Safe and Sound: Knox Box In emergency situations, first responde…
Safe and Sound: Knox Box In emergency situations, first responders will gain access to a home in the most efficient ways possible. If this means breaking down a door, so be it – unless you have a Knox Box. This mini safe works similarly to a lock box that a Realtor might use when showing a home. The fire department has a key to the Knox Box, which stores your emergency house key inside, allowing them to open a door properly rather than breaking it down. Because, as Mark points out, the last thing homeowners should be thinking about in an emergency situation is how much door replacement costs.
Outdoor Enjoyment: Planter Boxes Adjusting to life in a wheelcha…
Outdoor Enjoyment: Planter Boxes Adjusting to life in a wheelchair made Rosemarie's love of gardening a challenge. Mark says chair-height planters bring the gardening to a convenient height for Rosemarie to roll up to and tend any time she likes. The landscaped back yard also incorporates paver ramps and pathways so the couple can enjoy all of its amenities together.
See Through: Multi-level Peep Holes Traditional entry doors have…
See Through: Multi-level Peep Holes Traditional entry doors have peep holes positioned at a height between 60 and 66 inches. Consider adding a peephole at closer to 48 inches for wheelchair users, children, and homeowners short of stature. Or, let the door glass do the work for you. In addition to daylighting as a universal design benefit, the glass in this ProVia door has clear panes for viewing at three different heights in the door.
Cooking Confidence: Easy Access Burners ADA-compliant ranges put…
Cooking Confidence: Easy Access Burners ADA-compliant ranges put the cooktop controls at the front of the appliance so users can access them easily without reaching over hot surfaces. The UDLL takes things a step further by installing individual burners side by side in the cooking area, eliminating the problem of hard-to-reach back burners. In this configuration, Rosemarie can easily and safely reach each cooking element, as well as vent hood controls.
Island Hopping: Multi-level Kitchen Island Bakers have lauded th…
Island Hopping: Multi-level Kitchen Island Bakers have lauded the benefits of a lowered section of counter space, which offers better leverage for kneading and mixing. But multi-level countertops are ideal for universal design. In the UDLL kitchen island, a raised portion works well for Mark who stands well over 6 feet tall, and also makes room for easy-access undercounter appliances. Another section of the island stands at traditional 36-inch height, while a lowered section is ideal for seated cooks, homework, or casual dining.
Vanity Fair: No Tilted Mirrors Another example of a lowered coun…
Vanity Fair: No Tilted Mirrors Another example of a lowered counter height is in the front hall bathroom. In addition to providing accessibility, Mark says the 32-inch vanity height let them bring the bottom of the mirror lower as well. The result is a lovely design that avoids awkward (and often institutional) titled mirrors.
Shower Convenience: Lowered Niche The master shower features a w…
Shower Convenience: Lowered Niche The master shower features a wall niche about a foot above the floor where it's convenient for Rosemarie to store toiletries. The lowered niche makes for easier access than niches or shelves that are usually placed mid-way up the wall.
Future Planning: Ceiling Blocking Installing extra blocking behi…
Future Planning: Ceiling Blocking Installing extra blocking behind walls to accommodate future grab bars is nothing new in universal design, but don't forget the ceiling. Planning for a future in which he or another caregiver may no longer be able to lift Rosemarie, Mark had blocking added inside the ceiling above the bathtub and the beds in the home to make lift systems easier to install down the line.
Power Play: Electrical Panels in the Garage Electrical panels ar…
Power Play: Electrical Panels in the Garage Electrical panels are often installed in the basement or some out-of-the-way corner, but homeowners that can't make it up and down stairs may not be able to access them if a breaker trips or the power goes out. In the UDLL, Mark solved this problem by moving the panels to the garage and installing them at a wheelchair-accessible height. The garage has a no-threshold transition so Rosemarie can move through it easily and check the panels if necessary.
When Rosemarie Rossetti lost the use of her legs in a 1998 accident, she and her husband Mark Leder focused on getting her well. But beyond the challenge of learning to use a wheelchair, Rosemarie had to re-learn how to live in their home. With too many issues to try a remodel, Rosemarie and Mark looked to local builders but were discouraged by the dearth of universal design solutions they offered. Ultimately, the couple embarked on building the ultimate universal design custom home. Their experience has become a critique on traditional homebuilding and an impressive exercise in true universal design.
Today, the 3,500-square-foot Universal Design Living Laboratory is Rosemarie and Mark’s home and office. Thanks to the couple’s thought leadership, the UDLL also serves as an education center for builders, architects, and the public to learn how to create homes that work for all of their residents, no matter their age or ability. Products editor Lauren Hunter recently toured the UDLL and found a number of details worth sharing. Flip through the slideshow at left to see nine of her favorites.
Lauren joined Hanley Wood in 2006 with a focus on bringing trends and new products information to professionals in the residential construction industry. When she's not in the office, Lauren travels to industry trade shows nationwide to check out those trends and products first-hand.
