Myths about universal design

Rosemarie Rossetti speaks around the US about universal design housing. Universal design refers to designing products or environments that are accessible or usable by people with different abilities. She’s noticed over the years that several unhelpful myths have emerged about universal design that present unnecessary obstacles to its implementation.  

This article serves to help debunk those myths, and to explain how universal design can help you grow your holiday rental business by attracting travellers of all abilities.

Rosemarie Rossetti, PhD, built the Universal Design Living Laboratory, a national demonstration home and garden in Columbus, USA, which is both a universal design home and a green home. She’s nationally known in the US as a speaker, trainer, author and consultant. To learn more about the Universal Design Living Laboratory, go to www.UDLL.com.

Contact: Rosemarie@UDLL.com

Website: www.RosemarieSpeaks.com

Reality: Accessibility is about compliance with regulations and building codes. Universal design is about creating environments that give people flexibility, choices and options in how they use those environments. Accessibility is often a starting point for universal design, but beyond merely giving access, it aims to empower people.

Reality: The beauty of a home with universal design depends on the skill and experience of the designers. Well-designed homes use universal design features and products to enhance the beauty of a home, while making it functional for people with disabilities, as well as convenient for people without disabilities. Universal design is for everyone, not just people with disabilities. There are many beautiful universal design products on the market that have a non-institutional look, such as grab bars with coloured vinyl, bronze, satin nickel and polished brass finishes. Much of a home’s beauty comes from the finishes of the plumbing fixtures, appliances, hardware, cabinets, worktops, wall treatments and flooring. Experienced and knowledgeable designers can find universal design products that are available in these beautiful finishes.

Reality: My experience building my own home, the Universal Design Living Laboratory, a national demonstration home and garden in Columbus, USA, has shown that there are many choices when it comes to selecting products for the home. As a general rule, those with universal design features are not more expensive, even though early adopters have paid the price for being ahead of the curve — as appliances with universal design features become more accepted, their prices are reduced. In fact, with the addition of design features and products that support universal design, the home will increase in value for the occupants, as it will be usable throughout their lifetimes.

Reality: Quite the opposite is true. Universal design is aimed at a large market of people of all ages and abilities. Universal design is human-centred design. The inclusive design of spaces and products is beneficial to people of all ages, with or without physical or mental limitations. Nobody can predict when a short-term or long-term disability will become a part of their lives. It is far better to design homes that can accommodate us as we age, rather than be forced out of our homes when circumstances change. As the US population gets older, many people, especially the baby boomers, will be remaining in their homes for longer. Many are opting to renovate their homes, and others are choosing additions that can help them to age in their homes. Some are purchasing a new home that is smaller than their last home. Even families with young children find universal design houses to be more convenient. They are all looking for features that provide safety and convenience as they raise a family or age in their homes. Universal design features ensure safety and add value to a home.

Reality: Space planning is critical in home design, especially when the homeowner uses a wheelchair. As a person who uses a wheelchair, I am very cognisant of where extra space is needed and how to be conservative with space when you’re creating a floor plan. By creating an open plan with fewer hallways, square footage can be conserved. Including adequate space in the kitchen and bathrooms creates much greater accessibility, comfort and convenience. A universal design home doesn’t need additional square footage, but rather needs adequate clear floor space so that a person can navigate the home from a wheelchair. If spaces have multiple uses, and their areas of clear floor overlap each other, even relatively small rooms can accommodate the necessary amount of clear floor.

Reality: Through the National Association of Home Builders in the US, builders are becoming certified in the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist programme and learning how to implement universal design principles. Builders must insist that their subcontractors read their plans and follow the procedures for building and renovating homes. As products are ordered by the builder, the universal design features are already part of the design. As builders construct more homes with universal design features, universal design will become the new standard in the building industry.

Reality: In the US, by the very nature and definition of universal design, there are no practices that go against federal and state building codes. Should an issue arise at the stage of reviewing the plans, there are usually provisions for local variances.

Reality: In order to create an entrance without steps in existing homes, sometimes a ramp at the front door is the only solution. In other cases, modifying the gradient around the home may be the best option. All new properties and most existing homes can be designed with a no-step entrance.  Also, ramps in the garage, side door or rear door are usually not visible from the street.

If you have a holiday rental with universal design elements, edit your property description to include these features.