The
husband of this young family had been in a wheelchair for most of his
life. When they moved into the home, many of the house’s features were
inconvenient for him, and interfered with his daily life. Because the
family plans to live in this home for many years, it was decided to take
the necessary steps to accommodate his needs, while adding to the beauty
and livability of the space. The design strategy embraced the essential
principles of universal design: providing the same means of use for
people with diverse abilities, flexibility of use, simple and intuitive
design, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical
effort, and size and space for approachable use. The clients wanted
visitors to the home to be unaware that any universal design elements
were used. The result is a beautiful new environment for the family,
with modern lines, interesting textural elements, greatly enhanced
functionality, and a design that embraces the majestic nature right
outside their living room. The result is a stunning home, accessible and
usable for all.
National Winner
