Universal DesignNow It looks like an ordinary
and later
Tby Karen Fuller | photography by Joshua Curry | assited by Cole Dittmer
he choice to custom build a new home reccitates
many decisions about ceiling height, room location,
kitchen footprint, light fixtures and wall
color. It’s a huge investment, so why not use
the opportunity to consider some design choices
that will enable you to live in your new house
through the rest of your life?
The practice is called Aging in Place, and it means living in
a home designed to function for you as you face the common
challenges of aging — arthritis, compromised balance, limited
house but this Low
Country exterior belies
an unusual floorplan that
supports aging in place
mobility with the possibility of needing a walker or a wheelchair
down the road. Another way to describe Aging in Place
is through the term Universal Design, which basically implies
design that is accessible to all, regardless of physical limitations.
Laurie Goldwasser knows a lot about it. A transplant from
Illinois with a background in geriatric care management, she
often consulted clients about how to prepare an older adult’s
home to enhance the living environment. She packed all of her
knowledge into the design and construction of her own home,
located in Parkside at Mayfaire.
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WBM january 2012