Location

An accessible home

There are two points from which to create an accessible home: as a renovation or the design of a new home, perhaps focussed on individual need.

Designing a new home

Ideally, select a level or near level site. Such a site allows the construction of a home with a single floor level and facilitates design for access. It is possible to build an accessible house on sloping land but the design may need ramps to enable changes of level.

Figure 1.1 illustrates a difficult, sloping site and a split-level house that suits the site but does not facilitate access.

Figure 1.1 - A house with split levels and stairs is not accessible for all

Figure 1.1

 

Figures 1.2 and 1.3 illustrate ways of providing access to the home by levelling either the site itself or the floor level of the house.

If the land is not perfectly suited to an access-friendly home, there are architectural techniques that can be employed to ensure the house design is easy to live in and can be navigated by all. If the land is on a slope, it may be possible for the house to sit near the top of the slope with a driveway leading close to the front door, so the car does all the climbing as in figure 1.2. Short ramps may be constructed within the home. An elevated, outdoor living space might be the solution, as shown in figure 1.3.

Figure 1.2 - Where the house is not on the same level as the road, locate the car-port at the same level as the house

Figure 1.2

  • existing ground level

Figure 1.3 - If access is only available at the upper level of a house, an elevated outdoor living space may be the solution

Figure 1.3

  • internal ramp will allow some changes in floor level
  • raised deck

Attention needs to be paid to access to and around the home at the time it is being designed. Functional and recreational parts of the site need to be easy to move between. This includes paths of access to clothes drying space and outdoor living areas.

On a tight urban site, with significant variation in level complicating pedestrian access from the boundary to the front door, access may be more readily provided from a convenient car parking position on the site, such as that illustrated in figure 1.4.

Similarly, on rural sites without sealed roads or walkways, it may be most appropriate to provide pedestrian access from a car parking position instead of from the site boundary.

In all cases, avoid steps or changes in level as even a single step will compromise accessibility.

Figure 1.4 - Cutting and filling is an option, providing level access to the building platform

Figure 1.4

  • level standing
  • steep entrance drive
  • 6000 mm minimum