Public Toilets for Berlin

In this detailed participation process, TSPA evaluated existing locations and identified new locations, equipment characteristics defined, and potential cooperation partners suggested.

New toilets sites in Berlin have been formulated with requirements for safety, equipment and environmental friendliness, hygiene, and maintenance. Our strategy foresees three supply scenarios: 257 public toilets to be built in the context of the basic provision (2019 to 2020). Depending on financial circumstances, 366 locations will be targeted for improved supply (implementation 2021 to 2022).

After evaluation, an extended coverage option will be considered, with 447 sites. This extended supply should not be tackled by 2024 at the earliest.

Public toilets are public infrastructure, so they have to integrate into the city, harmonising with historic districts, tourist destinations, and transit hubs alike. However, integration should not render them unrecognisable. Public toilets must strike a balance - embodying aesthetic transcendence, while remaining distinctly identifiable.

Let’s think about the inside of public toilets. Inclusive design is paramount here, given the diverse public they serve. Herein inclusivity comes through design decisions such as high-contrast surfaces, surface heights, and sufficient space for the 3-point turn execution of a wheelchair.

There is another glaring design consideration for public toilets: safety.

Safety is not only about averting accidents and injuries, but also notions of perceived risk.

Safety and perceptions of safety are culturally dictated. In the case of Berlin: illuminated spaces and mirrored surfaces, strategically positioned near entrances, emerged as pivotal concerns for stakeholders.

Here’s a situational example: picture a public toilet at the periphery of a park. Should the door face the lively street that skirts the park's edge, or should it face the park itself? You’ll notice that, in Berlin, public toilets located near or in parks, always have the door facing toward areas of foot/non- and motorised traffic.

In Berlin, some public toilets are equipped with external urinals. The design provides visual privacy and weather protection, but these urinals conspicuously lack doors; these facilities, come without a fee. However, public toilets featuring a toilet bowl and sink, have doors, albeit at a fee. A bias toward those of us who stand while urinating. Not only in terms of provision, but also in terms of individual costs incurred.

We presented a gender-inclusive urinal design options to engage stakeholders. However, it became increasingly evident that doors were important for safety. Doors, particularly for those of us who must completely and/or partially undress while using the facilities, are very important.

The importance of hygienic public toilets can’t be overstated. It is a key criteria in the operating concept of public toilets, transforming them into valuable assets for the city.

Much like other public infrastructure standards, cleanliness impacts usage and maintenance. Public toilets: no exception. Berlin City insisted on automatic self-cleaning toilets. This serves the propose of streamlining maintenance operations, while ensuring controlled and accountable consumption of water and electricity.

It's not enough to merely provide facilities; the public must be aware of their existence and perceive them positively. Creating a dialogue around public toilets is vital. It's about more than just infrastructure; it's about enhancing the urban experience and ensuring equitable access.

The City of Berlin took on the role of communications through its marketing department.

The act of saving water and energy extends beyond mere operational efficiency; it embodies environmental and climate responsibility. Public toilets, as indispensable amenities, should mirror this approach.