Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Universal Design and Co-housing

[Kristin Becker (kbecker]

I have responded and sent a couple messages regarding a cohousing thesis
project I am working on.  Universal Design will be one of the aspects I
address in this project.  I am opening it up to people with developmental
disabilities, but including physical accessibility would also be crucial.  I
am hoping to include easy ways to design to include universal design
strategies within a project.  It is my belief that all building should
strive for universal design with only the limitation of multiple stories (of
private homes) including any stairs and those should be designed to be wide
enough to install a lift if need-be.  If you are interested in any of my
research, contact me again in about a year as I will be finishing up my
thesis next May.  If you have anything to add, please let me know.

Kristin
Bachelor of Architecture at
The University of Arizona

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hornick" <dhornick [at] nycap.rr.com>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 3:17 AM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_Universal Design and Co-housing


>
> It's good to see attention paid to visitability.  It is a good first step.
> Yet, visitability and useability are two different issues.
>
> I'd be interested to know if anyone has employed "Universal Design"
> principles in co-housing?
>
> Universal design is defined (by Ron Mace - now deceased) as "...design of
as
> much of the environment as possible to be as useable as possible by as
many
> people as possible".
>
> Universal design provides for adjustments to the living environment to
> accommodate functional differences and functional change.  It enables a
> person in a wheelchair or a small child to share and function in the same
> environment as a fully physically functioning adult.  A few simple
examples:
>     Side by side refrigerator
>     Sink and stovetop whose height adjusts quickly to to all.
>     Wide doorways
>     Light switches at 3 feet height instead of 4 feet or more
>     Large bathrooms and kitchens to accommodate wheelchair turning radius
>     Shower rooms instead of shower stalls or bathtub showers
>     "Smart Home" technology
>     Landscaping that substitutes gentle slopes for steps.
>     Lighting that is as friendly to  aged eyes as to younger eyes.
>
> It is these design considerations that permit  people to remain in their
> homes despite changes in functional capacity.  Universal Design done well
> permits multifunctional families to function together in a shared living
> space.
>
> If Universal Design were applied to all housing, every house would be
> useable to most people regardless of functional status.
>
> If universal design has not penetrated the co-housing movement, why not?
>
> David Hornick
>
>
>
>
> >
> > Jill,
> > You may add Cambridge Cohousing (MA) to your list.
> >
> > Of our 41 units, all but 4 are visitable by someone in a wheelchair or
> > scooter.  The additional 4 units (stack flats) are visitable if the
person
> > can use a stairchair.    12 units are townhouses in which each 1st floor
is
> > visitable.  All other flats and most common areas are in our common
house
> > serviced by an elevator.  All common spaces are accessible to all.
> >
> > Peg Blum
> >
> > pegb [at] cambridgecohousing.org
> > http://www.cambridgecohousing.org
> >
> >
> >>
> >>  From what I've seen, there is not much access at most cohos.
> >>
> >
> >> East Lake Commons in Atlanta,
> >> Swan Market in Oakland.
> >> Takoma Village in DC, and
> >> Cornerstone in Boston.
> >>
> >> Eno Commons in Durham has a few accessible units and one level of the
> >> common house is accessible.
> >>
> >> I hope others will post additions to the list of accessible cohos
> >> (meaning access to all common spaces and visitability in all units) .
> >>
> >>
> >
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