Imagine two toilets in public. Imagine two public restrooms. The other has a private trailhead surrounded by open land.
Both buildings offer the same services but in the event that they were designed as identical buildings it would be difficult to understand how different these locations work.
Image credit: romtec.com
The selection of the location is vital to constructing good public restrooms. Who is the person who will be using the restroom? How many guests can be in the facility at a time? What amenities are available? What distance will visitors be able to be able to walk? What architectural style surrounds the building?
The answers to these questions will affect most of the subsequent decisions.
Begin by determining how users move Through the Site
Toilets’ location shouldn’t be viewed in isolation from the rest and design of the park. When a facility is a sport huge crowds can crowd around games and events. The location of the restroom near a play area must be convenient for families, in addition to being secure and accessible to pedestrians. In urban settings the space of sidewalk restrooms may be smaller and may require a combination with other features of the streetscape.
The building is just one part of the overall experience. The area of the building’s site can be influenced by several factors, including its accessibility, nearby activities pathways, entrances, and paths.
Remote sites create a different Problem
Move the project away from established roads and utility infrastructure. The conventional sewer service may not be available in a scenic spot or in a remote recreation zone or campgrounds. or in other locations. When properly utilized, vault toilets can provide an alternative to conventional plumbing infrastructure in areas which are either difficult or not practical.
The design debate is now different. Instead of choosing a building the project team should look at the existing conditions on the site in order to determine which type of restroom is the best one for the area.
Capacity should reflect the actual usage
A quiet park in the neighborhood and an athletic facility in the region don’t experience the same visitor patterns. Demand for peak times is crucial. It is not enough to have a facility in good order on an afternoon on a Tuesday.
The planning around the actual usage helps owners plan for restroom dimensions, layout, fixtures, access to maintenance and other operational demands prior to 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
It’s not a requirement that the appearance of a bathroom be ignored. A public bathroom is a part of the landscape. The forms of the roof walls, sidings, colors fixtures and masonry can be used to link it to the nearby pavilions, concessions structures, natural surroundings or a community design theme.
Romtec’s custom approach permits team members to choose from a variety of materials and colors, shapes as well as exterior treatment and shapes, rather than being limited to a standard appearance.
Designing for the Space, not only the Goal
Romtec works with park owners and contractors in order to construct and supply restrooms and other public structures. Its experience includes building documents codes, building documentation, ADA considerations, engineering choice of components, as well as construction across the United States.
However, the crucial start point is really simple. Do not begin by asking what restrooms can be built on your property. Know the location, people, and activities that already exist. Design the structure that fits in with the existing structures.