Universal design should still be goal in housing

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["strong"],["em"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"To \u0022age in place\u0022\nis the overwhelming preference of Americans, yet our existing housing stock is\nwoefully under-designed for that to happen. All too often a change in people\u0027s\nabilities necessitates a change in residence. That can be disruptive to social\nconnections, disorientating if cognitive abilities are involved, and incredibly\nwasteful of building materials and energy."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"One reason we find\nourselves in this situation is because architects aren\u0027t responsible for the\ndesign of most of our single-family home stock. Another reason is that in a competitive housing\nmarket doing things differently\ntranslates into higher costs (or the perception of), and therefore is resisted\nby both builders and developers."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In rental housing, in\nparticular, longer-term thinking suggests that lower vacancy rates are in the\nowner\u0027s interests. Therefore, the more usable and adaptable the design is, the\nbroader the market appeal and the longer the occupancy. That\u2019s a better outcome for owner and resident alike.\nIn both single-family and multifamily residential buildings, universal design\nprinciples serve these purposes well but require attention to many details to\nbe successful.\n\n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"At the same time, in\nlocations subject to coastal or riverine flooding, it seems obvious now that it\u2019s not a good idea to put electrical generators or elevator equipment, or\nsleeping areas, below ground. That\u2019s especially true in light\nof the horrendous consequences in New Orleans, where ignorance or disregard of\nnature or human-caused flood potential resulted in tragic suffering and loss of\nlives. In this realm, systems thinking is necessary for designs to be workable,\nusable, and safe."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"When stakeholders in a\ncommunity are excluded from planning processes, the result is all too often\nincomplete thinking. For example, the appearance of elevated houses on piles or\nearthen mounds is one thing, but the ability of visitors to access the living\nfloors and the reliability of public services are also consequences. At the\nsame time, elevating both housing lots and the public streets has substantial\nhydrologic implications. Perhaps the continued human occupancy of floodplains\nis a paradigm that is past its usefulness."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Architects have valuable\nskills to contribute to design considerations far beyond lever hardware and\nwider doors; those skills add value to real estate developments and sustainable\ncommunities if the right questions are asked. Let\u0027s not leave such powerful\ndecision-making to others.\n\n\n\n\t"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"About the Author"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Thomas\nHirsch, FAIA, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1968 (B.\nArch). He is a Wisconsin-registered architect and land use planner. In January\n2011 he was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of\nArchitects for \u201coriginal thinking, ethical responsibility and\ncomprehensive approach to a wide range of human habitability issues [that] has\nresulted in precent-setting standards for floodplain management, accommodations\nfor persons with disabilities, and affordable housing that is highly energy\nefficient and incorporates renewable energy.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u001b"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n\n"]]]]}