New book shows beauty of universal design

Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances by Wendy A. Jordan, published by Quarry Books, appears to be a good addition to sources about universal design, because its premise is that universal design can make a home accessible and beautiful.

In an interview with the book's author in Action, the magazine of the United Spinal Association, she says, “Designers and builders were not attuned to the idea of beautiful universal design. There were no readily available examples of attractive universal design homes, and information on design features and products was hard to find. I knew the ideas and products were out there, it’s just that they were, to coin a phrase, ‘inaccessible’ to the consumer.”

Jordan said, "she wanted to write a book that would bring together the best, state-of-the-art ideas in beautiful universal design; serve as a guide for homeowners, their designers and contractors when researching guidelines; and ease the process of locating attractive, effective universal design products."

The author of the Action article, Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D., is building a national model universal design home, called the Universal Design Living Laboratory, http://www.udll.com/, which is featured in the book.

Here's a description of Universal Design for the Home from BuildersBooks:

Universal Design (UD) is coming of age. Once a home design specialty that was little known, of limited interest, and a source of embarrassment more than pride, it is attracting widespread media attention and taking on (as befits its name) almost universal appeal -- and with good reason. The concept emerged years ago out of the need to make homes safe and accessible for the elderly, the disabled and the very young. Some of the design options were good-looking, but others seemed institutional. Today, there are so many stylish, beautiful, good-sense universal-design options that choosing them has become a 'why not?' rather than a 'why?' decision.

Universal Design for the Home features a blend of beautiful projects, creative ideas, and substantive planning information. Highly visual, the book features projects showing room contexts, as well as detail shots. The mix of projects encompasses small and large houses; one-story and multi-story houses; and ideas for general accessibility and comfort as well as some targeted more directly at handicap accessibility. There is an emphasis on remodeled projects, but new homes designed with an eye toward accessibility -- present and future -- are included as well. Chapters cover the spectrum of accessible home planning, from room arrangements to kitchens, baths, entries, and exterior areas. The book displays fresh, inspiring design ideas as well as must-have, good-sense solutions, such as wider doorways. Basic specifications, how-to tips, and other technical content are featured throughout
the book in easy-to-find boxes and sidebars.