Public toilets for a more equal city

Consulting

Resisting going to the toilet even when the need is strong can lead to digestive tract problems and lower quality of life. Yet many people are reluctant to use public toilets. This is more common among women, and especially young women. The lack of and low quality of available toilets results in inequality in the public space. The solution is efficient, modern public toilets – which provide a safe, welcoming space that enables more people to spend more time in public settings.

Cities built for men

Public toilets for both women and men have long been available, but on closer inspection, they have not been very equal. The first pissoirs came to Sweden in the 19th century, and since then, men have been the norm for toilet visitors in the city. Later, when public toilets for women arrived, they often had the same design. The only major changes we saw were adaptations for wheelchairs and sometimes additional facilities like baby-changing boards, until Danfo developed the Family Toilet.

Jonas Olsson is the CEO of Danfo, Sweden’s largest manufacturer of public toilets.

– We need to adopt new ways of thinking about the purpose of public toilets. If we consider that their purpose is to make places accessible to more people, we understand that it’s a matter of creating safe, welcoming spaces. The public toilet building itself becomes an important piece of the puzzle.

One alternative to public toilets can be restaurants, but they may be closed when you need them, and they are often only available to guests. And there are many other places we would like more people to be able to visit, such as parks, nature areas, bathing beaches and playgrounds.

Public toilets at bathing areas increase customer satisfaction

Public toilet solutions are already available

The most important element in creating spaces that are inclusive of everyone is making sure there’s a toilet in the right place, where people need it. Next, the design of the toilet building is obviously important. Regular service and maintenance of the toilet building is important to ensure that its interior spaces are inviting and maximise the building’s useful life. Well-designed toilet buildings are durable, hold on to their neat and tidy appearance, and are easy to keep clean and in good repair through proper service and maintenance. Today’s public toilets have already undergone much technological development, and we have identified development opportunities that will take our toilet buildings to the next level.

Nevertheless, service and maintenance is the most important aspect. Jonas Olsson explains:
– Both we and other suppliers provide technically advanced solutions such as self-cleaning toilets, but the fact is that the decisive factor in providing a pleasant user experience is good operational service and maintenance. Operations and maintenance are vital when it comes to assuring an inviting experience for users. This is why we have our own operations and maintenance organisation in the form of Danfo360, which focuses solely on public toilets.

Operation and maintenance of public toilets Stockholm

Jonas relates that many organisations order toilet buildings with various extra options, such as an energy-savings package, a bicycle pump or an outdoor water tap. This helps redefine the toilet building as a service outlet, a place where the entire family can feel welcome.

Public Toilets adapted for target groups enhance sense of security

Public toilets can create security in the evening

Studies both in Sweden and abroad clearly suggest that access to public toilets means more visitors will come to a place and stay longer. This is especially true of women, families and the elderly – target groups which many destinations want to attract. If you succeed in attracting people of mixed gender and age to visit a place, or go out in the evening, it greatly enhances people’s sense of security. Jonas sums it up:

Public toilets make public places more equal. It’s easy to joke about toilets, but they are a serious matter. We need to start looking at the public toilet in a new light, as a safe place for everybody. And that’s why we have created a wide range of public toilets adapted for different types of sites. From the simplest toilet buildings to the Family Toilet. The Family Toilet in particular was developed in cooperation with children, with a focus on their and their families’ needs.

Do you want to create a safer, more secure experience for your visitors and encourage them to stay longer? Get in touch with us!

Public toilet developed with and for children