Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: Univesal design and Co-housing

[Kristin Becker (kbecker]

Being an architecture student and working in an architecture offices for the
past 2 1/2 years, I can say that accessible entrances is not that difficult
to do and be successful at.  The place I work right now has designed a
number of accessible homes and it doesn't intrude on the appearance or the
ability to keep water out in almost all cases.  If you are in a floodplain,
then the finish floor level of a house must be higher and then ramps may be
necessary.  First, you have the curb cut, which takes the house about 6-8
inches above ground level.  Then, if your house is only set back 12 feet
from the sidewalk, which is a very small front yard, and you have a straight
walk, you can move up at a slope of 1:12, taking your house another foot
above ground level - the equivalence of 2 steps usually.  As you can see,
the further the house is back the further up a straight walk can go and the
more angled it is, the longer it is and the higher it can rise.
So before you rule out accessibility because you think you need stairs,
think again.  If you have even a semi-descent architect they should detail
every threshold and hold the contractors to them.  If you have an architect
not detailing these kinds of important details, you should probably consider
getting a new architect.  The number one failure in building is water
getting in - be it through the roof, walls, windows, or through a threshold.
All these crucial possible seepage areas should be well-detailed.  There are
typical details found in a number of books that can be used, but they need
to be there or at least referred to if they are a standard.

Kristin

----- Original Message -----
From: "mark" <mark [at] bellinghamcohousing.org>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 6:46 PM
Subject: [C-L]_Re: Univesal design and Co-housing


>
> >  While it seems like a
> >great idea, some people couldn't imagine a unit without a step-up,
because we
> >are so used to that. Is there any downside to having roll-in entrances to
all
> >the units?
> >
>
> A roll-in entrance is not necessarily at grade; they can be above
> grade, accessed by ramps.  Unfortunately, ramps take up an
> extraordinary amount of physical and visual space.  They are also
> expensive.  Assurances that your ramps will be unobtrusive and/or
> reasonably-priced should be treated with suspicion.
>
> There are weatherproofing issues involved in flush thresholds,
> whether or not they are at grade.  Make sure you've got good
> detailing under and around the door threshold and at the intersection
> of deck, patio, masonry stoop or whatever and building.  Architects,
> we've noticed, do not necessarily pay enough attention to such
> things, and builders will be in too much of a hurry to bother unless
> bound by detail drawings and specs.  A bit of advance fussing and
> fretting will save money and effort down the road.
>
> There are also door-swing issues.  A threshold which is flush (or
> nearly flush) with the interior finish floor will cause the door to
> rub against your carpet, or it won't leave room to throw down an area
> rug to sop up the slop which gets tracked in from outside.
> Functionally, it's better to have some clearance above the finish
> floor surface.
>
> Hope that's helpful.
>
> Enjoy,
>
> Mark
>
> (Bellingham Cohousing)
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