The Challenge: To redesign a kitchen and bath (as well as other necessary areas) on a New England Cape to work better for a (fictional) family of 5.
The Family: The Kings: Fred & Marilyn are in their mid thirties. A banker and a teacher respectively, the seem to only find time for exercise on the weekends. Both are described as 30 lbs overweight. Don is 16 and an avid mountain biker currently nursing a broken leg. Grace, age 16, is the athlete of the family, participating in several sports. The youngest, Steve, is 12 and has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Fred & Marilyn want to age in place, and hope that Steve will be able to live in the house independently when they are gone.
That's all the information I have on the King family so far. The first assignment is to think about their particular design considerations and to form a chart with design concerns and broad solutions (ie, no products, just concepts) to address the concerns.
With Fred & Marilyn, there is not a whole lot of information to pursue a whole lot of concerns/solutions. They are in their 30's, but anytime you take on a remodel, you should plan ahead for the future as well. F&M will probably remodel again in the next 25 years, but simple things like raising the dishwasher 6-9 inches off the floor, makes loading and unloading the dishwasher less of a bending/stretching chore. Separate cooking appliances (range and wall oven) also accomplish this goal. In the bathroom, using a comfort height toilet and installing a 17-19" bench in the shower along with appropriate grab bars will make sure that both appointments will work for them well into their golden years.
For the older teens, I concentrated on accessibility in case of injury. Making sure there is adequate space to maneuver in the kitchen and bath are key. Doorways should be 34" wide to accommodate mobility aids. A wheelchair requires 60" of clear floor space to turn, but many homeowners (especially in New England!) don't have this kind of space to use. In my case, the downstairs bath is quite small, and Don is on crutches, so I am debating whether or not we'll have to take some real estate from an adjoining den. The raised toilet and shower bench will certainly be to his advantage as well.
The most interesting to research and think about is Steve. I have been all over the web looking for tips/strategies on designing for the Autistic client. I know that colors like pale blue, and pink are soothing, minimal patterns/clutter is important for concentration. Lighting should be soft/diffused. A heavy quilt helps soothe to sleep. The biggest concern in a bath and kitchen however is obviously safety. Locking away prescriptions, knives etc. An induction cooktop will prevent touching a hot stove. Anti-scald features on all faucets. Visual cueing will help foster independence - the popcorn button on the microwave for example. A self closing refrigerator and faucets that have electronic sensors to shut off will prevent over-use. Commercial vinyl flooring now comes in a million gorgeous options - it's soft and durable to all kinds of spills etc.
I found this really interesting article on designing a facility for Autism. I especially love that the designers thought to use as many of the senses as possible. Got me thinking about using smell. We were discussing in class a study in, I believe, Japan, where they were building fire alarms that emitted a horribly bitter smell in order to wake deaf homeowners up (currently all that is available is a flashing strobe light - which I imagine the heaviest sleepers may still sleep through). Clearly most parents are not able to provide the intricate light show as seen in the sensory room, but I think that the light patterns on the ceiling can be done on a smaller (less expensive) scale - I know my niece and nephew have a toy that puts on a light show on their ceiling - perhaps if one came in softer colors (theirs is primary)?
Anyway, I would like to start brainstorming ideas to make the kitchen a more inclusive space for Steve. Parents, I could use some of your input, are there any products or ideas you have implemented in your own homes? I'd love to hear them!
Part of the universal design challenge is making the space work for everyone, so I'm realistically not re-designing a home for Steve, but a home that works for everyone in the family.
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