Universal Design
First off, what is Universal Design? (or another term you may have heard as well,
"Barrier Free") When it comes
to architecture, it means that the home is designed in such a way that it is accessible for all walks of life; the home is practical for someone regardless
of their size, age, if there's a disability or not.
The idea for universal design in housing grew out of the recognition
that, because most of the features needed by people with disabilities were also
useful to others, there were plenty of reasons to make their inclusion common
practice. An example of a universal feature that makes common activities
easier for all would be raising electrical outlets to 15 +". above the floor.
This eliminates the need to bend over as far, in turn, making them easier for
everyone to use. Moving is also much
easier in houses with step-less entrances and wider doors and hallways. Other design features create experiences many
people have not had before. For instance, bathrooms with extra floor space (so
designed to accommodate users of mobility aids) are perceived as up-scale and
people bask in their new-found ability to have furniture and decor options in
the bathroom. (Oh the luxury of having
room for a changing table, or a vanity table and chair, perhaps an etagere, not
to mention it would certainly set your home apart !) And it can easily be removed if the space is
ever needed to accommodate a family member or friend.
Universal design in housing isn't a new science or style by any
means and really only requires an awareness of need and market as well as a practical
approach. The goal is to produce an environment that can be usable by everyone
to the greatest extent possible. Typically
it requires only slight changes in small things to get a good start, like the
shape of something, its placement or size, its operation, or the way in which
the user must interact with the item.
Now some people may have pre-conceived ideas that crop up when
this universal design concept is explained.
But just because a home is built for functionality for all, doesn't mean
it can't also be aesthetically pleasing. And when a home is constructed with
both concepts in mind (beauty and universal design) you can have a masterpiece
that is as pleasing to the eye as it is practical. For a real world example, I
give you 12035 Hobby St SE in Yelm.
http://www.matrix.nwmls.com/DE.asp?k=3107918X2KG0&p=DE-67164891-758
This Wiens Log Home was custom built in every aspect according to
universal design and as you can see, it's quite the show-stopper.
If you're looking for a way to set your house apart from the usual
selection, maybe try doing some alterations and see what happens!
