Universal And Green

At the beginning of the 20th century, older adults and people with disabilities were true minorities, but times are now different, driven by changing demographics.  People are living longer today. The average lifespan has increased to 76.  In addition, more people are now living with disability, and these trends continue. Two world wars created a huge population of veterans with disabilities, and antibiotics and other medical advances enabled people to survive accidents and illnesses which were previously fatal.

Most of our new homes continue to be designed and built to traditional guidelines and door sizing is certainly at the top of the list of defunct design standards.  Most residential interior doors are 2’-6” wide and this measurement historically has served “most” of our population, the “able bodied” majority; but times have changed.  It is time for Architects, Designers, Builders and Remodelers to change with the times and recognize the need and Sustainable Importance of promoting wider door openings.   

Should there be a slow or sudden change in your household that results from someone’s aging, temporary disability, or permanent disability, you may find that your door opening widths are now a barrier that impacts your daily living.  To widen a single existing door opening you will impact:  wood framing, drywall, paint, wood trim, floor finishes, and you will likely need to relocate a light switch while also investing in a new door and frame.  Multiply this by the number of doors you’re considering, and you are suddenly involved in a significant remodel project.  If you are going to remodel your existing home or build new, you should strongly consider three (3) forward-thinking sustainable reasons for increasing your door width dimensions.

Environmental Sustainability

“Build it Right the first time” and you can avoid future impacts on our land fills and you will most certainly reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding a future unnecessary remodel that results in your constructing new door openings in the same home twice.

Social Sustainability

“Build it Right the first time” and you will enable people and families to remain in their homes longer, while promoting visitability.  When people remain in their existing homes and continues being connected to familiar neighbors, friends and community; our society is healthier, stronger and more integrated.

Economic Sustainability

“Build it Right the first time” and you will avoid future wasteful spending associated with an unnecessary remodel project.  Secondly, by “Building it Right the first time,” you will increase the value and future marketability of your home in recognition of our changing society and housing needs.

Many of us grew-up with traditionally designed kitchens that included a hardwood pull-out cutting surface (i.e., bread board) that most often pulled-out from just beneath the base cabinet countertop, often located near the sink.

An imaginative way to capitalize on this time tested feature is to place the cutting board at a lower elevation (beneath the top drawer) at multiple locations to add a Universal Design element that will make your kitchen more functional to a greater number of end users.

If you like to entertain, you will love the amount of instant pull-out surface space that increases the number of areas to stage your food prep materials or to assist with the last minute details that go smoother when your kitchen counter surfaces are not filled to capacity.  If you have budding chefs (i.e., small children) wanting to lend a hand, these pull-out work surfaces are ideal for that purpose.

Whether remodeling your kitchen cabinets or building a new home, consider the integration of this unique Universal Design detail that will add value and function to your kitchen.

Go to (Rural Stewardship 11/24/09 Video) King County link http://king.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=4#yard and learn about the Marriage/Union between Green Building Practices and Universal Design.

Seattle area Contractor Mike Vowels & Architect Emory Baldwin both serve on the Northwest Universal Design Council and co-present on the subject of Universal Design.  Uniquely, they dovetail their individual knowledge of Green and Universal Design building and remodeling practices and their presentation showcases their individual homes, both of which have earned Award Winning Universal Design recognition.

Mike Vowels is an award winning Remodeler, Certified Forest Steward and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and in affiliation with the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), Mike currently serves on the CAPS Board of Governors Committee and writes published articles on the subject of Universal Design and Green Living practices.

As a credit to sustainability, Mike’s site harvested hand-hewn log home serves as a model for Universal Design and Environmental Building Practices.  Mike served on the Barrier Free Technical advisory Group for Washington State Building Codes in 1994 and continues to educate the community and construction industry about the value and long term benefits of integrating both Universal and Green Design into building and remodeling practices.

Industry Awards include: 

• 2009 Building Industry of Washington, Remodeling Excellence Award – Green Remodeling
• 2009 Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties, Remodeling Excellence Award – Universal Design
• 2009 Built Green Washington Award – Remodel Under $100k
• 2008 Building Industry Association of Washington Award – Universal Design 

2008/2009 speaking engagements include:

• Northwest Indian Housing Association – Coure d’ Alene, Idaho 
• Seattle Aging & Disability Services Advisory Council – Seattle, Washington
• Association of Kitchen & Bath Designers – Tacoma, Washington
• NW Builders Show – Bellevue, Washington 

Special Recognition – the Vowels Residence is showcased as a Remodeled Home Case Study by King County of Washington GreenTools Program, in short as follows:

Rural Green Building and Universal Design Case Study - The GreenTools program is designed to help all King County stakeholders green their built environment while addressing critical environmental issues, such as global warming, critical habitat restoration and solid waste reduction. GreenTools provides technical assistance, grants and hands-on training to help users create green projects efficiently and effectively. - King County Solid Waste Division, Green Tools Program, Residential Green Building Case Studies - January 2009

Emory Baldwin is an award winning Architect and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and is a founding principal of ZAI inc., an architectural firm that specializes in socially sustainable housing design that responds to the changing needs of people over their lifetime.  Such homes enable their residents to retain their independence as they grow older and ‘age-in-place’ on their own terms.   

Emory graduated with a master’s in architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1997, where he wrote his master’s thesis on “Housing in Response to the Human Life Cycle”.  Since then, he has been designing a range of residential projects, primarily senior housing and multi-family mixed-use developments.  He was the recent chair of the Northwest Universal Design Council, a coalition of multidisciplinary professionals that focuses on promoting inclusive design in the housing industry.

Industry Awards include:

• 2009 National AIA Small Projects Honor Award - Accessible Residences 
• 2007 City of Portland’s - Courtyard Housing Design Competition 

2008/2009 speaking engagements include:

• Northwest Indian Housing Association – Cour d’ Alene, Idaho
• Seattle Aging & Disability Services Advisory Council – Seattle, Washington
• Association of Kitchen & Bath Designers – Tacoma, Washington
• Supportive Design and Technology for Healthy Aging - SeaTac, Washington
• NW Builders Show – Bellevue. Washington
• International Conference on Aging & Disability – St. Petersburg, Florida

2006/2007 International speaking engagements include:

• Conference on Caregiving, Disability, Aging & Technology - Toronto, Canada
• Conference on Universal Design - Kyoto, Japan

In lieu of traditional steps, stepless entries and stepless grade changes, in general and when practical, are a very green choice to incorporate into a home improvement project.  Seamless entries that eliminate steps is a sure way to also eliminate a future unnecessary tortuous and wasteful remodel that is a reaction to “aging” and associated challenges or an unexpected life changing event (i.e., temporary or permanent disabling injury).  Designing and building for the possibility/probability of Human Life Cycle changes is simply green forward-thinking.

BEFORE

Traditional ramps replacing existing steps on a home is generally a response to a Human Life Cycle Change (e.g., aging, illness or injury).  Traditional ramps are highly visible and a lower investment up front.  Traditional ramp structures (even the best built) will have a shorter life span when compared to stepless grade changes that are integrated into your landscaping, using bricks, pavers, concrete or similar on-grade building materials.  When selling your home, curb appeal weighs in heavily and a traditional ramp structure may be used against you at the time your home goes on the market, subject to the potential buyer. 

Cost is most always a consideration and what goes unnoticed will, in fact, cost you more up front.  Well constructed stepless grade changes and/or stepless entries are an investment in your property and will last indefinitely, while also making your home more appealing and more marketable to a broader population. 

TRADITIONAL low-cost wheelchair ramp (example).

Driven by budget factors and temporary-use considerations, there is and there will always be a place and a need for traditional wheelchair ramps on many homes.  Do consider however that the bigger investment in stepless entries or stepless grade changes may yield a better return on your investment, long term, while improving your home’s curb appeal and allowing your Human Life Cycle Design upgrades to go unnoticed, by Design; Universal Design.