What is Universal Design Part 1
Posted By Gary Renick on January 23, 2009
What is Universal Design
It is a set of design criteria developed to allow for people to age in place. Now this means that as we get older and less able to do the things we used to do, we can modify our homes easily because of the elements of universal design built into our homes. What the criteria are for Universal Design is covered by seven principals.
Principle 1
Equitable Use
“The building’s design should make it equally usable by everyone. Ideally, the means by which people use the building should be the same (e.g., providing one means of entry to the building that works well for everyone). If it cannot be identical, the several means provided must be equivalent in terms of their privacy, security, safety and convenience. The building must never employ means that isolate or stigmatize any group of users or privilege one group over another.”
What this means is ideally the front entrance to all new homes would be equally accessible to everyone including someone in a wheelchair. One way to do this is by using zero threshold entrances, along with gently sloped walkways and porches. And if steps are part of the architectural design use a hidden ramp or zero threshold entry to the porch byway of the driveway. And if it is not possible to make the front entrance accessible then the rear would be so.
Principle 2
Flexible Use
This is accomplished by varying counter height in the kitchen and allowing knee space below the lower counters so they can easily be used by someone standing or seated. Other examples of flexible use might be sinks that are electrically lowered and raised so people of differing heights can use it or someone seated again. The same might be done with a cook top. The oven can be placed at a height that allows for someone either seated or standing to easily load and unload it without bending over. The same can be done with the dishwashers. Designers and architects, as well as consumers, need to start thinking in unconventional ways. We need to keep our minds open to change and allow for the unconventional and unanticipated use of everyday things.
We will cover more of the seven principals of Universal Design in my next post. So until then as always breath Peace and God’s Love…………………………………………………………
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