Universal Design
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Houzz Tour: Universal Design in San Francisco Home
Skylights, grab bars, expanded doorways and more increase safety and accessibility in this Northern California home
For general contractor Jeff Kann, universal design goes beyond outfitting the space for wheelchairs. It's about letting people participate in family and community life for much, much longer. Sound universal design avoids premature moves and creates sustainable and safer spaces, she says: "It's about making the living spaces easier and safer for all ages."
This remodel was conceived to create a comfortable and expanded living space on the first level of a two-story home in San Francisco's Sunset district, creating an option to avoid the use of stairs entirely as the clients grow older. In the meantime, the homeowners can use the renovated first level now as a guest suite for visiting family and friends.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An active retired couple
Location: San Francisco
Size: 2,100 square feet
That's interesting: The house was part of a housing project completed from the early 1920s through 1950 using a production technique modeled on Ford assembly lines.
This remodel was conceived to create a comfortable and expanded living space on the first level of a two-story home in San Francisco's Sunset district, creating an option to avoid the use of stairs entirely as the clients grow older. In the meantime, the homeowners can use the renovated first level now as a guest suite for visiting family and friends.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An active retired couple
Location: San Francisco
Size: 2,100 square feet
That's interesting: The house was part of a housing project completed from the early 1920s through 1950 using a production technique modeled on Ford assembly lines.
| From the outside, this Sunset district home appears to be a typical home built on a 25-foot by 120-foot lot by either Henry Doelger or the Gellert brothers — as were most homes in the city between 1920 to 1950. But inside, the active homeowners have renovated with the intention of living out their lives here, and perhaps giving the house a second life as a multigenerational home for part of the year. |
"My clients know that many aging baby boomers won't end up in a wheelchair, but it doesn't mean that they won't need assistance at some point," says Kann.
The design and build contractor first addressed the ease-of-use issues by making the hallways and doorways larger; doorways were reconfigured at 36 inches to allow clearance for any assistive devices. Having larger hallways and doorways also reduces accidents, which Kann points out could also benefit parents carrying babies and toddlers.
Kann addressed the other issue of letting light into the first-level space by using multiple wide, narrow windows along the upper portion of the wall (this picture), installing a skylight over the staircase and using plenty of LED lights.
The design and build contractor first addressed the ease-of-use issues by making the hallways and doorways larger; doorways were reconfigured at 36 inches to allow clearance for any assistive devices. Having larger hallways and doorways also reduces accidents, which Kann points out could also benefit parents carrying babies and toddlers.
Kann addressed the other issue of letting light into the first-level space by using multiple wide, narrow windows along the upper portion of the wall (this picture), installing a skylight over the staircase and using plenty of LED lights.
| Universal design features allow the first-level bathroom to work for anyone: a child, a teenager, an adult and anyone with mobility issues. A number of features make the space safe and comfortable: a barrier-free shower; a shower door that swings both in and out, making it easier for a caregiver to assist; and enough room for getting around with a wheelchair or a walker. |
Kann installed all lever-type door fixtures and plumbing for ease of use.
| A curbless shower with a trench drain makes the zero-threshold bathroom and shower area safer; the homeowners don't have to step over a threshold or risk tripping over a sill. |
| The bathroom floors are heated using a Nuheat radiant floor-heating mat and a programmable thermostat. |
| Kitchen cabinets containing food items are 15 inches above the countertop, at least 3 inches lower than the standard, for easier access. Overhead lighting and the light over the bar area were improved to address safety issues; task lighting under the cabinets illuminates the sink space, making it safer for the clients to prepare and handle food. |
Kann modified the connecting stairs from the upper level to reduce their steepness and slope, added better lighting with skylights and artificial lighting, and installed a railing. The homeowners are very active and have no plans of installing a wheelchair lift on the stairs. "Again, [the additions] are part of a universal design approach that benefits all ages," says Kann.
| Kann opened up the limited mobility space in the laundry area by relocating the wall toward the family room from the laundry room to create enough space to walk around the dryer, even with the door open. |
| Kann's clients could very well remain active and mobile for a long time, without ever needing to use or live on the first floor. But by incorporating universal design into their home, Kann stresses, they've improved the home's resale value, planned for possible future needs for themselves and customized their home to accommodate different lifestyles and life cycles. See more universal design ideas More: Bathroom Safety Features That Support Your Style |
Comments
olldbobbi I'm just curious - why does it take a renovation or remodel to achieve universal design? Why aren't architects and builders savvy enough to design this way from the get go? Maybe it's because we are living longer than ever before, I'm not sure, but designing wider hallways and doorways in the beginning can't be that difficult. Think how much easier it would be to move furniture with wider spaces!
12 months ago · Like
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Cathy Lara BobbiP, You bring up some good points! I think the builders are plenty savvy but they are also executing the needs and wants of their clients, who are sometimes not thinking that far ahead when constructing their dream house; for them it's more about aesthetics and increasing the home's value. Almost everyone I know bought homes this year and last and NONE of them thought about universal design in the home; they WERE thinking about how to level uneven ground for the new grill.
12 months ago · Like
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HOUSEworks Design/Build General Contractor Bobbi, the house was built in 1920 to fit the lifestyle needs of that era. Buildings are built today to reflect many universal use features. We need to retro fit the older housing stock to create comfortable living spaces for multiple generational use.
12 months ago · Like
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REICA Construction, Inc. I am involved in a number of projects in San Francisco where the remodel is taking it a step further by adding an elevator shaftway to the remodel. By dedicating the space for an elevator (if and when it is needed), the occupant can make sure they can always access all of the home - not just the one level. In addition, many of these homes have the garage at a lower level so there is still the challenge of going from the garage to the main living level. In the interim, the space can be used as closets. Adding an elevator later to an already properly built shaftway can cut the cost in half.
12 months ago · Like
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111l I have a teenage son with CP, and tried to build my home accessible. Everythings working well, except the restroom. What worked for a 6 year old with a walker does not neccessarily work for a 16 year old with a walker. You have to have a builder that understands true universal design. Because as a parent, I thought we were in good shape. Now I'm finding out, not so much so.
12 months ago · Like
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shellyrae my husband and i just bought our first house, we are in our late 40's. so we got a ranch style, slab on grade just in case we need help if we get old. i love the shower in ths home and thats what i want to do for the guys bathroom but im not sure how does anyone sell a kit?
12 months ago · Like
Wayne Caswell "Great examples. Thanks, Cathy. For other ideas about technologies for aging-in-place, check out Modern Health Talk (http://mHealthTalk.com)."
12 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on May 25, 2012.
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