Imagine two public restrooms. One is situated next to a bustling community playground and sports facility. One is a trailhead in a rural location surrounded by wide open spaces.
They each provide the same basic service. However, if you create them in identical structures, they will not work in the same way.
Image credit: romtec.com
The site is the first step in the construction of a decent public restroom. Who is going to use it? How many persons are permitted to be in the facility at once? What services are available? How far should visitors walk? What is the architectural style that surrounds the building?
Answering these questions can influence most of the subsequent decisions.
Begin by watching how visitors move through the site.
The placement of restrooms should not be viewed as a separate thing from the rest a park. In a complex for sports there are large crowds that crowd around games and events. It is essential that the bathroom for an area for play be situated at a suitable location for families. It should also be able to fit safely into the traffic flow. In a city setting, sidewalk restrooms may have to fit within a narrower footprint and be able to complement other streetscape elements.
The building itself is not the complete experience. Location is influenced by surrounding environment accessibility, walkways, and the activities.
Remote sites create a new Problem
Removing the project from existing streets and infrastructure. The traditional sewer line may not be available at a scenic view point or in an isolated recreation area or campgrounds. or in other locations. 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 about design is distinct. Teams working on projects do not need to pick a location prior to evaluating the site and determining which bathroom system works most effectively.
Capacity Should Reflect Real Use
A park in a peaceful area and a sports complex in the region don’t share the same pattern of visits. Demand at peak times is important. Peak demand is important.
Before building, homeowners should think about the use of restrooms, including their capacity, layout, fixtures and requirements for maintenance.
The flexibility of the prefabricated park toilets can be very valuable to organizations considering the facilities. Instead of requiring the building to follow a particular design, the facility is able to be customized according to what is required for the particular project.
Architecture Still Should Be Part of the Conversation
It’s not just because it’s a function. A public restroom is a part of the landscape. Forms of roof, siding, colours as well as fixtures, masonry and other architectural elements can help relate it to adjacent pavilions or concession structures or the natural surroundings an established design theme, or a community.
Romtec’s unique approach to design allows teams to utilize various materials, colors and shapes, as well as exterior designs, instead of being restricted to a standard appearance.
Design for the Environment It’s not just about the function.
Romtec collaborates with park owners, landscape architects, and contractors to plan, supply, and install restrooms and other public buildings. Its expertise includes building documentation and code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering components, selection of the right component, and construction across the United States.
The key starting point is, however, surprisingly easy. Make a decision about the kind of bathroom you’d like build. Start by understanding the people, activities infrastructure, and the environment that is already there. Design the building that fits within.