“These homes are seriously cool and beautiful,” writes Chazzy. She’s talking about two universal design inspired homes featured in the New York Times. Both remodels show that accessible can be beautiful. First, is the home of Jean-Yves Prodel the French Universal Design evangelist.
Four years after buying an old house north of Paris he has home which he considers “a work in progress” but can live in comfortably. His home will receive the 2009 Universal Design Award from Universal Design G.m.b.H., a German company that promotes accessibility.
Click here to read the full article.
(Clicking on the picture above should take you to a slide show.)
In the second home Cynthia Leibrock, designer, consultant and Harvard instructor shows what universal design can look like when money is no object. High end kitchen, steam shower, guest bath with reflecting pool, these are just some of the features in this glass and steel home in Colorado.
The house is not wheelchair accessible but it is wheelchair adaptable. “Designing a home with an eye toward easy renovation is key to aging in place.”
Click here to read the full article.
(Clicking on the picture above should take you to a slide show.)
Thanks again to Chazzy for the heads up! We always appreciate hearing from our readers! If you have to something to share with others who are interested in aging in place please let us know: learnhow@aipathome.com
Updated: Link correction
This home is a testament to the beauty behind a Universal Design. Our Design + Build company in Mountain View, CA has recently completed a Universally Designed home in Portola Valley. It received local and regional awards for Universal Design and was most recently showcased in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Home & Garden section.
http://www.sfgate.com – Iris Harrell and Ann Benson’s home
It is wonderful to see designers and builders recognizing the importance of this aspect of building and remodeling. As baby boomers start to reach the age of looking at retirement, Aging in Place/Universal Design will take the forefront in their decision making to either stay in their home and remodel the home they love or move to a new home in a new area, possibly leaving behind friends and family, simply to try and accommodate the need to be in an accessible home.
It’s wonderful to see this awakening taking place and becoming mainstream!
Bella Babot
bbabot@harrell-remodeling.com
http://www.harrell-remodeling.com