That is the classic argument of whether a one-size-fit-all flexible shed approach or the highly made-to-order customized solution approach is more appropriate. Ultimately how much of which is appropriate is a client decision taken after having well informed inputs from her/his architect.and support consultants. This deliberations have to be made in conjunction with the consultant team. There is really no absolute right and wrong.
Kid returning to live with parents, given the prohibitive cost of housing these days, could mean the house design for 5 would work again with little or no alteration until the arrival of grand children. Circumstances changes, value changes and so will the design brief. It is the client's absolute prerogative to go one way or the other.
If there is any hints of a future shift to a specific direction it is well worth the effort to cater for it now. It may not mean installing the full suite now but just thoughts and provisions that would make future installation/ adaptation a breeze rather than a pain to implement
On the other hand, the book could be an interesting resource for those who are designing facilities that serves the general public, be they the average man in the street, handicapped, blind or visually impaired, deaf or cognitively challenged...
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Geok Ser Lee Intl. Assoc. AIA
Owner
GSLA
Irvine CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2014 19:37
From: Peter Carlsen
Subject: The Accessible Home
It sounds like your book is an interesting trip through houses built or adapted for special purposes. I trust that accessibility is not the focus suggested by the title but rather the interesting solutions to special problems. What to call that other than good design is hard to fathom.
I think, as architects we design our buildings to solve particular problems of a particular user. If they are blind, deaf or cognitively challenged, the solutions should be different. So I question that "universal design" is a desirable goal. That seems a sort of one size fits all approach. We know a house designed for a growing family of five may not work as well 30 years latter for two. We forget that moving people is often the easy, practical solution.
Do we really want to advocate that all houses could or should fit all users and problems equally well?
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Peter Carlsen AIA
Carlsen & Frank Architects
Saint Paul MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2014 12:24
From: Allen E Neyman
Subject: The Accessible Home
Good questions raised. The standards for disabled we are more accustomed to now, by and large, address the needs of wheelchair users. The list of disabilities grows, especially as the population lives longer. How to address hearing or vision loss in the residence will be challenging, and maybe more difficult in public spaces. It is appropriate that architects address these concerns for safety and welfare, and important that in the process they not lose focus on providing commodity and delight, still an important line on our calling card. Looking forward to this seeing this publication.
Allen E Neyman, AIA
Rockville, MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2014 19:55
From: Deborah Pierce
Subject: The Accessible Home
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on Design and Housing Knowledge Community .
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What, exactly, is Universal Design? It's easy to see how places that are user-friendly for those who use wheelchairs can also work for those pulling luggage or pushing baby carriages. But a bathroom for someone who can't hear? A kitchen for someone who can't see? A closet for someone with cognitive limitations? Living and sleeping and working places for people getting old? We design universally, we (try to) sell our clients on the idea, but do architects really get it?
These were the questions on my mind before writing The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages and Abilities (The Taunton Press, and with a foreword by Michael Graves FAIA). In writing, I traveled around the country talking with homeowners, architects, designers and builders whose work is featured. There are 35 homes designed for, by, and with people with all kinds of disabilities. These include families, couples, and individuals living with MS, AMN, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, polio, TBI, SCI, hearing loss, and low vision/blindness, as well as people aging in place (or intending to). These homes are all around the continental USA (and include Canada and Mexico). They comprise farmhouses, suburban houses, city and country homes, new houses and old ones, single-story and multi-story houses, lofts, vacation homes, and pre-fabs. All were created by architects or designers.
The book has 250 color photos and 25 floor plans - it's enlightening, inspiring, eye-opening. If you haven't yet seen or read the book, please do. It will change the way you think about homes, and the way you work with your clients. Really.
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Deborah Pierce AIA
Pierce Lamb Architects
West Newton MA
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