Who to Hire?

Designing a truly universal designed or fully accessible home or remodel requires special skills.

Are you considering a universal designed (UD) or fully accessible home or remodel?

If you have been a regular reader of Around the House in PN, you’re aware this type of home is different from the standard homes typically built today.

The “typical” home is still based on family statistics and average anthropometrics created shortly after World War II. Of course, at that time we boomers were “still a glimmer in daddy’s eye.” Now we’re older and may be alive possibly until 100 or more. If we want to live the rest of our lives in our own homes and “age in place,” our homes need to be designed for all ages and abilities and not rely on home building standards of the past.

You can probably guess it takes a designer with this type of experience, sincere compassion and even a bit of empathy to correctly design a truly UD or fully accessible home. In these homes “God is in the details,” as spoken by the famous 1950s architect Mees Van-der-Rohe. He was anything but a UD architect, but I believe he would embrace it now, nonetheless; his thoughts about attention to details clearly apply here.

The Right Expert

Depending on your current needs and scope of your project, you have several options. Consider a qualified architect, interior designer or even an occupational therapist (OT).

An occupational therapist may be a good choice if basic modifications are required and are nonstructural in nature. For example, OTs are qualified to specify a ceiling lift but certainly not qualified to certify if the roof structure can carry the load of the lift and user, and other construction-related details.

OTs can make recommendations for the individual, but it’s necessary to employ a qualified architect or engineer when structural alterations are necessary.

Invisible UD

Always hire the appropriate professional for the specific task at hand that works only within his/her area of expertise. Enter the UD specialist architect.

Contact: CharlesSchwab@UniversalDesignOnline.com. 

 

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