![]() ![]() ![]() "People want to age in place, but usually don't want to talk about it," said Bruggeman vice president Steve La Berge. But they don't market the units as universal design or wheelchair-accessible. Townhouses with open floor plans, wide doorways and hallways, comfort-height toilets and reinforced bathroom walls inĬase grab bars need to be added. For years the company has been building one-level Cundy also is chairman of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities'ĥ0-Plus Housing Council, which looks at housing issues for older residents.īruggeman Homes in White Bear Lake has already embraced the concept. Some of these features to be successful," he said. "If you're building and designing new housing communities geared for the 55-plus age group, you'll need to incorporate ![]() Said that more clients are asking for things such as wider doorways and stepless front entries. Shoreview architect George Cundy, who has designed homes with some universal features for national and local builders, Such as bad knees or arthritis to age in place.Īs more Minnesotans grow older and live longer (65 and over is the state's fastest-growing age group, which will double by 2030,Īccording to the Minnesota Department of Health), builders are increasingly offering homes that accommodate their changing abilities. The universal design elements that create easy living for people who use wheelchairs also allow people with other physical limitations Others are more structural, such as wider doorways, no-rise thresholds and varied countertop heights and depths.ījorklund's four-bedroom rambler even has several no-step decks that one can easily roll or step upon.Īnd you won't find a single ramp anywhere. Some are as simple as lever-style door handles (instead of knobs) and easy-to-reach electrical outlets placed mid-level on walls. That accommodate his wheelchair but are unnoticeable to most. In the past two years Bjorklund has helped design his Lakeville house and outfit it with more than 70 universal design features Like the green building movement, universal design is steadily catching on and generating buzz, say people in the local housing industry.Ī National Association of Home Builders survey, for example, found that 56 percent of builders see universal design as a growing trendĪnd expect the demand to increase dramatically by 2015. "It's for creating environments that work for everyone." "Universal design is about usability, not disability," said Bjorklund, who works from his home as a product consultant for a technology company. While doing research he discovered universal design guidelines that specify home features useful for all, regardless of age and ability. "I wanted it to be inviting and beautiful." "My dream was to own a home with functionality, but that didn't sacrifice aesthetics," said Bjorklund,Ī paraplegic ever since a childhood farm accident. ![]() Kevin Bjorklund had more than his share of living in apartments with unattractive grab bars and exposed plumbing that made living easier but looked institutional. With the population aging rapidly, more builders are paying attention to making houses accessible to people of allĪbilities by incorporating universal design concepts. ![]()
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