8.0 - Email to Client
3/3/2024
Good morning Deniz,
I trust you are having a good weekend and my apologies in advance to email on a Sunday.
Thank you for meeting me last week. It is my understanding that your main focus is the development / improvement of the toilets. In order to initiate a first draft proposal to the space, I would need further understanding on the expected demographics and the full scope, dynamics usage required of the space.
When doing my initial investigation, Historic England states BH5 as GVII, list entry number 1272290 [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1272290], i might need further clarification and guidance as the project progresses.
I understand you are a Conservation Architect and being that BH5 is GVII, I would like to further understand your architectural intended approach to BH5 [please accept my apologies if I feel I may be making some unfunded assumptions, just trying to understand the scope of the requirements].
As part of the brief I understand the “Historic Dockyard” receives half a million visitors a year, all ages and abilities and there's the urgent need to establish a permanent public toilet, easy for visitors to find, that will shape a better experience when on site. BH5 was considered the ideal building for: a) historic building; b) vacant; c) accessible; d) easy to find; e) economically viable to generate income through private events and d) potentially playfully and culturally engage with the community & schools [TBC?] . The sustainable and economic viability of BH5 will depend on the potential revenue it generates which will revert to its GVII maintenance on the years ahead. Private hiring as a venue outside main site hours (without having to open up other venues).
Due to the unreliable nature of the weather in UK and further hostility when situated by the coast, indoor spaces are essential and profitable all year round. If the flexibility BH5 space is considered, taking advantage of high ceilings and vast flat foot-print, a flexible architectural multipurpose blocks that could accommodate flexible catering [external catering, not cooking facilities, hot and cold storage HACCP]
Concerning the toilets, if we are going to consider wide scope of usage, what is the intended plan:
adapt / improve the toilets public toilets and preserve the internal space as required for GVII building, and only limited scope of event types];
or develop the public toilets, not only by preserving as required for GVII building; consider the historic education of structural function of the building; but also adapt it considering the full scope of potential events, that will be wide in expected event demographics and site requirements [including eternal catering];
The mindset behind these questions are to understand the exact amount, type and shape of the public toilets following a “Toilet provision in buildings other than dwellings: a technical consultation paper public consultation” that closed on the 8th October 2023 and from wich there is some guidance [https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/toilet-provision-in-buildings-other-than-dwellings-technical-consultation/toilet-provision-in-buildings-other-than-dwellings-a-technical-consultation-paper].
In my operational experience within hospitality and venues operations, with mix-use demographics will require a master-plan onto the public toilets to make sure it is suitable for general public, private events, accessibility and children. Considering above points the public toilets will need to consider different usage requirements: day / night; general public / private events; adults / children.
If for example the site was also intended to accommodate a flexible open amphitheater suitable for children and adult performance, the toilet design would need to consider accompanied children, the guidance 19 [below] should be considered:
19. For wheelchair users in particular, a self-contained unisex toilet for independent use is the preferred option since, if necessary, a partner or carer of a different sex can enter to give assistance. Unisex wheelchair-accessible toilets should always be provided in addition to any wheelchair-accessible accommodation in single-sex toilet washrooms. Unisex wheelchair-accessible toilets should not be used for baby changing and separate facilities for baby changing room are recommended.
Points to address on design proposal, ahead of contract draft:
Improved design?;
reclaim/recycle to make this as sustainable as possible?;
PVs on the roof;
How is this made friendly, but robust? / design needs to be sturdy!
journey more fun?;
enhance the experience in the feeding room
Look forward to receive your feedback.
Carla
