Banheiros públicos e vida urbana: análise de forma e usos na orla do Recife

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the relationship between the use of public toilets and the built environment along sections of Recife’s waterfront, where facilities were recently renovated and replicated as part of the Orla Parque project. Public toilets are urban amenities for collective use, serving as catalysts for sustainable, accessible, and equitable cities. Characteristics of the urban form have been linked to promoting or hindering urban vitality. This study investigates the hypothesis that, although they provide adequate coverage for walkability along Recife’s waterfront, public toilets have diverse urban surroundings that impact urban vitality and toilet usage. On the other hand, it investigates the hypothesis that the toilets themselves contribute to the use of public space by diverse groups, while also examining users’ perceptions. Urban vitality was examined in terms of the mix of social groups, diverse neighborhoods, and the intensity of pedestrian flows. The study analyzed road network configurations by selecting four case studies to investigate the surrounding environment—land use, building density, and interfaces—and urban vitality, using questionnaires and behavioral and traffic flow mapping. Results revealed an asymmetrical distribution of street public toilets in Recife, concentrated along the waterfront (83.33%), mostly serving walkable distances (500 m). More spatially integrated surroundings had more passersby; however, the highest usage of the toilets was in the surrounding area, which, despite low overall integration, has more non-residential addresses and more interfaces with access and visibility (in Brasília Teimosa). Generally, toilets users came from farther away and stayed longer on the beach than those who do not usually use the toilets. Cleanliness and dirt were central concerns in users’ minds, but many pointed to insufficient capacity as the main area for improvement. The findings regarding the relationships between urban form and uses contribute to the urban planning of public toilets and the management of this infrastructure.