Designing Independent Living Environments for Senior Age Clients

Abstract

To introduce the principles involved in universal design to students in their first design studio, a project entitled “The Granny Flat” was initiated. A granny flat, or second unit, is a permanent, attached or detached addition to an existing single family dwelling. Granny flats include a kitchen, bathroom, living area, and sleeping area. They are designed with “barrier-free” access, and contain handrails, grab bars, nonslip and mark resistant flooring, and special cabinets to meet the needs of those in wheel chairs. The units are designed to provide the senior client with an independent living space while maintaining proximity to the family.Before beginning the design process, the students toured the Barlett Independent Living Lab (BILL) at Oklahoma State University. BILL is a typical ranch style residence, designed to incorporate the adaptive and/or assistive features often involved in universal design perspective. The design students were required to spend five minutes each in a wheelchair and maneuver themselves through the space.The final project presentation included: a site plan, a rendered furnishings board, a reflected ceiling plan, and a barrier-free and universal design research notebook. Students’ response to the project was very positive. They expressed an increased awareness of universal and barrier-free design concepts both verbally and visually throughout the design process. In addition, the project was a success in reversing many of the misconceptions that students held regarding the lifestyle and residence of clients in wheelchairs.