b'featureto the same heights as you may not have a very largePutting together a universal bathroom design is going tothingsslightlydifferentlyandplanningalittlebitSight unseenfield of visionand its hard to reach what you cant see.end up being an aspirational bathroom to many people. better for the future. Its also the somewhat invisible, or imperviable things, So, you need things organised at a level thats within aThe only fixtures really available to accommodateI also felt there would be some market advantage,that can go a long way. Geoff points out that many range thats visible and reachable, and then maximisebarrier-free design needsthe ones that come tonot only for the homeowner but also for my business,contemporary shower designs come with an integrated the space that is available with drawers and differentmind when you think of hospitals, care facilities andand that certainly has rung true. shower rail, and that by simply ensuring that the wall types of partitions. Weve also been testing differentretirement communities designed 20-50 years ago Lastly,Lifemarkisanot-for-profitorganisationbehind it is properly reinforced, it will not only do the handles because we used to say any D-shaped handleused to be utilitarian focused and far less attractive. In and that said a lot to me. They werent trying to selljob but will look great, too.is good, but after some testing, the answer turns out toactuality, there are some really stunning products outsomething,theyweresimplysharingbestpracticeReseneSmartTouchissomethingwithahuge be that some are better than others. Beyond that, trythere now, says Geoff.inhousedesignbyadvocatingfortheinclusionofamount of potential because it can just make that task and look for colour contrast. Black is quite fashionableGeoff says its also common to think it requires moreUniversal Design principles in homes, he explains. so much easier for people. When you have a two metre at the moment, and its great because if you put blackspace. But rather than adding increased dimensions forby two metre space, it is a huge swath of area to have against white, youre going to see it. But if you put silvercirculation and turning radii, its really about makingDesigning for good accessible for somebody to just literally tap and have on it, its not going to be as easy to find. themfitwithintheexistingfootprint.YoudontJasonsaysheappreciatesthathiscommitmentthat be their light switch. Thats an amazing product Whenitcomestofiguringouthowmuchcolouractually need more space, its just being smarter abouttoUniversalDesignmeanshecanofferhisclientsthats out there.contrastisenoughcontrast,looktotheLRV(Lightusing itor as we call it, space in the right place. Thereaninexpensivewaytofuture-prooftheirhomebyThe notion of slip resistance is key, too. I mean, Reflectance Values) on your Resene colour charts oris no doubt it will cost more if youve got an existingintegratingprinciplesrightfromtheverybeginning,nothings really good when it gets wet, but being aware Resenes online colour library (www.resene.com/colour).plan and you suddenly have to change it. But if yourewhichensurestheywontbefacedwithexpensiveofcertainareaslikekitchens,laundries,bathrooms, These work on a 0-100% scale and are a measure ofstarting from scratch, its easy to just do it right. retrofitting if/when their circumstances change.walkwaysandentrywaystoyourhouseanywhere what the colour looks like. So, if you need a contrastAnother argument is that the typography of theIts a topic he feels strongly about, and hes workingtheres wateryoure going to find the potential for of 30% LRV then you would need a colour of say 40land wont suit. But while it might create challenges,hard to address some of the stigmas. When it comesthat to be a slippery environment. So, youll want to LRV and 70 LRV to give the required colour contrastmost of the time you will find that house is actually justto home design, people dont want to think about agingbe looking for ways to minimise that and take it into difference of 30% LRV. as flat. We accept that it cant work for all sites, but theyor getting injured or things like that. Universal Design isaccount. Its going to make things easier for people However,whileanLRVchangeof30couldbeare actually a lot fewer than people think.not on peoples radar because its not seen to be as sexywho have mobility issues, but its also going to prevent obtained with a dark green and a lighter green, thoseor cool like sustainability and green homes. But I thinkinjuries from happening.colourswouldntnecessarilybeenoughcontrastforPartnering for change Universal Design is just as important as sustainability.ReseneNon-SkidDeck&Pathisatextured someone who is colour blinda condition which affectsAwardwinningarchitecturaldesignerJasonHighamWhat good is a sustainable or green home if its notwaterborne finish designed to provide a comfortable approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 260 women. Ideally,was first introduced to Lifemark in 2012 and officiallyeasy and safe to use for everyone, and is not easilywalking surface inside or out where a non-skid finish is as well as a strength difference, you should also look tobecame an accredited partner in 2013. He says he wasadaptable in the future if your circumstances change? required on residential, commercial or light industrial using contrasting huessuch as black against yellow,drawn to the not-for-profit because Universal DesignNotonlydomyclientsbenefitdirectlyintheprojects. It can be tinted to complement or contrast which is thought by many experts to be the easiestprinciplesjustseemedlikereallygoodcommon- usability of their home, they should benefit in termsdcor, to create decorative effects or wayfinding on colour combination for the human eye to differentiatesense stuff, things that would apply to everyone. So, itof future resale value, too. Also, because all the homescourtyard and path surfaces and to highlight stair edges above: Architectural designer Jason Higham is working to squash as well as different sheen levels and proper lighting. seemed logical to me to become accredited. and house alterations I design are quite unique and notin light colours to reduce the risk of accident.Resene the stigmas surrounding Universal Design. As this stunning homeAnyone could experience a disability at any time,cookie-cutter,IvebeenabletohelpinLifemarksNon-Skid Deck & Path has been slip resistance testedwith a five star Lifemark certificationshows, designing withSquashing the stigmas and many people want to age-in-place, so catering toeffortstoshakethestigmaattachedtoUniversalwith a result of 0.74-0.78, which means it meets slip these principles in mind should actually result in an aestheticallyWhat makes Universal Design different, though, fromall those needs just seemed obvious. Design in homes, particularly aesthetically. resistance requirements for slopes up to 34 degrees. beautiful home. Plaster cladding and soffits in Resene Quarterslightlyearlierbarrier-freeconceptsisthatitalsoSecondly, they have a rating system for homes Black White and timber cladding finished in Wood-X Torlesse exterior wood oil available from Resene ColorShops. Designseeks to blend aesthetics into the core goals of broaderthat was easily measurable and, once it was applied, by Higham Architecture, build by RJ Murray Builders Limited,accessibility and adaptability.would deliver proof that a house had been designedright above and below: Designgroup Stapleton Elliot, www.dgse.co.nz, designed the interior fit-out for image by Mick Stephenson, www.mickstephenson.com. Thethingthatwepushforisthatwedontseeand built to meet a certain standard. Thirdlyandthe Victoria University of Wellingtons Computational Media Innovation Centre (CMIC). The project Universal Design as adding on your typical ramps and railsthisisquiteanimportantoneIrealisedthatitteam wanted to use the opportunity to create an environment that supports innovation and creativity, Resene which led them to a considered palette of Resene colours that looks sleek and contemporary. One Quarter Black White and stuff like that, says Geoff. We see it as providingwould be pretty inexpensive for my clients. Most ofnotable feature is the presence of guiding lines and signage in Resene Black throughout the interiorResenethese things in a way that looks attractive. Theres a lotthe design requirements are free or very low cost tomirrors the movement of visitors travelling through. Communal kitchen walls in Resene Black White,Black Whitethat can be done with landscaping in terms of ramping upinclude. And it wasnt a radical departure from whatkitchenette wall and meeting room feature wall in Resene Plum and other walls in Resene Black.Resene to houseswhich material you use, what you finish it with.I was doing already, so a lot of it was just doing someImages by Mark Scowen, www.intense.co.nz. Plum52 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 53'