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Dec. 29, 2001 Universally praised, yet unnoticed ALLEN NORWOOD Home Editor RALEIGH - The Center for Universal Design, a national clearinghouse for ideas that make life easier, might be better known outside North Carolina than here at home. But it's a terrific resource that's shaping your life, even if you don't recognize the name. Raised dishwasher, lowered microwave, multiple counter heights in the kitchen? That's universal design. In fact, you're not supposed to notice universal design. "You don't notice when something works, you notice when it doesn't work," said Sally Haile, information specialist at the center, a division of N.C. State's School of Design. "The catchphrase of our industry is that the best examples of universal design are invisible." The term "universal design" was coined by the late Ron Mace, the architect and designer who founded in 1989 the institution that would become the center. Mace died in 1998, and his disciples are still trying to explain what universal design does -- and doesn't -- mean. "A lot of people think that universal design is a euphemism for institutional design, or handicapped or accessible design," said Richard "Dick" Duncan, interim director and director of training at the center. "But it's appropriate design. If it doesn't look good, it isn't universal." Haile, who fields many of the 4,000 calls a year the clearinghouse receives, also says the center spends most of its time working with pros. So, if you don't know about it, odds are that your architect and builder do. Charlotte contractor David Tyson has won two universal design awards for bathrooms he designed and built. Last year, in regional competition, he won a Contractor of the Year award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. He agrees that the best universal design features are often invisible. "Absolutely. That bathroom (that won last year's award) has this huge 7-by-7-foot walk-in shower. This is a gorgeous bathroom, a wonderful bathroom ... that happens to have roll-up vanities." Tyson said his clients come in asking for universal design, even if they don't recognize the term. Active 50-year-olds want to be comfortable in their home at 75, so Tyson pays special attention to door and cabinet handles -- levers are easier for everyone to manage -- and installs plywood under the wallboard in bathrooms in case grab bars are needed someday. Says Tyson: "I tell them, `If you're going to stay here, let's be sure to design it so you can.' " And Haile said you might have encountered universal design called something else. Those who market homes and communities often choose terms they think are more appealing. Do these terms sound more familiar: "easy living," "aging in place," "home of your lifetime"? The center staff would rather field specific questions from pros than broad questions from consumers, Haile and Duncan said, because that's what they do best. But they'll be glad to help if they can. For a package of information, you can call Haile at (919) 515-8548 or e-mail her at sally_haile@ncsu.edu. The center's Web site, a storehouse of information and links to other helpful sites, is www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/. The center offers house plan review as one of its services. If you have a favorite house plan, the center will tweak it to make it more user-friendly, following the principles of universal design. But Haile said many plan services -- including those that offer plans online -- provide floor plans with universal features. Here are a few: • www.udhomes.com •www.architecturaldesigns. com • www.designbasics.com • www.uniteddesign.com • www.adaparch.com • www.bhg.com • www.southernliving.com |
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