Hotels, restaurants and leisure venues invest heavily in architecture and interior design, creating immersive and memorable spaces. However, when it comes to accessible washrooms and bathrooms, these areas often feel clinical and poorly integrated within the overall design scheme. In this article Tom Planck, MD of John Planck Ltd and sole UK distributor for bathroom specialist FROST Denmark, explores the disconnect between compliance and design in accessible washrooms.
From statement lobbies and Instagrammable bars, to luxurious bedrooms with premium finishes, hotels, restaurants and other leisure venues go the extra mile to create standout environments no matter what the desired aesthetic.
Carefully considered and cohesive throughout, design principals are meticulously applied to create a consistent and high-end experience that keeps bringing customers back. But all too often, accessible spaces such as washrooms and bathrooms are not afforded the same design considerations, delivering a jarring contrast that does not sit with the overall scheme.
Whilst efforts may be made to align tiling and colour schemes with the wider interiors, when it comes to room layouts and functional elements such as grab rails, foldable seats and arm supports, we regularly see bulky, institutional looking fixtures, often in completely different finishes to the rest of the space, spoiling the visual appeal. There’s a real lack of cohesion, which is where design fluidity and a luxurious aesthetic can often be let down or lost entirely.
One of the key reasons for this is that design teams often treat accessibility as a technical requirement, not a design opportunity. They tend to be focussed on meeting minimum Part M standards and ticking compliance boxes rather than delivering actual comfort, ease of use and aesthetic quality. The major objective of any architectural scheme in the hospitality sector is ultimately to impress the guest but often not every guest is adequately considered.
It is also accurate to say that another reason for this is that historically, designers have had no other choice. Accessible products have been designed for their functional and medical purpose, with little thought given to aesthetics. This has meant that the market has had very few alternatives to offer designers to the white plastic rails, bulky fixtures and low style finishes that bathroom manufacturers produced.
This, however, is no longer the case. Leading bathroom product manufacturers have recognised the need to develop more design conscious accessible solutions and are putting greater focus on creating design-led accessible products that marry functionality with style.
Slimmer profile rails that not only look stylish but are ergonomically comfortable to use are now more readily available. They come in a range of finishes and materials too, to coordinate with other bathroom fixtures such as taps and showerheads. These include matt, brushed and polished finishes in black, gold, copper and steel, with options to suit any design scheme, whether modern, traditional or even Scandinavian.
Sleek, discreet and most importantly comfortable foldaway seats and supports are also available for shower areas and other spaces where those who may struggle to stand for extended periods need them.
Interior designers and architects should remember when they are approaching any design scheme the focus should be on designing for everyone, rather than designing different spaces for different needs.
Accessible washrooms and bathrooms should be specified with the same care as any other guest facing space and brought into the main design narrative from the start. Not just as a box ticking, ‘compliance’ factor but as a core design consideration. Products should blend into the wider scheme, not stand out. If polished chrome brassware is specified for bathrooms, ensure that co-ordinating accessibility solutions are available too, so that the finish is consistent across the whole space.
Not only is a better approach to accessibility in bathrooms and washrooms important from a design point of view, but it is also important from a commercial aspect. In the UK we have an ageing population and the number of guests in hospitality venues with additional mobility needs is only ever going to increase. Such destinations need to cater for this audience sufficiently. Not just by providing one accessible washroom in a restaurant for example, but by ensuring inclusivity is embedded throughout the entire customer journey.
Focussing on inclusive design will undoubtedly help to attract a broader customer base and enhance guest satisfaction. Having poor accessible facilities can only heighten reputational risk, lead to bad reviews on social media, and alienate a growing customer base who need this provision.
The same principles apply to residential environments. Whether private homes for those in later life, residential care homes or later living developments, once architects and designers approach accessibility as a core, integrated design principle, schemes will feel more cohesive and considered and the overall design will be significantly enhanced. Not only will this mean occupants benefit from a more comfortable, homely environment, but it will also strengthen an architect’s or interior designer’s reputation for delivering well-considered, future-proofed spaces, opening up further opportunities within the growing ageing population and later living sectors.
The continued introduction of more stylish accessible bathroom solutions to the market will, and is already, making accessible design integration much easier for those in the industry. It is now up to them to use their skills to make accessibility an integrated and almost ‘invisible’ cohesive factor in design-led hospitality.