What are the best ways to incorporate public restrooms into urban landscape designs?

1 Location and visibility

The location and visibility of public restrooms can affect their usage, security, and impact on the surrounding environment. Ideally, public restrooms should be located in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as parks, plazas, transit hubs, or cultural venues, where they can serve the needs of the public and deter vandalism. Public restrooms should also be visible from multiple directions and well-lit at night, to enhance safety and convenience. However, visibility should not compromise privacy or create visual clutter. Public restrooms should blend in with the urban fabric and respect the scale, character, and history of the site.

3 Materials and technology

The materials and technology of public restrooms can affect their durability, sustainability, and hygiene. Public restrooms should be constructed with materials that are resistant to weather, wear, and vandalism, such as concrete, steel, or stone. They should also use materials that are easy to clean, maintain, and repair, such as tiles, stainless steel, or plastic. Additionally, public restrooms should incorporate technology that can improve their environmental performance and sanitary conditions, such as solar panels, water-saving fixtures, self-cleaning systems, or smart sensors.

4 Design and aesthetics

The design and aesthetics of public restrooms can reflect their identity, creativity, and quality. Public restrooms should not be boring or bland, but rather express their function, purpose, and context through their form, color, texture, and detail. They should also not be isolated or alienated, but rather engage with their surroundings and users through their orientation, shape, scale, and interaction. Furthermore, public restrooms should not be static or rigid, but rather adapt to their changing needs and conditions through their flexibility, modularity, and mobility.

5 Safety and security

The safety and security of public restrooms can ensure their reliability, trustworthiness, and respectability. Public restrooms should be designed to prevent and deter crime, such as theft, vandalism, or assault, by using strategies such as natural surveillance, lighting, signage, locks, or cameras. They should also be designed to protect and assist users in case of emergencies, such as fire, flood, or medical issues, by using features such as alarms, sprinklers, or first-aid kits. Moreover, public restrooms should be managed and monitored by responsible authorities or organizations, such as municipal agencies, community groups, or private operators, who can provide regular maintenance, cleaning, and supervision.

6 Participation and education

The participation and education of public restrooms can enhance their social, cultural, and educational value. Public restrooms should not be seen as mere utilities, but rather as opportunities for civic engagement, cultural expression, and public awareness. They should involve the input and feedback of the stakeholders, such as the users, the neighbors, the designers, and the managers, who can share their needs, opinions, and experiences. They should also showcase the history, identity, and diversity of the place, such as the local art, architecture, or ecology, who can inspire, inform, and educate the visitors.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?