House- Universal Design

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

by Boomer Staff

Analysts and well-respected “baby boomer experts” across this nation use many descriptors to define this unique generation. Words like “independent…free spirit…non-conventional.” But there’s one over-arching description that seems to fit into a variety of different scenarios – and that’s “forward thinking.” After all, 60 is the new 40. Looking forward to living longer is great. The prospect of living better is – well – even better! It’s interesting that the housing industry hasn’t seen as much “forward thinking” by boomers as have other areas of their past and present lives. Sure, the inclusion of media rooms, studies, exercise rooms and other similar amenities are becoming the norm for boomer

Rebecca Stahr serves as the president of the Universal Design Alliance, a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the benefits of universal design.

She says, “With universal design being a relatively new concept to consumers and often getting confused with ADA accessibility guidelines, there is minimal ownership and understanding about just how many choices for convenience and comfort are available to both new homebuyers as well as existing homeowners.” Getting over the hump of educating home buyers, owners, and

remodelers is just half the battle. In many cases, designers and builders are lagging even further behind consumers in seeing the present and long-term benefits of universal design.

“Unfortunately, this is a completely opposite diametric,” Duncan adds. “There just aren’t that many designers and builders that have so much familiarity with our concepts that they say, ‘Boom, yeah I know what to do,’ when they’re presented with universal design ideas from the client.”

And guess who’s doing most of the “teaching?”

“Sixty-five to seventy percent of the decisions about home construction or remodeling are being made by women,” says Arlan Campbell, a custom home builder who builds almost exclusively for boomers in the Midwest. “I would say that number jumps up to 90% when you talk about the interior side of things. Ladies just want to be actively involved.”

One way universal design promoters and educators like Duncan and Stahr are working to raise awareness about the concept to home buyers, designers, and builders alike across the country has been through the construction of universal design demonstration homes. Stahr recently worked with a group who built a demo home in the Atlanta, Ga., area and says research indicated that 99% of the 550 visitors to the home were positively impacted by the over 50 universal design features incorporated into the home.

home builders and remodelers. Mention words like “universal design” to a group of baby boomers today, though, and the room will clear in a heartbeat.

Why? And, what is universal design anyway?

Developed over two decades ago by the late architect Ron Mace, universal design is defined by the North Carolina State University’s Center for Universal Design as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” At the heart of the near-taboo label universal design is receiving from the boomer demographic is a basic mis-reality. “Many people believe universal design is a code word for wheelchair or handicapped accessible design,” says Dick Duncan, Coordinator of Training at NC State’s Center for Universal Design.

Central to the universal design theme is the process of encouraging people who are building homes to include design features that can accommodate customizations for someone with temporary or permanent mobility limitations. Being proactive in the planning process helps keep costs and retrofitting headaches at a minimum before universal design features become a necessity.

“This really personalizes universal design and allows people to feel, touch, and see the experience this design approach can add to quality of life and increase home value,” Stahr adds.

One additional piece to the education puzzle is the corporate sector – the companies who are making and/or have the ability to make the products home buyers or remodelers need to incorporate into their homes.

“The response has been modest,” Duncan says of manufacturers who make appliances, tubs, knobs, lighting and other products in the universal design lineup. “I think that in some cases you’ve got an unintentional advantage that’s being offered by companies and their products – and that’s a good thing.”

Most side-by-side refrigerators on the market today offer increased usability for most people, whether they are short, tall, seated, or standing. Storage is available in both the refrigerator and freezer at the critical 18” to 48” reach range. Similarly, front-loading washers and dryers offering front controls with optional pedestals for raising them to more reasonable heights make the grade with universal design proponents.

Campbell adds, “Sizing up the lay of the land as I look at new building sites for my customers has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Building on a lot that might require multiple steps to get into the home isn’t quite as appealing to many of our customers. They just don’t want to construct their home on land that might compromise easy access into their home down the road.”

Most people involved in the universal design education process would agree when it comes to marketing their message to boomers – they must choose their words carefully.

The results of a survey conducted last year by DYG, Inc. for Hanley-Wood Marketing of Minneapolis, Minn., found that boomers expressed the most interest in universal design features that help them live independently and make it easier for them to live in their home as they age. Described in these terms, universal design appealed to more than three-quarters of those surveyed. Consequently, communications were less effective when they were shrouded in language about making the home accessible to people of all physical abilities or making the home safe for aging parents.

Stahr believes that once properly educated, boomers will do the work of swaying home designers, builders, and product makers towards making universal design a more mainstream, across-the-board concept.

“When people understand that universal design is a tool to achieve comfort, convenience, creativity, connectivity and how well this relates to enhancing quality of life for themselves, family members, friends and all with whom they interact, the decision to include universal design becomes clearly advantageous. Boomers are bright, savvy people who welcome excellence in their lives. If explained properly, and the stereotype of incorporating it into their homes eliminates any threat to them of potential aging, they will accept and become believers, if not promoters, of universal design.”