Why we need to give a crap about public toilets
How many people would compare the toilets that we experience in public spaces to the toilet we experience in our own homes? As Place Makers and destination creators, when extending our hospitality, we should definitely be considering the impression that our public toilets are communicating to our residents and visitors.
Toilets are a big deal. More than ever before.
We now understand how closely people link cleanliness with safety and security. We know we need them and we know that it is a public amenity that we have to supply.
But what do toilets mean when it comes to the importance and impact they have on the public and in spaces when it comes to destination identity?
Providing visitors access to adequately equipped and appropriate public amenity is critical to the visitor experience. We know that when people plan a road trip, they make calculated decisions about their pit stops first and foremost. This impacts where they spend their money and how long they will spend during their stop which for many road trippers can result in an overnight stay.
How often have you stopped at a McDonald's on a road trip, knowing full well you probably don't want to eat McDonald's but you trust that you will find a clean, well-equipped bathroom?
So many public toilets are like a prison cubicle. Hard surfaces designed to be cleaned, raw concrete floors, stalls to ensure that no one you know can get up to any mischief inside these very important spaces. Somewhere we can hose them out easily.
Charming...
But what if we reimagined the way in which public toilets are designed, located and integrated as part of overall place management?
Kings Park, in Perth, installed an incredible accessible amenities block called The Changing Place. What stands out is The Changing Place includes an electronically operated ceiling hoist and change table and an automatic door secured with an MLAK key. It’s important to note at it is one of over 100 similar facilities now available across Australia and 31 in Western Australia. People actively seek out facilities such as this (more on Changing Places further on).
Then there are toilets that integrate so beautifully with the public domain. Take Kumutoto toilets (pictured) in New Zealand for example. These public toilets are located at the Synergy Plaza in the Kumutoto precinct on Wellington’s waterfront. As well as taking into account practical considerations such as security, hygiene and vandalism, the brief was to create a structure with a sculptural form, something iconic, highly visible and unusual that was also well integrated into the visual and historical context of the surrounding precinct.
Toilets represent a terrific opportunity for landowners and councils, to really showcase a destination. When we tell ourselves that Place Making is important, that Place is about identity and personality. What are our public amenities saying about us? What story are our facilities telling our visitors?
We invest in the streetscape, planter boxes, paved footpaths and Christmas activations, all the outward trappings of presentation. Why then, aren’t we investing enough in our toilets?
Investment is necessary, especially in regional areas that embrace the drive market. Is your town pretty on the outside but barren on the inside? Most places will insist that it is not so, but is your public toilet telling a different story?
How can we all aspire to more?
On design and maintenance:
Service and upgrade public toilets to provide and ensure the soap dispensers and toilet paper are well stocked.
Regular daily cleaning on a schedule, especially on a public holiday when businesses are trading.
Install taps that are easy to use and don’t undo the hygiene purpose of washing your hand (i.e. less touching of the tap and sink, the better).
Monthly deep cleaning with high pressure or steam inside and out.
Incorporation of landscaping to integrate the toilets with the green space.
Materials used e.g. mosaic art and tiling is hard wearing and looks great.
On accessibility for all:
Universal design to ensure accessibility for all including children and adults who require a flat, remote adjustable flat bed facility. Changing Places are spearheading this change with toilets popping up around the world, in particular London and more recently in Australia at the Brisbane Domestic Airport.
Flexible, gender-neutral facilities which are no longer created as ‘mens’ and ‘women’ spaces. Plan for a single larger toilet space where dads can change a baby or a wheelchair can navigate.
For a new toilet facility, don’t be afraid to take a bold location, people are looking for that toilet, make it nice, make it obvious, smart businesses owners will appreciate it
When planning new toilet builds - think about your maximum capacity especially in event spaces.
One last thing. Enough with the ‘disabled toilet’ language. The community wants accessible toilets. Clean, nice, well-stocked, pretty and functioning ‘accessible for everyone’ toilets.
