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 have traditionally been met by prioritising functionality. However, as commercial washrooms are increasingly recognised as an important and valuable part of architectural design, the wash space continues to evolve. 

Disabled washrooms have long suffered from poor delivery, with little innovation in clever design. We have made significant strides as an industry in producing durable, hard-wearing, and functional items for people with disabilities. At their best, these items have collectively made washrooms more accessible and easier to use. Today, with a sharper eye for detail and modern aesthetics, these washrooms are seamlessly integrating into a building’s overall look, feel, and vibe.

Buildings have a significant impact on the well-being 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, has pushed the boundaries of accessible wash space design with its new Silk Black Doc-M pack. These Doc-M packs provide washrooms with everything needed to comply with Document M of the UK Building Regulations. A complete kit of grab rails, a full-height toilet pan, a 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, carried through to the washbasin waste trap, toilet seat, and brush. To say it has been a popular choice with clients is an understatement. 

Meanwhile, Ideal Standard has also introduced its Concept Freedom Disabled Shower Pack. With chrome, grey, and silk black finishes, the accessible shower pack features the same clean lines and a domestically driven finish. 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 washrooms. Previously, it was a renovation project for ageing homeowners or for properties marketed to those downsizing in later years, which in turn limits the market for 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 providing a significant usability boost. 

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 in washroom design is to ensure consistency throughout the 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 easier to bring fluidity to workspaces, hospitality venues such as restaurants and hotels, and even 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.