by Customer Service Team
31. August 2009 08:50
I’ve been asked, by at least a handful of customers, what “universal design” means. They saw the term “universal design home plans” on our website, or they heard about it elsewhere. One customer recently asked if universal design meant the same thing as wheelchair-accessible.
My answer to that is yes AND no.
The idea behind universal design is that accessible features benefit everyone. The example we give on our website is raising the height of an electrical outlet: it definitely makes it easier for a physically challenged person to reach, but it also eliminates the need for anyone to bend over as far, making it universally more comfortable for everyone. Other examples of universal design features in our home plans include sloping walkways to the main entrance, wider doorways, wider interior passages and closet doors, lever-style hardware on cabinets and doors, and convenient heights for things like thermostats and light switches.
So, while universal design home plans are comfortable for wheelchair users, they are not necessarily designed for wheelchair users. Rather, they are designed to be comfortable for everyone, regardless of age or ability. And who doesn’t want that? Retiring baby boomers are particularly interested in universal design as it relates to “aging in place” (a.k.a. staying in the same house as you grow older) because it virtually eliminates the worry of a floor plan that becomes more difficult to navigate over time.
Another good thing about universal design – when it’s well done, it’s virtually invisible to the homeowner. You and your guests might not consciously notice the wider doorways or lever-style hardware, but you will find yourselves moving about the house with ease and comfort. See our collection of universal design house plans here.
Universal Design Home Plan: PSC-1269
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