b'featureopposite: Eliminating step-throughs for seamless indoor/outdoor transitions not only allows people of all levels of mobility to move easily between spaces independently, but it also makes for a striking look. Interior walls in Resene Half Concrete, ceiling in Resene Half Black White, skirting boards and architraves in Resene Black White, vertical weatherboard cladding and fascia in Resene Baltic Sea and soffits in Resene Concrete. This home has a five star Lifemark certification. Design by Higham Architecture, www.highamarchitecture.co.nz, build by Frost Architectural Builders,www.frostbuilders.co.nz, image by Stephen Goodenough, www.stephengoodenough.co.nz.left: Even something as simple as keeping landscaping neatly trimmed and ensuring pathways are slip resistant can improve the accessibility of a home. Try Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path, which is a textured waterborne finish designed to provide a comfortable walking surface for all interior and exterior situations where a non-skid finish is desired. Vertical weatherboard cladding in Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Baltic Sea, horizontal fibre cement panel cladding in Resene X-200 tinted to Resene Foundry, soffits in Resene Concrete, fascia in Resene Baltic Sea and interior walls in Resene Half Concrete. This home has a five star Lifemark certification. Design by Higham Architecture, build by Frost Architectural Builders, image by Stephen Goodenough.I fyouareanarchitecturalorinteriordesigner,to think that if something works for us, it works forimprove not only suitable housing stock availability forResenechances are you may have only spent a half dayeveryone, but that simply isnt the case. Universalthe coming influx in our aging communities, but also learning about Universal Design principlesif that.Design gives a voice to the silent population whosethe adaptability and accessibility of approved dwellings Others may be unfamiliar with the concept altogether. needs are often unrecognised. so that they can house a wider range of people. Half Black WhiteIts a term that was originally coined in the 1970sThere is also the imminent challenge that manyOur focus started off on single family dwellings byAmericanarchitectRonaldLawrenceMacetocountries face having a growing percentage of theand trying to inspire changes there. I joined Lifemark describe the concept of designing all products andpopulation entering the age range where more carein2014,buttheorganisationsdatareallystarted spaces to be usable to the greatest extent possible byandassistanceareneeded.Whenwelooktothearound 2008-2009 when we started to work withReseneForm anyone and everyone, regardless of their age, abilityhousing stock thats currently available to the agingretirementvillages,whichwestilldo.ThatsbeenHalf Concreteor status. Today, Universal Design also recognises thatpopulation, homes that are truly universaland havea good relationship as working with the retirement there is a wide spectrum of human abilities and takesthe magic combination of being accessible, affordablesector signalled that there might be a whole variety of and function into account the full range of human diversity, fromand targeted toward mainstream buyers or renters typologies that could benefit, so we now also provideResenephysical to perceptual and cognitive abilities, as wellare nearly impossible to find. advice in a broader sense so as not to limit the ways we as different body sizes and shapes. Geoff Penrose is the General Manager of Lifemark.are able to help, explains Geoff. ConcreteThe primary challenge of designing for all peopleAs a division of CCS Disability Action, a not-for-profitWeve also recognised more and more that, to be is making sure that its functional for people with anyorganisation, Lifemark provides advice, assistance andeffective, its not just about the house; its the way in type of impairment of the body or the mind whileadvocation around Universal Design. They also offerwhich the community is organised, its master planning People come in all different shapes, sizesensuring that the design is also useful for everyone.a rating process which is underpinned by a formal setand its linkages. And while there are regulatory controlsReseneand abilities. How can you ensure theirMuchofourbuiltworldisdesignedforthesameofdesignstandards.AccreditedLifemarkpartners,thattryandenforceaccessibility,therearemanyBaltic Seasegmentofthepopulationgenerally,someonesuch as builders, architects and designers, use theseexamples where its still a work in progress. The training needs are met both today, and tomorrow? who is relatively young and able-bodiedand canstandards and work with Lifemark to achieve a starofprofessionalsisquitelimited,too.Forinstance, fail to take into account the needs of others. Its easyrating for their project. The process is intended toyou can do a four year architectural degree and youll 48 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 49'