How might we keep the POS clean and well-maintained?
Incorporate low-maintenance plants in the soft landscape to make POS cleaner.
- Certain plant species might attract more insects and birds. This may create droppings and other forms of disturbances. Plants should be carefully selected to minimise such issues or arranged away from main paths.
- Where fruit-bearing trees are nearby, clear dropped fruits from footpaths during fruiting seasons and remind the Regular.
- Consult the Genie and the Sage to maximise the ecological performance of POS, while minimising maintenance and risks.
Employ durable materials in the POS.
- Consider using materials that are easy to clean or dirt-resistant. For example, use porous safety surfaces that allow water to drain efficiently. Avoid uneven surfaces and grooves that trap dirt easily.
- Consider using heavy-duty materials that are scratch-proof and weather resistant.
- Consider using materials that are readily available from multiple sources. This enables easy and timely replacement of faulty components.
- Minimise the visual impact of material replacement, especially in cases where patterned materials are used.
Conduct regular reviews to identify risks in a timely manner.
Adopt natural lighting and ventilation to keep toilets and accessible unisex toilets (AUT) dry and clean.
- Use translucent materials and skylights to draw natural light into the toilet. This may supplement conventional mechanical ventilation systems.
- A doorless design for toilet entrances minimises the need to touch handles and promotes natural ventilation. However, some POS Personas, especially the Sage, may raise concerns about the safety and security of the design. This can be addressed by installing gate and limiting opening hours. We also recommend early discussion and coordination with concerned stakeholders. You may find it helpful to use Design Thinking Tool “Topic Cards” to facilitate discussion with relevant stakeholders.