What does Universal Design mean?
These are design concepts, which were developed by a team of people over a number of years to address the special needs of the handicapped population. These concepts allow a person in a wheelchair or with limited mobility the dignity of being able to move through a home or business without the hindrance of steps, raised thresholds, or space constraints. All new-construction "public use" buildings are subject to these principals for both the employees and the public. These are principals that have evolved into implementation and now seem to simply be a way of life.
How can "Universal Design" principals impact our lives at home?
In new construction you have many considerations. A recent buzzword to the housing industry is "visitibility." This concept recognizes that America cannot be built to accommodate wheelchairs in every venue; however, we can make more areas of the home user-friendly to both homeowners and their wheel-enhanced guests. The goal is to make sure each new home has entry and bath facilities that allow for a dignified visit.
In addition, there are hundreds of subtle changes that are components of Universal Design. One of the ones we do not usually notice is lighting. In lighting design there are two kinds of light, general illumination and specific illumination or task lighting. Because slip-and-fall accidents in our own homes are a leading cause for injury, especially among the more "experienced" population, lighting is an issue. Depending on the age of the home and the economic level of the buyer/builder of the original structure, you may find lighting to be an area of misunderstanding.
As with any component of your home, a balance between cost and safety should be considered. For example, lighting for an entry area should have either two fixtures or a fixture with two bulbs - this allows for one bulb to burn out without the entire loss of light to the area. This same principal is important when lighting traffic patterns throughout the home and is especially important in areas with steps. This type of lighting is general lighting. These lights are essential and should be planned first.
Specific illumination or task lighting is something a little different. This is job-specific lighting. Lighting over the countertops and under the upper cabinets in the kitchen would be an example of this type of lighting. Job-specific fixtures can also be used to light a piece of art or an interesting architectural feature of your home. Lighting can set a mood in the room and can enhance the livability of your spaces. The bottom line is usually to define how much task lighting you might include in your project. Your architect, a licensed electrician, licensed builder, or a lighting specialist can help you make a plan to address all areas of the home.
I could go on and on. There are so many opportunities to simplify and create user-friendly spaces in our homes. I encourage you to consider the ways Universal Design can enhance your day-to-day lifestyle. I hope you found this info illuminating.
Universal Design - it's all good.
Sally Erickson Bornschein is a builder with POM Associates and represents the Homebuilders Association on the Grand Traverse Area’s Land Use and Transportation Study Group.
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