Imagine two toilets in public. One is situated next to a bustling playground for the community and sports complex. The other is near a trailhead that is remote, and is surrounded by a vast open area.

Both provide the exact service, however, designing them as identical buildings will not take into consideration the different ways in which these sites work.

Image credit: romtec.com

Public restrooms that are good for the public begin with the site. Who will use it? What is the maximum number of people who can visit at the same time? What amenities are there? What distance must visitors travel? What architecture surrounds the building?

Answering those questions can shape any decision that is made.

Start With How People Move Through the Site

The location of restrooms shouldn’t be thought of in isolation from other areas of the park. In a sporting complex, large crowds may be gathered around games and events. It is crucial that the bathroom for a playground be located at a suitable location that is accessible to families, as well as be able to fit into the circulation of pedestrians. In urban environments the dimensions of sidewalk restrooms could be smaller, and they might need to complement other features of the streetscape.

The building is only one element of the experience. The area of the building’s site is influenced by many factors, including its access, activities nearby as well as the entrances, pathways, and routes.

Remote Sites Create a Different Problem

Now move the project away from streets that are paved and utilities infrastructure. It may be impossible to connect a scenic overlook or trailhead to a conventional sewer system. If the situation is right vault toilets can be an alternative for toilet facilities to serve areas where plumbing infrastructures of the traditional kind may be inaccessible or not practical.

It alters the conversation about design. Instead of deciding on a building in the beginning, team members will evaluate the conditions of the site and choose which toilet system best fits the space.

Capacity must reflect real-world use

A park in a peaceful neighborhood or a sports facility regionally do not have the same kinds of people who visit. Peak demand matters. A facility that is deemed adequate on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon can face different conditions at a tournament, festival, or any other type of community event.

Owners can plan their construction around the usage of the bathroom, based on the size, layout and fixtures, along with access to maintenance.

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.

The Architecture Conversation Still Belongs to Us

Appearance is not ignored just because it’s an aspect. A restroom is a visible part of a public space. The form of the roof walls, sidings, colors masonry and fixtures can be used to relate it to the adjacent pavilions, concessions and natural surroundings, or a common design theme.

Romtec’s individualized approach permits team members to choose from a variety of material and colors, shapes, exterior treatments and forms, as opposed to being restricted to a single appearance.

Design for Place and Not Only for Purpose

Romtec works with park owners contractors, owners and landscape architects to design, provide, and install public restroom buildings. Its experience includes building documentation codes, building documentation, ADA considerations, engineering components, selection of the right component, and construction throughout the United States.

The primary starting point, however, is surprisingly straightforward. Make a decision about the kind of restroom you want to construct. Begin by studying what is currently happening on the property such as people, activities and infrastructure. Design the structure that fits in with the existing structures.