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The remarkable potential of the simple construction of wood. Investigating boardwalks. By Olav Bringa, Senior Adviser in The Norwegian Ministry of Culture A well-designed path can give you a safe and comfortable walk in the woods and at the same time reduce the wear on nature. A boardwalk will give protection to vulnerable ground surfaces. If well designed, these simple wooden constructions can safely introduce the beauty of nature, exciting wildlife, and impressive cultural heritage to more people. Some places and walks are more attractive than others. In "The General Theory of Walkability" Jeff Speck explains that a walk has to satisfy four main conditions: it must be useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. The theory is based on preferences for walking in cities but applies to a great extent to walking in general. Visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park in the past can hardly be called safe. The water in the largest hot spring in the United States is 70 degrees Celsius (158 Fahrenheit!) and requires caution from any visitor. The bright, vivid colors around the edges of the mineral-rich water are definitely interesting and the spring rightfully became a "hot" attraction. A simple but well-designed boardwalk takes the visitors as close to the spring as is advisable. It is installed above ground level to let water pass under it. [Editor's note: There are no guardrails along this portion, but guardrails are in place elsewhere. What if you fell in? How about some type of barrier along the entire length? I don't think I would go if I had any stamina or balance issues. We will soon publish narratives for the other boardwalk locations shown below.]

By Dallas Adams, Starkloff Disability Institute Electrical outlets are embedded seamlessly in the countertops, ready to pop up conveniently at the press of a button. These pop-up receptacles are built into the island and there is a second one at a workspace in the main kitchen. Finally, remote-control options for the ovens, exhaust hood, wall cabinet lighting and counter lights add one more layer of accessibility and beauty Jennifer, the interior design expert and co-owner of Compass Design | Build, says UD has progressed significantly in recent years, as evidenced by Colleen’s new kitchen. “Twenty-five years ago, an accessible home looked like an accessible home,” Jennifer observes. “Now we have more options through the advent of smart technology for the home. Plus, manufacturers are starting to put out some esthetically pleasing grab bars and different furnishings that are attractive as well as functional, the things we need to bring universal design to any room in the house.” The principles of UD admittedly set a high standard for architects and designers, and Colleen enjoys watching her team rise to the challenge. “Every detail is well thought out,” Colleen concludes. “Universal design is a concept that is beautiful, accessible and easily adaptable to everyone’s needs when it’s done right, and I think we’ve accomplished that with my kitchen.” In many ways, the charismatic and determined spirit of Colleen’s late husband served as inspiration for this ambitious project. Colleen imagines Max looking on approvingly at the universal design masterpiece now prominently displayed in their family home. “Max would be very proud of this kitchen, and I know he would be proud of me for never giving up on this idea,” Colleen reflects. “He would want me to share it with others so they can see the beauty and the function that universal design brings to a home.”

By Dallas Adams, Starkloff Disability Institute The island is affixed with built-in bookcases and a charging station for phones and tablets. A KitchenAid mixer sits inside a base cabinet on a mechanism that lifts it into position, level with the countertop, by simply pinching two levers. Electrical sockets are embedded into the countertop near where the KitchenAid stand mixer comes up so plugging it in is hassle-free. Controls for the island sink and garbage disposal are located near the front edge of the counter in easy reach of a seated cook. The cabinet doors, floor and toe kick are easily removed for someone using a wheelchair to pull underneath the island sink. The buffet offers another flexible workspace. Equipped with an office desk-type mount, the food-prep surface can be raised or lowered according to the cook’s preference. A beverage center is conveniently located under one side of the flexible workspace, and an oven is strategically positioned on the other side, allowing the easy transfer of hot items onto the buffet counter. Colleen brags that everyone who sees the adjustable-height buffet station is immediately impressed, but the grandkids are especially fond of it, particularly at breakfast time. “My grandchildren love this because we can lower the surface to their height, and they get to pour the waffle batter into the waffle iron all by themselves.” Innovative new takes on traditional appliances certainly make a remodeling project like this easier, and Colleen’s kitchen boasts some remarkable features. The heating coils of an induction cooktop only activate when they sense the presence of a pan, safeguarding against accidental burns. Pot fillers have become popular accessories in modern kitchens and are typically mounted in the wall at the rear of the stove. For optimum convenience and safety, the freestanding pot filler in Colleen’s kitchen is installed to the side and near the front of the cooktop, eliminating the need to reach over other steaming pans. Like all of the cabinetry in Colleen’s kitchen, the cabinet floor below the cooktop can be easily removed for someone who is seated to pull under and cook on the cooktop. A separate wall oven is installed so that, when open, the door falls to a height of 30 inches, perfect for a seated cook to pull underneath, slide out the lower rack (which is set on rollers for ease of access), and place the hot item onto the door before transferring to a countertop. A microwave drawer below the wall oven rolls out automatically with a tap of the touchpad, adding one more stroke of ingenuity to a meticulously planned space for food preparation. Lowered microwave drawers are within the reach range of a seated cook. Tune in for the final part next week!

By Dallas Adams, Starkloff Disability Institute From the outside, the Starkloff residence appears to be just another stately dwelling in the Central West End. But its ramps, elevator, wide doorways and halls likely make it the most accessible home in St. Louis. Colleen Starkloff and her late husband Max purchased the turn-of-the-century home in 1975 and began remodeling it in stages, gradually converting it into a comfortable living space. They prioritized accessibility since Max, quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury, would be navigating it by wheelchair. “Since Max owned the house, too, so we felt it was important for him to be able to access every square inch of it,” Colleen recalls. Despite living there happily for decades, Colleen recently decided to undertake one more home improvement project. She set her sights on a cutting-edge new kitchen, built according to the Principles of Universal Design (UD). UD calls for the built environment and all of the products in it to be equally accessible, understandable and usable for everyone, regardless of age, size, ability or disability. The approach blends complementary aspects of beauty and functionality, creating a space that appeals to all people. Colleen, a lifelong disability rights advocate who together with her husband first founded Paraquad and later the Starkloff Disability Institute, has been an ardent proponent of UD since the mid-80s. As such, she has a pretty good sense of what makes the ideal UD kitchen. “I knew what I wanted. It was the organizing and the attention to detail that I needed help with,” Colleen admits. “I’m more of a concept person, so I needed the expertise of a good designer.” And what she wanted was a kitchen that would work for standing as well as seated cooks. After a lengthy bid process where she encountered a fair amount of skepticism, Colleen eventually assembled the team that would help make her UD kitchen dream a reality. The project would be designed by St. Louisan Greg Zipfel, an experienced architect specializing in healthcare design. And overseen and built by Pete and Jennifer Uetrecht of Compass Design – Build. Colleen chose Greg for his experience with UD and his excellent design skills. Pete and Jennifer brought some UD experience to the table, having built and remodeled a number of homes for the Gary Sinise Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization supporting military veterans, first responders and their families. The Uetrecht’s experience working with the Foundation inspired something of a philosophical shift for Compass Design | Build. Pete and Jennifer both earned their CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) certifications, an approach that emphasizes accessibility in much the same way as UD. Soon they were meeting with occupational therapists from Washington University and several other places, learning the principles of UD and contemplating different methods for incorporating them. “It’s really become a passion for us,” Pete explains. “Whether we’re building a new home from the ground up or remodeling an existing structure, we encourage and implement universal design in every project, even when homeowners don’t realize it.” Colleen appreciates the enthusiasm of her design team. “It’s nice to find a group that I don’t have to argue with,” Colleen acknowledges. “Greg, Pete and Jenn are an absolute joy to work with. They are very eager for the opportunity to create a true universal design kitchen.” So last November, Colleen set out on her quest to prove that Ron Mace’s vision of UD is indeed attainable by overhauling the kitchen in her very own home. The updated appliances, cabinets and countertops called for an increase in square footage, so the kitchen confines were extended into the adjoining family room. This is where Greg suggested adding a custom island, which quickly became Colleen’s favorite feature. “It really makes a statement the way Greg designed it,” Colleen marvels. “I never knew what I was missing.” Stay tuned for part 2!

This AARP article cites several reasons for increased interest in backyard accessory dwellings (ADU's) over the past year. COVID is the main contributor to this increased interest, and the pandemic has people looking at backyard structures for offices, studios, or other workplaces. Of course, these uses aren't actual dwellings and may require few permitting and zoning hurdles to create. But another use with increased interest, which is actually a dwelling, is a small home with a full kitchen and bathroom as well as a place for sleeping. These are often considered to accommodate family members, for instance for a returning child. But another user might be an older adult or a caregiver for an older adult. We've heard of some adult children of seniors, moving their older family members out of care facilities and into their homes or...into an ADU. Older adults themselves might create an ADU on their own property to house a caregiver. Or, they might create an ADU to rent out for the income stream to help with expenses in their original home. Whatever the reason, if an accessory dwelling might be used by an older adult, make sure that it is designed in a way that can accommodate them appropriately. Look here for ADU plans whose designs can actually help older residents remain in place for longer. With all us oldsters realizing the dangers of group care situations, we may be thinking of long term living situations that can help avoid care facilities for as long as possible. The cost of ADU’s can range from $50,000 to $150,000. But they can still cost a lot less over time than other housing options and surely are less costly when compared to long term care costs. Accessory dwellings might be an affordable residential choice for some.

Not Really* *Read to the end for two exceptions. Tiny Home-type dwellings have become pretty popular in recent years as a housing choice for a lot of people. They seem to fill a particular niche with affordability being a real advantage. They can be a great housing option...just not for older adults. From what I've seen Tinies may also be a bad choice for people of any age who have mobility issues or other physical disabilities. Tiny Homes are problematic dwellings for older adults. This article shows why: steps to the interior; small, inaccessible bathrooms; a lot of vertical space use, including lofts (with ladders!) for a bedroom.  Really? A place like that for a population that is guaranteed  to acquire significant balance, gait, and mobility issues within a few years? No thanks. This article also suggests that if you expand the living space beyond 200 sf, you just might be able to squeeze some accessibility features into the interior. My judgement is that you can't really get an authentic age-friendly unit until you get to around 400 sf, and forget about having it be mobile. This size generally puts it outside of the typical "tiny home" category, and prevents the unit from being mobile as well. We like dwellings that are 400 sf - 600 sf studio or one-bedroom (or larger), and are fixed-in-place. Dwellings in this size range these can actually be used as viable accessory dwelling units (ADU's), also called secondary dwelling units, or  granny pods. With a graded, step-free entrance and a fully functional interior, these really small units can be placed on a family member's property (as the article suggests) to provide an element of privacy and autonomy for the older adult while having helpers and caregivers right nearby.  We think homes like these and arrangements like this can help keep older adults in their own home and connected to family and community for many years, delaying moves to expensive care settings of all types, including assisted living. In addition to all the other advantages, this creates a powerful financial incentive to consider these types of living arrangements. It saves money too!  However,  a tiny home might be a great option for an able bodied caregiver of an older adult who is remaining in the primary dwelling on a property. A tiny home might be placed on the lot, creating a private space for the caregiver who has immediate access to the older person. Or, the tiny home might be used for rental income, providing the older adult the means to remain in their primary dwelling. To see the referenced article click HERE Check here for a few plans with age friendly interiors, even as small as 350 sf.

We follow with interest the home technology and home health technology sector. Home tech in many of its forms is a great and useful addition to basic home design and traditional home product selection in helping to maintain the life and lifestyle of people who are older and disabled. The beauty of home tech is that everyone seems to appreciate it. It has a pretty universal appeal. Admittedly we pay more attention to the off-the-shelf, lower priced area; products such as Echo, Google Nest, and Apple Home. We know that product innovations often come in at the high end of pricing then slowly work their way into more affordable versions. But Yikes! This article really pushes that envelope. Seems like this guy has about $500K of home tech. Snarky aside - too bad it will all be overtaken by future tech in a few months/years. It looks like this guy can afford a new array by then so no worries on his part. But we like the idea of floor sensors that can detect falls, or in-home diagnostics including toilets that will analyze our waste ($25K!!), and indoor air quality assurance. In truth, the article does mention lower cost options too. Keep in mind that for accommodating older adults or people with disabilities, home tech can't replace basic improved home design or careful traditional home product selection. Go here for some design ideas that can really make a difference: https://www.betterlivingdesign.org/bld-criteria For full article click HERE

This post is sponsored by Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. We have blogged and posted extensively this year about the plight of individuals dealing with our new COVID reality while quarantining, especially how they are coping in unsupportive home environments. However, many offices and public places have remained open and functioning and we all continue to work on plans for new and renovated non-residential structures. For the past several months, design professionals have been contending with evolving design expectations in the COVID-19 era. In this context, an emerging challenge is how can restrooms be designed for optimized space, traffic flow and physical distancing without compromising accessibility? A New Space Planning Paradigm in Restrooms In the COVID-19 era, a number of design strategies have emerged to help reduce occupancy and increase physical distance between occupants. According to Alan Gettelman, Vice President of External Affairs at Bobrick, design and building professionals today are broadly reevaluating density and traffic flow assumptions. “Restroom layouts are being fundamentally reconsidered,” says Gettelman. “Shared, non-gendered handwashing stations are helping enforce hygiene norms and behaviors. Touchless products are seen as essential amenities. Steps are being taken to minimize queuing and gathering.” Gettelman notes the following space planning strategies, which may soon emerge as restroom design best practices in the COVID-19 era and beyond: • Maintain 6' physical distancing spacing. Add 6 ' distance floor markings outside of the restroom, and in front of lavatories, toilets and urinals. • Remove or block open exit/entry doors. Eliminate germ transfer points on door handles and plates that must be cleaned daily. • Reduce restroom capacity by blocking-off, alternating, adjoining lavatories, toilet compartments and urinals. • Add urinal screens between lavatories above countertop surface to 84” height that extend full depth of the countertop to achieve 6’ physical distancing spacing at lavatories. Touchless Products In today’s environment, touchless accessories deliver the dual benefits of supporting hygiene by reducing touchpoints and supporting accessibility. ADA standards require that restroom accessories be operable with no tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, and with less than five pounds (22.2 N) of force. Most automatic, sensor-operated accessories, such as soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers, are preferred for hygiene and satisfy this accessibility requirement. Even fixtures and hardware that are not strictly touchless can selected to optimize accessibility and hygiene. For example, some toilet compartment door latches—such as those used on Bobrick’s PRIVADA® Cubicles —operate without grasping the latch with fingers, and can be manually operated using the elbow, forearm or side of fist. Maintaining Accessibility While hygiene has become a primary design requirement, accessibility should still remain a top priority, says Gettelman. “Restroom layout, product operation and location must comply with applicable accessibility standards’ requirements for the building’s location and jurisdiction per ADA, ICC/ANSI A117.1 or individual state requirements,” he notes. As modified restroom layouts may be impacted by hygiene objectives, design and building professionals should pay particular attention to the following requirements: • Entrances and exits laid out to minimize congestion and for universal access. This result can be supported by removing doors or blocking doors open. • Passageways and access aisles should still be a minimum 42″ to 48″ wide • Limit leading edge of protruding objects into circulation routes to 4″ maximum between 27″ and 80″ above the floor. Use fully recessed restroom accessories to minimize protruding objects. • Consider increased wheelchair turning spaces for oversize wheelchairs. • Provide 30″ x 48″ clear floor space centered at each accessory, plumbing fixture. • Lavatory, toilet compartment and urinal dimensional layouts must comply. • Where 6+ toilets and urinals in one restroom, provide Ambulatory Accessible Compartment in addition to the Wheelchair Accessible Compartment. • Baby Changing Station location should not block access to accessible accessories and plumbing fixtures. To learn more about the intersection of hygiene and accessibility in commercial restrooms, watch Bobrick’s expert panel discussion and accredited AIA/HSW Continuing Education (CE) course, “Revisiting Restroom Hygiene and Planning.” For touchless product solutions, download Bobrick’s new Touchless Accessories brochure .

Recently I read, “Where you choose to live at age 65 won’t necessarily be where you will choose to live at 85.” True enough. But my suggestion is to find a place to live at age 65 where you have a shot at remaining until age 85 as safely and comfortably as possible. Not many of us do this, and we wind up becoming trapped in our homes or having to leave prematurely because we just can’t manage our daily tasks anymore. But, we all say that we want to stay in our current home as long as possible. So, our advice is to work on how you can make that happen rather than select or remain in a home that has stairs everywhere, cramped bathrooms, and key function areas on different floors. One option among many is an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). An ADU is a small dwelling or apartment that can be created on your current home property or that of a relative, for example. It can be a separate small dwelling, a dwelling attached to a home (an addition), or a full apartment within a larger home (such as a converted basement or other space). In all cases, it should be designed with a step-free entrance, a usable bathroom, and other key features. Click HERE for more information. While they are not zero-cost, they are more affordable than the annual expenses of life care communities, assisted living facilities or a brand new traditional build. Living in an accessory dwelling unit can also help us maintain family and community connections and allow easier paid or unpaid in-home caregiving. Their viability is improved with the availability of home and community-based services, such as home health. Our friends at AARP created a great ADU guide that can be downloaded HERE.

Was Universal Design Achieved? By Olav Rand Bringa, Senior Adviser in The Norwegian Ministry of Culture The architecture student Kjersti Kværner Hestetun followed the process of the restoration of the Eidsvoll Manor. Her master thesis investigated if it was possible to fully implement universal design in the redesign of the building. She concluded that the full standards of universal design could not be reached, but that the result was acceptable. One inadequacy, she pointed out, was that the main entrance with the staircase remained inaccessible. It could not be universally designed with access for all without changing the classic facade. While people with disabilities can use the side entrance, which has good accessibility, this separated visitors with certain disabilities from other guests. In 2015 the project won the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, considered Europe’s most prestigious prize in the heritage field for the conservation of The Manor House in Eidsvoll. (see picture above - Examining the Constitutional Assembly Hall after the Renovation. Photo: Trond Isaksen/Statsbygg ) What Happened to the Constitution? Norway’s 1814 independence lasted only months. The Swedish king did not accept losing his war booty and after a short war Norway surrendered and entered a union with the neighbouring country in the autumn of 1814. The union lasted to 1905 when Norway once again became a sovereign and independent state. Still, with some amendments, the Constitution was used during the union with Sweden. With changes in 1905 and modernizations over the years, the constitution of Norway from 1814 is still in effect. References: Hestetun, Kjersti Kværner , Universell utforming av Eidsvollsbygningen - lar det seg fullt ut å gjennomfoere? / Inclusive Design of Eidsvollsbygningen – allows it to fully implement? Master thesis. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 2012. Risaasen, Geir Thomas. Eidsvollsbygningen. The story room by room. Forlaget Press, Oslo 2016

Should, and Could, the Building be Universally Remodelled? - By Olav Rand Bringa, Senior Adviser in The Norwegian Ministry of Culture Even before the renovation, the manor house had an accessible entrance to the first floor Billiard Room, reached via a bridge from the garden (see Figure 3). But visitors who could not climb the stairs lacked access to the second floor and the most important room of all: The Constitutional Assembly Hall. To give visitors an understanding of what was upstairs, the staff of the historic site provided a book on the first floor with pictures of the rooms on the second floor. The renovation team had to grapple with challenging questions: Is it acceptable for a significant part of the citizenry to be unable to visit the nation’s foremost symbol of democracy and human rights? And at the same time; is it justifiable to make the second floor accessible by installing an elevator in this very sensitive and protected, historical environment? And finally; is a universal solution possible, or is basic accessibility the best that can be achieved? The ambition was clear: universal design was the objective. Visitors with disabilities should be able to enter the building by the same entrances as other visitors and without barriers on both floors. But renovation options had to balance the potential impact on historical and building archaeological values against goals of universal design. Universal design would require an accessible main entrance, an easy to find, step-free route to the second floor, good illumination and standardized signs for escape routes, and more. None of this was present in buildings in the early 19th century and none of the prior renovations to the Manor had addressed these issues. After studying various options, it became clear to the team that ideal universal design solutions wouldn’t be possible. For example, the team decided that it was not possible to make an accessible route into the main entrance to the first floor and that the existing accessible route into the first level would need to be maintained as the step-free route into the building. Once this was decided, the next daunting task was to figure out how it would be possible to get people from the first floor to the second floor of the Manor House. Could some type of lift or elevator be used? Finding a Place for the Elevator The search for a place to put such a piece of equipment without reducing the building’s historic value became the primary problem. The team had to assume that all parts of the building had some historical significance and that even the servant’s hidden passages in the walls between the rooms were of value. Project manager Peter Moltke-Hansen in Statsbygg, the Norwegian government's key advisor in construction and property affairs, had the overall responsibility for the restoration project. He recalls: “We discussed several alternatives. The main challenges were to find a solution suitable for people who used wheelchairs and acceptable for the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. We focused on finding a location with easy access but as less visible as possible. It was essential that the solution fitted the building and did as little harm to the building as possible. We had participation from a variety of perspectives, including people who used wheelchairs.” One option was to place a lift in a separate tower 5 to 10 yards away from the Manor’s façade with a bridge connecting to the building’s second floor. This was technically feasible but required an expanded window. The team decided that the tower would be too dominant and that the necessary changes in the façade were unacceptable. Inclined platform lifts inside the Manor were also considered. The staircases in the servants' hidden passages were too narrow for a platform lift. The only staircase wide enough was the curved main staircase. The technical and aesthetic consequences were investigated, but the wish to keep the staircase as authentic as possible was very strong. A platform lift on the main staircase would be a jarring visual element, and this alternative was discarded. But a vertical lifting device inside the Manor building might also require radical building renovations. The hunt for a suitable location soon focused on an area close to The Constitutional Assembly Hall. A room called the Valet’s room had never been finished. It had the shape of a corridor and had in modern times been used to display weapons. The team determined that the room lacked a particular relationship to the historic value of the building itself and played no discernible role in the 1814 work on the constitution. In addition, the first floor had a storeroom right underneath the Valet room. The place for an elevator was settled, but the oddly shaped space did not allow the use of a standard-sized elevator which could take a wide range of wheelchairs A specially designed two-stop elevator from the first level to the second floor was produced by the Finnish company KONE. (see Figure 4) While it does not have the minimum standard interior dimensions that would otherwise be required (about 48” x 84”), it is a through-route elevator with doors at each end. The interior dimension of the elevator is very tight, about 32” x 57”. The location of the elevator is slightly out-of-the-way. Nevertheless, the team made the decision to maintain the elevator’s modern design, materials, panels, and other equipment, not attempting to match the building’s historic interior materials and appearance. The team decided to make the elevator an honest addition to the building, standing out as a distinctly modern element. Windows in the elevator cabin are a unique feature that allows users to understand the building's structure by revealing the wooden beams inside the walls. This shows the route of travel for someone using the accessible side entrance to gain access to the first floor of Norway's Constitutional Assembly Hall. The route shown takes one to the newly installed elevator, which ascends to the second floor of the building. The second floor has the actual meeting room where the discussions and votes took place.

Should you renovate or should you move? This is an important question to ask when preparing to age in place. Check out the resources below that will help answer some big and little questions you may have or didn't know you should be asking. If you are getting into the details of planning for your big renovation or new home, the items on this list will help remind you of many items and product areas that can make a big difference . Feel free to customize your home to make it as functional and safe as you need it to be. You can also render parts of the project in a very universal way. For more info on that, take a look at our Better Living Design website and especially our BLD Criteria .