Access Matters - Housing
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We all need to live somewhere and like visiting our friends and family. We are hearing more and more about 'Future Plainning' and 'Lifetime Designs'. Architects and builders are now looking ahead much more and incorporating lifetime designs at the construction stage, which is great news for fututre home owners.
Lifetime Design
www.lifetimedesign.org.nz
Everybody in society benefits from lifetime design. Lifetime design describes a way of designing products that deliver the greatest ease of use for most people but allows for adaptations in the future as needs change.
The underlying principle of lifetime design is flexibility to modify a product or place according to the needs of the owner and to ensure that our communities and homes are inviting to all.
The five core guiding principles of lifetime design are:
Principle 1: Ease of use
Designs are uncomplicated, safe, well suited to their purpose, and can be easily used by people with differing abilities.
Principle 2: Ease of adaptation
The place or product can be cost effectively and simply adapted to most people’s changing needs over time, or to suit different users. Information on how best to implement changes is easy to find.
Principle 3: Ease of access
Everyone can easily access the place or service and move around freely within it. Particular attention will have been given to transition points such as paths and doorways, and access to and from transport.
Principle 4: Ease of inclusion
Our environments and homes include everyone regardless of age, size or ability. Groups are not segregated by the design.
Principle 5: Lifetime value
Lifetime design products and places are not expensive, but they are valuable and remain so over time. What’s more they save the user money, time and energy through effective design. They can be easily adapted for a relatively low cost and are environmentally sustainable.
© Lifetime Design.
These principles are very practical and benefit us, disabled people greatly! CCS Disability Action supports lifetime design – we hope you will too!