Following the success of Landolt + Brown’s WC’s at London Victoria, Network Rail asked the practice to produce a full design guide for public toilets in managed stations, as the pilot document in a series which will adopt a new national format and graphic identity. This design guide has been carefully structured to provide an important context to technical guidance, reinforcing the need to put passengers first, without compromise to major working-level requirements relating to ease of maintenance, security and longevity.

Complex in detail, the development of this design guide involved comprehensive analysis of changing passenger patterns, including gender split and behavioural changes emanating from removal of paid turnstiles. Taking on board the latest best-practice thinking in terms of accessibility and diversity, including facilities for those with the highest level of care needs, gender neutral facilities and for seen and unseen disabilities. Wayfinding has also been re-cast to improve the hierarchy of graphic information. In terms of construction detailing, robustness and longevity have been at the forefront, using tough and timeless materials and methods of construction that give a sense of dignity and privacy, as well as being fully secure in the most demanding of crime-related environments.