Take a look at two public restrooms. Imagine two restrooms that are public. Another is near a trailhead that is remote, surrounded by vast open space.
Both buildings offer the same service but in the event that they were constructed as identical structures it would be impossible to understand how different these locations work.
Good public restroom buildings begin with the site. Who will use the facility? How many people may arrive at once? What utilities are available? How far will visitors have to walk? What architecture surrounds the building?
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How you answer those questions will influence nearly every decision that follows.
Begin by looking at how people are moving around the site
The position of restrooms must not be viewed as a separate thing from the other parks. At a sports venue, visitors may arrive in large numbers around games and events. It is important that a restroom for the playground is located in a location that is convenient for families. It should also be able to fit safely into the traffic flow. In a downtown area it is possible to fit sidewalk restrooms into a smaller footprint while complementing adjacent streetscape elements.
The building is just one part of the overall experience. Entrances, paths, activities accessibility, and the surrounding environment all influence whether its location works in practice.
Remote sites create a different Problem
It is now time to move the project from the paved streets and utility infrastructure. It is possible to not connect a scenic overlook and/or trailhead with an existing sewer system. If properly used, vault toilets can provide an alternative to the traditional plumbing infrastructures in places which are difficult to access or impossible to install.
This alters the discussion about design. Instead of selecting a building, project teams should evaluate the location’s conditions to determine which bathroom system will work best in the particular location.
Capacity ought to reflect Actual Use
The patterns of visitors to a quiet neighborhood park and regional sports facilities are different. Demand at peak times is important. It’s not enough to be in good shape on a Tuesday afternoon.
Making plans around actual usage can help owners consider bathroom dimensions, layout, fixtures, access to maintenance and other operational requirements prior to construction even begins.
The versatility of prefabricated park restrooms could be extremely beneficial to companies considering the facilities. Instead of requiring the location to conform to a specific model, the construction is able to be customized according to the needs of the project.
The Architecture Conversation Continually Belongs to Us
The function doesn’t mean that appearance must be ignored. The bathroom is an essential aspect of the public realm. Roof shapes, siding colors fixtures, masonry, and other features of architecture can aid in connecting it to nearby pavilions or concession buildings and the natural environment, an established design theme or the community.
Romtec’s custom approach allows project teams to mix different types of materials, colors, forms and exterior designs rather than being limited to the same appearance.
Designing for the Environment, not just the Design for the
Romtec collaborates with park managers contractors, owners and landscape architects to create, design and construct public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documents and code requirements, ADA considerations, engineering design, selecting components, and construction throughout the United States.
However, the important beginning point is actually quite simple. Begin by deciding on the type of restroom you want to build. Start by understanding the activities, people infrastructure, and the environment that is already there. Create the building which is suitable for this area.