Universal House Design: “Universal design is the process of designing products and environments that are usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age or ability,” acknowledges Ron Mace, founder of The Center for Universal Design. The idea behind universal home design is that accessible features benefit everyone. For example, raising the height of an electrical outlet definitely makes it easier for a physically challenged individual to reach, but it also eliminates the need for anyone to bend over as far, making it universally comfortable for everyone. Examples of universal home design features you’ll find in these house plans include sloping walkways to the main entrance; wider doorways, interior passages and closet doors; lever-style hardware; and convenient heights for things such as thermostats and light switches. When well done, universal home design is invisible to the homeowner.
For some further reading on this category, look at our "Introduction to Accessible Housing" article in the Health/Security section of our article library.
