The Rise in Design Led Disabled Washrooms
The commercial wash space is seeing a strong move towards accessible washrooms with design at the forefront of specifications.
According to the Royal Institute of British Architects, inclusive design is good design. This marks a significant turning point for washrooms in the commercial space, which until recent years, have largely fallen into a pretty standardised format.
This is because criteria for safety and usability has traditionally been met with functionality first. However, with commercial washrooms now being considered as a much more important and valuable part of architectural design, the wash space continues to evolve in new directions.
Disabled washrooms have long suffered at the hands of deliverability with little in the way of innovation taking place when it comes to clever design. We have made huge strides as an industry in producing durable, hard wearing, and functional items in the disabled space. At their best, these items have collectively made washrooms more accessible and easier to use. Today, with more of an eye for detail and modern aesthetics, these washrooms are now seamlessly integrating into a building’s overall, look, feel and vibe.
Inclusive design is good design
Royal Institute of British Architects
Buildings, have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the people who live, work, and dwell in them. So it only makes sense that accessible design is being taken more seriously.
Armitage Shanks, a name synonymous with stylish washroom design, have pushed forth into transforming the accessible wash space with its new Silk Black Doc-M pack. These Doc-M packs deliver washrooms with all the items they need to comply with Document-M of Building Regulations in the UK. A complete kit of grab rails, full height toilet pan, wash basin and specific criteria for the tap controls. They’ve been a convenient choice for many architects and commercial washroom installers, but with this new line from Armitage Shanks, the room begins to look a little less clinical, and a little more luxe.
We have sharp lines, rails that overshoot the wall mount - something we have seldom seen in disabled washrooms until now. There’s an elegant matte finish to the metalwork that is followed through with the washbasin waste trap, toilet seat and brush. To say it has been a popular choice with clients is an understatement.
Meanwhile, Ideal Standard have also stepped forward with its Contour Freedom Disabled Shower Pack. With chrome, grey and silk black finishes, the same clean lines and domestic driven finish is given to the accessible shower pack. Grab rails that look like they belong in high-end hotels, fold down seats that have a chic finish and a distinguished overall feel that is fit for contemporary museums, rather than an outpatient’s hospital clinic.
The Armitage Shanks Concept Freedom Wall Hung Doc-M Toilet Pack includes a complete set of black grab rails, providing a stylish and modern finish for any disabled toilet room.
There’s been a change to adapt existing bathrooms in residential buildings, into these modern, design driven accessible wash rooms. Before, it was a renovation project for aging home owners, or for properties marketed for those downsizing for later years - which in turn limits the market when it comes to buyers or tenants. Now, these bathrooms strike a dynamic balance, delivering easy-on-the-eye aesthetics, appealing to a much broader range of users, and giving a huge usability life at the same time.
These newly designed accessible features have a smooth uniform surface, making them quick and easy to clean, ideal for hygiene requirements. The weld points are kept to a minimum, reducing joints and seams, which are areas where bacteria and dirt can build up.
One of the most impactful choices to make in washroom design, is giving consistency through the entire space. Options have been somewhat formulaic until recently, stifling integration with the rest of the building. With a wider range of options and finishes now available, it’s becoming simpler to bring fluidity through workspaces, hospitality venues like restaurants and hotels, and even in modern academic institutions.
So while accessible washrooms like Changing Places continue to be much needed facilities, rooms that new building development schemes need to embrace, the eye for design needn’t be dropped.
There’s been a change to adapt existing bathrooms in residential buildings, into these modern, design driven accessible wash rooms. Before, it was a renovation project for aging home owners, or for properties marketed for those downsizing for later years - which in turn limits the market when it comes to buyers or tenants. Now, these bathrooms strike a dynamic balance, delivering easy-on-the-eye aesthetics, appealing to a much broader range of users, and giving a huge usability life at the same time.
These newly designed accessible features have a smooth uniform surface, making them quick and easy to clean, ideal for hygiene requirements. The weld points are kept to a minimum, reducing joints and seams, which are areas where bacteria and dirt can build up.
One of the most impactful choices to make in washroom design, is giving consistency through the entire space. Options have been somewhat formulaic until recently, stifling integration with the rest of the building. With a wider range of options and finishes now available, it’s becoming simpler to bring fluidity through workspaces, hospitality venues like restaurants and hotels, and even in modern academic institutions.
So while accessible washrooms like Changing Places continue to be much needed facilities, rooms that new building development schemes need to embrace, the eye for design needn’t be dropped.
Strong bathroom design in Care Homes is essential to ensure the very best care for residents, as well as ensuring that carers are able to do their jobs properly, providing the requisite level of care and reducing the risk of injury.
Key features of any accessible bathroom include Document-T compliant Washroms and contrasting Grab Rails as well as non-slip flooring, such as vinyl or PVC, as well as slip mats in wet rooms and shower cubicles to prevent accidents. Avoiding sharp edges can also be useful, so consider basin and drawer shapes to further reduce the risks of harm. Taking mobility issues into account is also essential, and it is likely that you will need to install the likes of grab bars and safety rails strategically throughout the space.
If you’d like to talk about modern design in accessible wash spaces, feel free to reach out to one of the Commercial Washrooms team on 01202 650900
