Accessible Modern

2015 Madison Area Builders Association Parade of Homes Participant

We designed this custom-built new home using universal design standards for a wheelchair-bound client. Universal design is also known as inclusive design or life span design, and its goal is design that is fair and equal to everyone, including the disabled and the elderly. This "level playing field" approach enables all people to be self-reliant and socially engaged. A no-step entranceway is an element of universal design most people know. The no-step entrance and a low driveway grade are two elements that make this home wheelchair accessible and eliminate any future need for aging-in-place modifications.

The home was built in response to insufficient access discovered during our client's time in their prior home. It was designed to solve unforeseen problems caused by modifying a standard floor plan for wheelchair access. Simply making hallways and bathrooms wider reduces common areas like closet space, making them dysfunctional. For example, our client could not tuck his children into bed on his own because their bedrooms became too small to maneuver a wheelchair. All areas in this home were carefully considered and designed to enable independence and inclusivity.

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Wheelchair Accessible Kitchen

The home is inspired by the late mid-century ranch or rambler homes from the 1960s and 70s. To accommodate our client’s needs and the requirements for the entire family, we designed a home with low windows, wide hallways, and custom cabinets set at various heights. The energy-efficient windows let light stream into all parts of the home and present beautiful views of the yard and nearby. We considered every design detail in making this house a welcoming and suitable home. that empowers this disabled veteran and fulfills the needs of all household members. This successful integration of accessible design elements includes circuitous rooms, sinks to accommodate a wheelchair, and elevator access to the lower-level playroom and family room.

Universal Design Kitchen

The kitchen has almost no upper cabinets almost all of the countertops are lower than standard to accommodate the husband using his chair and the wife who is short in stature. One countertop is placed at a taller than standard height in anticipation that the children will someday be teenagers who may be greater than average height as the husband is tall. 

Kitchen features include, Auburn Ridge cabinetry in oak in the Briarwood door style, Corian Cottage Lane countertops, Asko dishwasher, Sub-Zero 48" refrigerator, Wolf five burner cooktop, 30 inch professional wall oven and stainless steel wall hood, Moen Arbor Motion-Sense pulldown kitchen faucet,  Kohler undermount kitchen stainless steel sink, and an In-Sink-Erator food disposer.

A pantry large enough to accommodate a wheelchair provides the equivalent storage capacity of approximately thirty standard upper cabinets. Motion sensored lights are used in the pantry and in closets throughout the home to allow the clients to walk in or roll into an immediately lit area.

Residential Elevator

A Freedom Green residential 40” x 54” elevator enables wheelchair mobility between floors. The elevator provides full accessibility to the lower level. The doorway on the lower level is on a wall perpendicular to the main level allowing the chair to roll in and simply turn 90° to exit, rather than needing to spin 180°.

A Circuitous Floor Plan Designed for Wheelchair Accessibility

This home has wide hallways, and most rooms are circuitous, allowing for movement in a continuous direction rather than needing to turn 180 degrees to back out of an area. The master bedroom, master bathroom, laundry room, and hallway all form a single circle designed to be navigated in a circuit. The master bathroom is large enough for turning radius and transfer space from chair to toilet. The shower can be rolled into or transferred from wheelchair to seat. The his-and-her vanities are customized for wheelchair access.