By Dan McLeister
Perhaps it's lingering memories of visits to their grandmothers in nursing homes decades ago, or of a stay in a hospital more recently. Whatever the cause, some builders fear the concept of universal design. They worry that features designed for physically challenged people will look—well, institutional, and that the houses with such designs or products will not sell.
But proponents of the concept say that fear is unfounded. Universal design features, they maintain, do not look institutional and can actually enhance the lifestyle of able-bodied homebuyers. For instance, the zero-step entrance advocated in universal design also prevents able-bodied people from tripping. Levered door handles work for the physically challenged as well as for anyone with carrying several bags of groceries. And wider doorways and halls, required for wheelchair access, also make it easier to move furniture or other items around the house.
That's the message from speakers at a seminar on Wednesday at the 2006 International Builders Show ("Successful Universal Design: Eliminate the Fear Factor").
Born out of efforts to improve access for people with disabilities, universal design incorporates concepts that improve function and access for every household member and guest without regard for varying age, size and abilities, according to Mary Jo Peterson, a consultant based in Brookfield, Conn., and one of the seminar speakers.
Boomers break down barriers
Propelled by the needs of the aging baby boomers (the largest single segment in the housing market), universal design is moving closer and closer to mainstream acceptance by the homebuilding industry.
"It is amazing how many people have found religion," Mary Jo said. "There is less fear all the time."
Rosemarie Rossetti, another seminar speaker and a writer from Columbus, Ohio, said that she knows from personal experience the difficulties people face when circumstances change due to either injury or simply aging. Houses, Rosemarie said, need to be designed so people can stay in them as long as possible, even when health conditions limit their mobility.
"I know this situation all too well. Seven years ago my spinal cord injury left me in a much compromised condition. I came home from the hospital in a wheelchair and realized just how unaccommodating my two-story home was to me," Rosemarie said. "My life change was sudden; for others life changes more gradually. People develop chronic conditions like arthritis, get shorter as they age, and have hip and knee replacements."
To deal with her condition and help other people with mobility problems, Rosemarie and her husband, Mark Leder, are designing and building what they call a universal design national demonstration living laboratory home.
Also on the panel was Rosemarie's homebuilder, Derrick Layer, COO of C.V. Perry Co., which builds approximately 60 to 70 semicustom homes and 25 to 30 condominiums per year. Like many other builders, Derrick said he was hesitant to change the way he built houses.
"But the idea made a lot of sense since the American population was aging. We are tapping into a very large market. We have not done a good job in the past. To borrow a phrase from a Nike commercial, we decided to 'just do it. It is not that difficult."
Production builder Dottie Harper, vice president of Brookfield Homes in Virginia, has been has been providing universal design features without using those words. She calls them "ease of living features." These are very subtle features, Dottie said, such as wider doorways and halls as well as lower light switches and plugs. "I also call them silent features," she adds.
There are still some negative feelings about the additional cost and the look of universal design features, Dottie said. Only about two percent of the active-adult buyers at her latest project, Providence of Brookfield Homes in Fairfax, Va., have selected such features. "We still have a lot of education to do," Dottie said.
Mary Jo agrees with Dottie. "We have such a long way to go, but we are building momentum. Whether an ideal to work towards or an attainable goal, universal design is gaining attention. It should be our objective that one day, every designer of space or product will consider universal design principles just as integrally as the other elements and principles of design. We will no longer need a name; we will simply acknowledge as quality only those creations that respect the diversity in people."
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