Housing should be designed for all forms of disability
Some people who are regarded as disabled, are in fact largely disabled by their environment and can become trapped in their own homes or spaces living a life restricted by poor design. It is critical that these people get the access to resources to give them a way of using their space that provides the very best quality of life.
In the UK there are more than 13 million people living with various forms of disability so varied needs require a varied design solution which can be adapted to suit different physical restrictions.
Architecture is all about human comfort and in the words of The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, “by improving the quality of buildings and spaces this will have a lasting influence on the quality of peoples lives.”
Anyone who creates a custom-made property has the opportunity to really think about what they need from their home, both now and in the future
For those who have a disability, the opportunity to adapt their house or create a new tailormade dwelling could dramatically improve their daily life and bring families closer together.
It can be an emotional process working with people and listening to how the things most people take for granted, such as interaction with their children, have become an impossible challenge due to the physical environment they are living in.
Designs need to support developers and the people that they serve, both for physical and mental health, and there are so many ways to achieve this.
Through thoughtful design and by working closely with people, we can get to the heart of the changes that would be life altering. Sometimes it is the smallest change that can make the biggest difference, for example, viewing the garden from someone’s bed, or the incorporation of a larger window to a small room and really listening to people when they explain how they want their space to function to accommodate the daily routines.
Central living space is often key to enabling free movement around core areas.
Everyone will use their homes in different ways, for some it’s all about being able to do meal and bath times with their children with ease. For some the incorporation of sensory rooms is life-changing.
Accessible design goes far beyond just making a home wheelchair friendly, and there is a real stir in the market at the moment towards designing dwellings that can be stylish and modern.
Flexible homes can be designed without knowing they are for a particular need and without compromise on style.
The architect’s role is to design, specify and oversee building projects from inception through to completion, ensuring that schemes meet the needs of the individual and the recommendations and rehabilitation programmes made by their professional advisors.
With the current climate, many people are spending more time in the home than ever both as a result of restrictions and as a knock-on effect of the rise in working from home. Wellness as a concept has never been so important.
A growing body of evidence is demonstrating how the design of buildings, streets, parks and neighbourhoods can support good physical and mental health, help reduce health inequalities and improve people’s wellbeing by building healthy experiences into our everyday lives.