The Problem

The best solutions begin with a need or problem.

The Problem:
We have five daughters and one is wheelchair bound. The home we currently live in is not accessible because of its location on a hill top and the era in which the home was built (1940's). After much consideration and counsel it was determined to be next to impossible (because of the costs involved and space required) to renovate the property to the extend that would be necessary. We needed a different home. After looking at dozens of homes on the market I concluded there simply were no homes available that would meet our needs. I looked at thousands of house plans, and there were no plans available that would satisfy our specific needs or my tastes. (Most plans that incorporate universal design are considering the home owner, not a child).

The Solution:
I have wanted to build a house since my childhood and have a hobby interest in architecture (designed over 100 homes just for fun). The challenge now was to incorporate universal design (handicap accessibility) elements into a home that could provide shelter for my family of 7 today, the addition of an aged parent in the future and could be a home that my wife and I retire in. Universal design elements will be incorporated into all areas of the main living floor. In an effort not to over build and to keep within a budget I set the square footage limits for the new house at our current home's size of 2,790 sqft.

Some Practical Universal Ideas to incorporate:
Hallways should be kept to a minimum. Doors should be 36", hallways 4'6" to 5' in width. Electrical and plumbing fixtures and switches should be accessible. Emergency Exits should be located in each bedroom (on the main floor). Stairs and steps should be kept to a minimum. Each room should have an area large enough to turn a wheelchair 360 degrees (approx 5' in diameter).

Modern European Design and other Preferences:
I very much dislike the cookie cutter approach to building homes and against profession advice I planned to build specifically for our family.

Americans generally build homes to sell, Europeans generally build homes to live in. Americans tend to conform to trends, while Europeans build according to tradition (or with at least an eye of consideration to the environment and looking toward the long term future).

One aspect of European design that I like very much is the usable foyer. If Americans incorporate a foyer it is simply for impact, or setting the stage for presentation of the interior. Europeans (at least Germans) include a true foyer in most house designs to serve as a functional area between the outdoors and the interior of the home. One reason for this is the outer clothing and boots that are worn in the winter months, and the need for storage of these items. It is a very practical room of transition. In European design this entry room often includes a staircase and serves as the common entry for multi-family dwellings. Incorporating this room into my design not only serves a practical need on a farm (that of transition for outdoors to indoors), but it also serves as a common entry for a home that can easily house two families in the future (one on the main floor and the second floor easily converted to an apartment for long term guests).

After doing a bit of research I found that having a full basement would not be much more expensive than a conventional foundation. A slab foundation was out of the question as we intend to remain in this home for the remainder of our lives, LORD willing, and we are not yet 40 (Although slab foundations are very good for accessible homes in general and less expensive to build, maintenance becomes an issue because plumbing pipes are virtually inaccessible). Also, living in Tornado Alley make a basement more of a necessity than a luxury.