Week of November 30th, 2020 - Accessible Design

Top 5 Design Posts of the Week

December 3rd, amidst a bustling Holiday Season, brings us the International Day of People with Disabilities, a day dedicated by the World Health Organization as a day to "celebrate 'a day for all.'" According to the WHO, it is estimated that over 15% of the world's population currently experiences some form of disability, whether temporary or life-long. Take some time to enjoy our top 5 design posts of the week, featuring some design that's accessible for all, and offers unique style suggestions for designing with a disability in mind.

1. Elevated Care, Elevated Design

Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe designs Utrecht care facility like a boutique hotel, Dezeen

Located in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the "Domstate Zorghotel" (say that 5 times fast or just once if you dare) boasts of elegance with design curated and inspired by the user's perspective, not just appearance. The full-time rehabilitation center offers 84 patient rooms and around-the-clock care, and every aspect of design was made to function around the patient's needs and care. From the staff, "'The interior actively participates in the rehabilitation process of the patients," they added. "From small interior accessories to large spatial gestures, everything is focused on the process of healing.'" With the looks of a 5-star boutique hotel and accommodations to match, this seems like the perfect fit for functionality and design. Let us know your favorite part in the comments below!

2. Wheelchair-Friendly Design Tips

How To Design A Wheelchair Accessible Home Part 1, Wheel Chic Home

While not diving into detail, Vicki from Wheel Chic Homeshares her thoughts on buying a home while keeping her husband who is in a wheelchair in mind. There's a lot to consider, and some things require a certain perspective before they're ever put into consideration for a design scheme, such as ample space between kitchen counters, large coffee tables that present navigation issues and swapping them out for more adjoining cute side-tables, and even door accessibility, as shown above, was taken into consideration while they shopped for a new bungalow. Check out her writing and notice how some things, like the sliding barn-door, serve a purpose that's more than a design trend, and can be simple solutions for those with any kind of disability!

3. New Regulations, Better Design

ADA-Compliant Design Is Paving the Way for Accessible Design, Architectural Digest

"Although it was more broadly a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, it also transformed the way buildings were designed across the United States, requiring equal access for those with disabilities to public spaces, transportation, commercial buildings, and places of recreation and respite, like restaurants, hotels, and schools"

Architectural Digest offers their insight on the ADA and how it changed the design game, in a great way. By making architecture and design more accessible and disability-friendly, there's limitless ways to showcase functionality intertwining with creative interior design, just like above with the modern zero-entry shower. Take a look at the rest of their images and read up on why this act was so important, and how it shaped the future for design across America.

4. Wheelchair Friendly Design Guide

20 Design Tips for a Wheelchair Accessible Home, HGTV

HGTV brings us their guide to designing a wheelchair friendly residence, and provides 20 tips and solutions for things that are often overlooked while designing a home. For example, as shown above, they've had the pipes installed tight against the wall, so the user is able to wheel right up to the sink, and still access the water without being blocked by underlying pipes and structure. Another thing to take into consideration that might be overlooked - avoiding the stacked refrigerator and opting for the side-by-side, as it's more accessible and often times can be more space-efficient. Let us know your favorite idea in the comments below!

5. Inclusive Design Inspirations

9 Inspiring Accessible Homes That Champion Inclusive Design, Dwell

In today's modern world, it can be hard to find a home that's accommodating and has design aspects a user who's disabled desires, but look no further. Dwell brings us their top 9 houses that make inclusive design seem effortless, and showcases some truly remarkable homes for disabled homeowners. Shown above is a family guest-house, and here's how the idea came to life:

"Architect Neal Schwartz was tasked with designing a family guesthouse with both an aging relative and a wheelchair user in mind; at a maximum size of 775 square feet per the local zoning regulations, the home would need to be a single-level structure but also deal with the connection between the main house and the guest house. The solution was a new garage with a breezeway that connected to the guest house, all at the same level, and with a sculptural opening in the roof of the breezeway for light and air."

Read more about the other 8 homes they showcase in the link above and let us know your favorite in the comments below!

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