8 critical design aspects for better public restrooms

There are many design considerations to keep in mind when it comes to new public restrooms and toilet facilities.

Yet decision makers in different roles tend to have different priorities. A landscape architect wants something that looks great. Someone from maintenance wants something that’s easy and cost-effective to maintain. A project manager may want an easy install and fast lead times, while someone from assets needs durability.

However, you never want to over-optimise one thing at the expense of another. For example, you can make something look amazing, but if it’s not easy to maintain you’re hurting yourself.

The good news is that there are commonalities — some considerations are indisputably more important than others. Here, we run through eight our experts suggest you should focus on to maximise value.

#1 Location

Location, location, location is a stereotype for good reason — it is arguably the prime consideration for any public restroom facility.

Poor location and siting can raise construction and maintenance costs, reduce usability and increase vulnerability to vandalism. Therefore, consider locating toilet facilities where:

• There is pedestrian traffic, or where there are “activity generators” such as playgrounds, BBQs, tables;
• They are opposite or near other regularly used buildings or facilities that offer casual surveillance;
• Sight lines are open and the facility is highly visible from all or most directions;
• Existing power, water and sewage lines and services are located nearby.

#2 Capacity

Efficient public toilet design should account for expected user volume and peak usage times to minimise queues and congestion.

Consider the location and anticipated foot traffic when determining the number of stalls, urinals, and sinks. If you’re using a design that has common access to a number of stalls and urinals, ensure clear pathways and adequate space.

Use data from similar facilities or conduct surveys to estimate usage patterns and adjust accordingly. Consider incorporating waiting areas with seating for high-traffic locations. By focusing on capacity and flow management, you can create a comfortable experience for users while reducing wait times.

#3 Accessibility

Access to public restrooms should comply with all Disability Discrimination Act requirements, and as a minimum, comply with the Australian Standard AS 1428 and AS 2890 to ensure that they are accessible to all users: people with disabilities, those with high support needs, the elderly, or parents with young children.

Universal access toilets typically offer greater space, wheelchair-accessible stalls, grab bars, lowered sinks and other fixtures to help access.

Changing Places facilities are also an option. These toilets go beyond standard accessibility with features like height-adjustable adult change tables, hoists, and extra space for carers, ensuring dignity and practicality for individuals with severe disabilities and their families.

Avoid designing in steps or steep ramps where possible — this reduces accessibility. In busy locations or in carparks, provide a clearly defined, accessible and safe pedestrian path to the toilet. Where there is co-located parking, you should strive to include at least one disabled parking bay.

#4 Ventilation

Ventilation has an enormous influence on the perceived comfort and hygiene. Proper ventilation is extremely effective at controlling heat and humidity — the presence of which vastly accelerates the growth of mould and odour-generating bacteria.

Fully enclosed brick and masonry toilet blocks are especially prone to odour-build-up. And once they become dank, stuffy and smelly there’s nowhere for those odours to escape. This demands more frequent cleaning, increasing long-term operational costs.

Choose design options that enable natural ventilation — air inlets located down low on walls, and outlet louvres at the top of the structure to maximise the natural flow of hot air up and out of the toilet block. Small gaps under stalls are very effective at improving ventilation, and vastly accelerate cleaning.

#5 Surfaces

Maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of germs should be a top priority in public toilet design. Part of this means selecting surfaces that are easy to clean and resistant to bacterial growth, such as non-porous surfaces and antimicrobial coatings.

For flooring, consider non-porous sealing options such as epoxy over a concrete floor. These materials are long-lasting and easier to clean.

An unsealed concrete floor might be tempting as it costs less, but the concrete will absorb urine (and other liquids). It’s very difficult to remove such odours and this can make people less inclined to use your facilities.

Some sealing finishes can be made to look deliberately “speckled”, which reduces the prominence of dirt and scuff marks in between cleaning.

Tiles (both large and small) can have excellent aesthetics, but are vulnerable to vandalism. The grout typically discolours and absorbs odours. Ultimately, the requirements to keep a tiled surface (floor or wall) looking pristine are very high.

For walls, ribbed mini-orb panels deliver superior vandalism and graffiti resistance. They’re extraordinarily easy to clean and their modular nature makes them very economical to replace if damaged.

#6 Exteriors

Exteriors require something that has an excellent aesthetic yet will last the distance.

Timber looks great, but is a very demanding material. Without regular maintenance it will split. Wood-look aluminium is much more durable. It offers the aesthetic appeal of timber and is easy to clean. Long-term maintenance is lower. It’s also excellent for coastal locations since it is not susceptible to salt-induced corrosion.

Aesthetically, the most important thing is to come up with a design that fits the built environment and the location, suits the history of the place and is still manufacturable (i.e., not wildly expensive).

Incorporating design elements or artwork on your exteriors that reflect local aesthetics or cultural heritage can help the facility blend with its surroundings and foster a sense of community ownership. Not only can this make a facility feel less purely functional, it also tends to inhibit graffiti.

#7 Lighting

LED lighting fixtures are standard these days due to their long lifespan and low energy consumption. The amount chosen should be sufficient to brightly illuminate the facility, and if it’s a standalone block, its surrounds. Lighting — both interior and exterior — is an important factor in minimising vandalism.

If you can, harness natural light for energy savings and to create a more pleasant environment. Be mindful of privacy and use frosted or translucent materials for windows or skylights.

Where you offer after-dark access, ensure there is adequate lighting inside the toilet facility, and along all access paths. Lighting should be consistent and even. Lighting fixtures should be vandal-resistant and out of reach.

#8 Fixtures and automation

Public toilet restrooms are subject to heavy use and sometimes, unfortunately, vandalism. Designing with durability in mind is essential for longevity and reduced maintenance costs. Robust stainless-steel fixtures can withstand frequent use and cleaning with harsh chemicals. Metal-clad doors are now common and much more difficult to damage.

Consider sensor-operated or spring-operated faucets, and electric hand dryers, but increased levels of automation (automatic flushing systems and cleaning, or automatic doors) can be a risk.

More moving parts means more things that can break and take your facility out of service. Repairing such things is typically difficult, time-consuming, and expensive — it requires specialist crews and parts that can be hard to source quickly.