Beyond the binary: Designing all-gender bathrooms with WAM

As part of Warren & Mahoney’s (WAM) ongoing dedication to creating inclusive spaces, WAM Associate Daniel Thompson who, along with fellow designers, academics and members of the LGBTQI+ community, has created a ‘Guide for All-Gender Bathroom Facilities’ - a step toward making public and private spaces safer and more accessible for all.

‘Beyond the Binary Bathroom’ was co-written by Thompson and architect Andrew Caldwell from JTB Architects. They lead a “Pride in Practice’ group in Wellington which provided input to the guide and encompasses people from other architectural firms, the Wellington City Council and Victoria University. 

Daniel Thompson / supplied

Architecture & Design: What are some of the most common misconceptions about all-gender bathroom facilities that the guide aims to address? 

Daniel Thompson: One common misconception is that all-gender bathroom facilities promote inclusion - but come at a significantly higher cost than traditional gendered bathrooms. While it’s true that individual all-gender bathrooms may be more expensive to build compared to a shared cubicle setup, the overall cost and space requirements may be lower due to fewer facilities being needed, all while maintaining compliance with regulations.

Another misconception is that all-gender bathrooms are shared bathrooms with part-height cubicles that anyone, regardless of gender, can use. This is not permitted under the NZ building code – and even if it was, this is not something we would advocate for.

How do you balance privacy, safety, and inclusivity in the design of these facilities? 

The great thing about all-gender bathrooms is that they offer excellent privacy for all users. Each bathroom is a fully enclosed room, just like you would have in your own home. This design enhances safety by providing individual, lockable rooms, as opposed to shared spaces with part-height cubicles. 

This setup allows anyone, regardless of gender identity, to use any facility that is available, which can be a more comfortable option than a gendered bathroom.

Could you share an example of a project where implementing all-gender bathrooms had a significant positive impact? 

All-gendered bathrooms were included in a project we have recently delivered, Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga – a new library, isite visitor information centre and art gallery in the town of Hāwera.

As Project Architect, incorporating all-gender bathrooms was a suggestion we made during the concept design phase, and our client was fully supportive. Once the decision was made and implemented, it was never a point of discussion again. The bathrooms were built, and we’ve received really positive feedback from the community. 

The all-gender bathrooms provide parents with the ability to assist their children without needing to enter a shared space that may not align with the gender of either the parent or the child.

Our Melbourne studio recently relocated, and all-gender bathrooms were included in the new space. The team preferred to maintain some gendered bathrooms, so we’ve labelled some rooms as male, some as female, and some as unisex. 

The key advantage here is that the necessary infrastructure is already in place - should the team choose to transition to all-gender bathrooms in the future, the change will be as simple as updating the signs on the doors. 

In what ways do you see this guide influencing broader architectural and design practices in Australia and beyond? 

My hope is that the guide encourages architects and designers to consider how relatively simple decisions made during the concept design phase can have a lasting impact on the lives of building users throughout the building’s life. This could include choices like incorporating all-gender bathrooms or improving space in accessible bathrooms.

How do you approach working with clients who may be hesitant about introducing all-gender facilities in their spaces? 

Our guide advocates for all-gender bathrooms from two key directions - one from an inclusivity perspective, and the other from a cost and space savings perspective. It’s unlikely you’ll work with a client that isn’t motivated by at least one of these factors. It’s also important to note that our guide explains that there will be projects, clients and situations where traditional gendered bathrooms are the best option. 

What we’re advocating for is that designers consider all-gender facilities early in the design process. As we have experienced with our Melbourne studio, installing separate toilet rooms doesn’t necessarily mean they must be all-gendered right away. They can still be gendered as needed, with a simple change in signage down the line as required.

All-gender bathroom facilities in action / supplied

What role do you believe inclusive design plays in shaping more equitable public and private environments? 

Inclusive design can be incredibly beneficial in creating environments where everyone feels welcome. Those who don’t need this inclusivity may either not notice a difference or may find that they also benefit from these changes. But for those who are gender non-confirming, we believe these adjustments can make a significant difference in how they feel when using a building, particularly when it comes to reducing the anxiety often associated with using bathrooms.

The bathrooms we’re advocating for are exactly the same as those we all have in our own homes - we’re just trying to bring this level of comfort to people in commercial and community spaces.

Were there any particular challenges you faced while developing the guide, and how were they overcome?

The guide was developed by our ‘Pride in Practice’ group (as mentioned above). Much of the work took place in the evenings and on weekends, which presented its challenges given our busy schedules and other commitments. There were a lot of strong opinions, but we kept our focus on delivering the guide as quickly as possible. 

Decisions about bathroom facilities are being made daily on projects, and the sooner we released the guide, the sooner we could get it in front of architects and those making these important decisions.

What are the next steps for WAM and the wider profession in advancing inclusive design principles like those found in this guide? 

At WAM, our belief is that everything is possible. Increasing inclusion through simple design changes early on is a privilege that architects and designers have in shaping the built environment. People may spend decades living and working in our buildings, so we owe it to them to do as much as we can to ensure these spaces are easy to live, play and work in long after we've handed over the project.

We’re incorporating this guide into our internal design reviews so that our teams can have these conversations with their clients in the early stages of a project, including discussions around all-gender bathrooms or gendered strategies. Personally, I’m also focused on improving accessibility for all. For example, we’re exploring the possibility of incorporating slightly larger-than-required accessible bathrooms as our default in buildings, making them easier to use while still adhering to the minimum standards where space is tight.

Image: Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga delivers inclusive spaces for all / supplied