Universal Design
What is universal design?
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Sometimes an idea comes along that is so good we wonder how we ever did without it. Once little-known and even less understood, universal design is one such idea. The concept began with the desire to make products and places safe and accessible for everyone -- the elderly and the very young, people with physical challenges, short people, tall people, and everyone in between. Home owners and design professionals realized that homes should be respectful and inclusive of differences among residents and guests, in all stages of life, and enable people to grow, change and age in place.
While universal design is a gift to the elderly and to people with physical challenges, said Les Thorpe, Universal Design Certified Professional and owner of Thorpe Construction Company in Virginia Beach, Va., growing numbers of active adults, especially baby-boomers, are also choosing homes with the UD advantage. These are adaptable quarters, where residents can plan to age in place, stay in their own homes and live independently, even if they develop health or mobility issues in the future. Of course, different people have different circumstances and goals for their homes, Thorpe noted. Currently four tiers of design exist to meet that range of needs. UD is the most inclusive since its aim is to accommodate everyone, he explained. There are seven principles of UD, and these influence everything from the floor plan to the landscaping to the door handles. A well-planned UD project is all about accessibility and being barrier-free, Thorpe noted, and all of this can be accomplished without forfeiting style. |
Home-safety checklist
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Common flaws in standard design
Standard design presents numerous challenges that universal design was created to overcome, with the most obvious being access to and from the home, or the everyday coming and going.
Thorpe said he's amazed at the unavailability of access to new homes being built today, with standard steps leading to only one point of entry. "The building industry, or more like your large tract home and semi-custom home builders, have yet to acknowledge the market they're ignoring," he explained. Many builders say they fear a stigma; they don't want their homes to look accessible. "But I find that a real shame, especially when universal design is openly out there for all to see and learn from," Thorpe said. Some builders try to pull off an aging-in-place model home with a wider hallway, a first-floor master suite and a few bathroom features, but still no access to the house other than the front steps, he noted, adding, "It must be very frustrating for the family with a physically challenged person who doesn't have that option."
Flood-zone codes are also changing, and some are already in place. This means that any property in a flood zone will have to abide by the new regulations, one of them being the first-floor height requirement. This will call for first-floor elevations to be higher than current code; even houses on slabs might then be a couple of steps high. Accessibility goes back to the design, Thorpe said. "There are very simple solutions that are not overly expensive or hard to implement. In fact, simple features should be showcased to demonstrate to thousands of people just how easy it is to provide access to new construction or remodel projects," he suggested. "Universal design features should be standard features not special features."
Thorpe said he's amazed at the unavailability of access to new homes being built today, with standard steps leading to only one point of entry. "The building industry, or more like your large tract home and semi-custom home builders, have yet to acknowledge the market they're ignoring," he explained. Many builders say they fear a stigma; they don't want their homes to look accessible. "But I find that a real shame, especially when universal design is openly out there for all to see and learn from," Thorpe said. Some builders try to pull off an aging-in-place model home with a wider hallway, a first-floor master suite and a few bathroom features, but still no access to the house other than the front steps, he noted, adding, "It must be very frustrating for the family with a physically challenged person who doesn't have that option."
Flood-zone codes are also changing, and some are already in place. This means that any property in a flood zone will have to abide by the new regulations, one of them being the first-floor height requirement. This will call for first-floor elevations to be higher than current code; even houses on slabs might then be a couple of steps high. Accessibility goes back to the design, Thorpe said. "There are very simple solutions that are not overly expensive or hard to implement. In fact, simple features should be showcased to demonstrate to thousands of people just how easy it is to provide access to new construction or remodel projects," he suggested. "Universal design features should be standard features not special features."
Integrating universal design at Thorpe Construction Co.
"When we talk about universal design, I like to think that we have been implementing many of these essential features for our clients all along, without having had an official name for it," Thorpe said when asked why he pursued the specialty. "UD is actually a viable tool for every project we're involved with, even if our clients don't understand," he said. "We incorporate our designs with UD's seven principals as much as possible, and once clients realize that the features won't make their new homes or renovation projects look 'institutional' or different, and they won't be drawing attention to themselves, they are more accepting and greatly appreciative."
