Making space - Designing for a wheelchair user

Last year I had the opportunity to work on a project for an amazing couple, Anne and Mark. Mark was a wheelchair user. This job meant an incredible learning curve for me, particularly in terms of home automation, which I was not very familiar with before hand. But above all, it meant being able to really improve someone's quality of life through design tailored meticulously to his daily routine - the most rewarding job of all.

 

When I first came to the house everything seemed really cramped. The kitchen island made the space very narrow for anyone to use, not even talking about a wheelchair to get through! The dining table was pushed against one wall as no room was big enough to house comfortably in the centre. And then there was a tiny study with a bay window and an amazing view of the Galway coastline which was mostly used for working at the computer or drying clothes as it was too small for anything else.
My clients wished to open up the space to create an open plan kitchen, dining and living area and make use of the great view. In addition an extension was to be built to house a new accessible bedroom and bathroom.

Roughly a year later the house was transformed. On entering now, you pass the sitting room, stairs and guest WC and in front of you is a bright, spacious kitchen/dining room which allows to see right through to the garden. Most of the partitions on the ground floor were taken down and replaced by a concealed steel structure. The opened up space includes the former study and the bay window with its gorgeous view. This means you can now sit at the dining table and see the coast while having your lunch or dinner.
After tracing back to where the original kitchen units came from some new units were manufactured to match and the island was put on wheels. By taking out the units in the island this generated a mobile table which now can be used for food preparation or as a breakfast area for Mark as needed. The cherry units are complemented by a cream sideboard and the oak dining furniture. The oak floor runs from the entrance hall right through to the dining area adding to the sense of space. The kitchen area is defined by new 60x60cm cream floor tiles which give a generous, bright feel. The light beige painted walls set a warm mood while curtains with a red floral pattern and complementing striped Roman blinds add splashes of colour.

The new bedroom is located to the back of the existing house and has two big glazed openings: sliding doors to the garden and a glazed corner window with the view to Galway bay. Anne and Mark wanted to feel 'hotel' rather than 'hospital' when entering the room and the scheme reflects this. The bright airy space was decorated in shades of greens, olives and creams bringing the garden in. At the end of the room is the spacious en-suite with a level access shower. Fitted with all the necessary gadgets and handles this en-suite has a very luxurious look with travertine on the walls and matching mosaic tiles on the floor. A flat console basin sits on a custom made oak shelve which allows comfortable use while sitting on the wheelchair.

The crucial aspect to the design apart from layout and careful detailing was the design of the electric system. With the help of specialist installers Mark can now open and close curtains, switch on lights and sockets and answer the intercom at the door all with a remote fitted onto his wheelchair. Automated sliding doors allow easy access into the bedroom.

Another extremely efficient change was bringing up the level of the patio to allow level access from the kitchen and bedroom into the garden. Mark is finally able to move around the house with sufficient freedom and independence.

Visiting Anne and Mark in their new home I can really feel that the new found space allows them an easier and more comfortable daily routine. I am delighted to be able to say that the transformation really improved their quality of life. This was the most rewarding project I have worked on so far!

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Written by: Olga Revollo-Schmidt (Senior Tutor)

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