooms, such as their capacity, layout, fixtures and maintenance requirements.
Flexible prefabricated restrooms can be an invaluable source for businesses looking into them. They can be designed to meet the needs of the project, instead of forcing the space into a template.
The Architecture Conversation is Still Relevant to Us
It’s not a requirement that the appearance of a bathroom be overlooked. A public restroom is a part of the natural landscape. The forms of the roof and colors, sidings, fixtures, and masonry are utilized to connect it to adjacent pavilions, concessions structures, natural surroundings or a common design theme.
Romtec’s customized approach permits teams to utilize different materials, colors and shapes, as well as exterior designs, instead of being restricted to a standard appearance.
Designing for the Place, not Just the Purpose
Romtec collaborates with park operators contractors, park owners, and landscape architects to create, design, and install public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documents codes, building documentation, ADA considerations, engineering, component selection, and construction across the United States.
It is surprising how simple the beginning point is. Start by asking which restrooms can be built on your site. Start by analyzing the people, activities infrastructure, and the environment that is already there. Create the building that is right for the location.
