The owners built this
home about 25 years ago after one of them was confined to a wheelchair
after a serious automobile accident. Wider halls and doors, ramps and
thresholds were the only signs of a universal design. The kitchen
appliances and sink were not useable from a seated position, nor was the
bar/message center which had a counter top at 36”. The entry was not
large enough to access for someone in a wheelchair, nor was it large
enough for greeting guests. Their job was to redesign the living space
so everyone, including the physically challenged, could have access and
function independently. There were numerous considerations and
constraints present during this project, but the end result is an open
living space that is useable and functional, especially from a universal
standpoint.
