Universal Design Tips: Lessons Learned from Two UD Homes

By John Salmen and Ron Ron Knecht

Authors John Salmen and Ron Knecht had the vision and the means to design and build homes in which they can age in place. In Universal Design Tips, the two explore potential Universal Design elements and features found in their early twenty-first century homes in the United States. Universal Design Tips presents an insightful and practical design, building, and architectural guidebook for helping developers, architects, and homeowners better understand the principles of universal design, a design and building methodology and approach that ensures homes are widely accessible for all people regardless of impairments, size, or age. Filled with the lessons learned from their personal experiences, as well as Salmen’s lifelong career in the field of accessibility, Universal Design Tips works through each element of a UD home and offers advice, tips, and ideas. It empowers builders and architects to create homes where people can live safely, independently, and comfortably for years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: May 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483466774

Book preview

Universal Design Tips

Lessons Learned from Two UD Homes

John Salmen, FAIA and Ron Knecht

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Copyright © 2017 Universal Designers & Consultants, Inc.

Editor: Daria Rogers

Layout Designer: Brittany Ruffin

Layout Designer: Erin Bolt

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 9781-4834-6678-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6982-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6677-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017904203

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 05/04/2017

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank: Daria Rogers for her magnificent editing of this book and her cat herding abilities that kept everything organized and on schedule; Brittany Ruffin for her countless hours of laying out and revising the book to make it clear and beautiful; Erin Bolt, Maureen McKeron, Carlos Rodriguez and the rest of the Universal Designers & Consultants Inc., staff for their support and assistance in assembling the document. And to the many, many designers, clients and friends from whom we have learned.

From The Center for Universal Design College of Design, North Carolina State University

The Principles of Universal Design were conceived and developed by The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. Use or application of the Principles in any form by an individual or organization is separate and distinct from the Principles and does not constitute or imply acceptance or endorsement by The Center for Universal Design of the use or application.

A Note:

This book is a snapshot of the growing list of tips of Universal Design details and features maintained by UDConsultants.com to be included in future updates of this book. We welcome your contributions to grow the list and suggestions to improve our delivery, in the hope that the next edition will be even better! This book explores potential Universal Design elements and features found in two early 21st century homes in the United States from the perspectives of their owner/designers, both of whom created homes where they could age in place.

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Contents

Chapter 1

Why Universal Design?

• The 7 Principles of Universal Design

• The Three Pillars

• Universal Design Building Blocks

Chapter 2

Planning

• Timeline

• Professionals

• Site Locations

• The Program

• The Concept Phase

Chapter 3

Systems & Materials

• Driveway and Exterior Paths

• Flooring

• Walls

• HVAC

• Lighting and Electrical

Chapter 4

Rooms and Elements

• Exterior Doors

• Interior Doors

• Windows

• Horizontal Circulation

• Stairs

• Elevators

• Grab Bars

• Bathing

• Lavatories

• Toilets

• Kitchen Counters

• Kitchen Appliances

• Laundry Rooms

• Storage

Afterword

About the Authors

Chapter 1

Why Universal Design?

U niversal Design is the process of designing spaces and products so that they can be used by the widest possible range of people. Unlike Accessible Design, which focuses specifically on addressing the needs of people with disabilities, Universal Design recognizes that we all exist somewhere on a wide continuum of human ability. Everyone, even the most able-bodied person, passes through childhood, periods of temporary illness, injury and old age. By designing for the full spectrum of human needs and abilities, we can create spaces that are safer, easier, more convenient and more comfortable for all people to use. Simply put, Universal Design is good design.

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Ron’s newly constructed single-level house in the country.

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John’s fully renovated, multilevel historic home in urban Takoma Park, Maryland.

This book is intended to assist people who want to design and build a Universally Designed home that will accommodate their needs as they age. According to AARP’s research report Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, nearly 90 percent of older adults want to age in place, remaining in their homes and communities safely, independently and comfortably for as long as possible. A Universally Designed house can help accomplish this goal by meeting its residents’ changing needs over time.

John and Ron, this book’s authors, had the vision and the means to design and build homes in which they can age in place. There are some differences between their two projects. John’s house is a remodeled historic property, while Ron’s house was built from the ground up. John’s home is located in an urban setting, while Ron’s is in the countryside. John’s house was completed in 2001, while Ron’s house was finished in 2011, allowing it to incorporate new technology that wasn’t available 10 years prior. Despite these differences, both homes were designed to support the owners and their families as they grow older. John and Ron’s different personal experiences provide two complementary viewpoints of how to plan and build a Universally Designed home.

This book is filled with tips and ideas that will be useful for you as you go through the process of designing and constructing your own Universally Designed home. When reading this book, you will notice that each section deals with one area or element of the home (e.g., exterior doors, bathing, and kitchen counters, just to name a few). Whether you are designing your whole house or simply remodeling one area, you will be able to quickly refer to the relevant section in order to find all of the information that you need. Included are insights from both Ron and John describing their personal experiences, and you will also find lists of Universal Design tips to help you design the house of your dreams.

We hope that these tips and stories will help empower you to create a home where you can live comfortably, safely and accessibly for many years to come.

The 7 Principles of Universal Design

Developed in 1997 by a team led by architect Ron Mace at the Center for Universal Design, these principles describe an approach for designing spaces and products that can be used by