From Landscape Plan to Building Site: Closing the Gap in Restroom Design

Imagine two toilets in public. One is situated next to a bustling public playground and sports area. One is a trailhead in a rural region that is surrounded by vast open spaces.

Both buildings offer the same service, however in the event that they were built in the same way it would be difficult to discern how these sites function.

Image credit: romtec.com

It is essential to choose the right site for building excellent public restrooms. Who will use the facility? How many people can arrive simultaneously? What amenities are available? How far will visitors have to take a walk? What style of architecture is surrounded by the structure?

How you answer these questions will influence most of the subsequent decisions.

Begin with how people move through the Site

Restroom placement shouldn’t be considered in isolation from other areas of a park. Visitors can show up in large numbers at the sports facility to watch events or games. Toilets that are used for play areas need to be accessible to families while integrating safely into pedestrian circulation. In urban environments the size of sidewalk restrooms might be smaller, and they might require a combination with other streetscape features.

The structure is just one piece of the experience. Location is influenced by surroundings, accessibility, pathways, and activities.

Remote sites can cause a new issue

The project must be relocated away from the paved street and utilities infrastructure. The sewer system of the conventional type may not be accessible at a scenic viewpoint or in an isolated recreation area, trailheads, campgrounds, or in other places. When properly utilized vault toilets may provide an alternative to traditional plumbing infrastructure in areas which are either difficult or not practical.

The design debate is now different. Instead of selecting a building in the beginning, team members will evaluate the conditions of the site and choose which toilet system best fits the space.

Capacity Should Be Reflective of the actual usage

A quiet neighborhood park and regional sports facilities do not have the same traffic patterns. The demand for peak hours is vital. It’s not enough to have a facility in good shape on the afternoon of a Tuesday.

Owners are able to plan their project around the needs of the bathroom, taking into consideration its capacity, 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 Continually Belongs to Us

The function doesn’t mean that appearance must be ignored. A public restroom is a part of the natural landscape. Roof shapes, siding colors fixtures, masonry and other architectural elements can aid in establishing a connection with adjacent concession buildings or pavilions and the natural environment, a well-established design theme, or the community.

Romtec’s custom approach allows teams to work with various materials, colors and shapes as well as exterior design, rather than being limited to a traditional appearance.

Designing for the Place, not Just the Purpose

Romtec collaborates with park operators contractors, park owners, as well as landscape architects to create, design and construct public restroom buildings. Its expertise extends to building documentation and code requirements, ADA considerations as well as the engineering process, selecting components and construction throughout the United States.

The primary starting point, however, is surprisingly straightforward. Make a decision about the kind of bathroom you would like to construct. Start by understanding the people, activities, infrastructure, and surroundings already there. Plan the structure that will fit into.