Category: Housing research

People want to stay put as they age. That means housing design is critical in supporting this desire, as well as ageing-in-place policies. A study from New Zealand looked at issues of appropriate housing for older people, and how people and communities can develop resilience to adverse natural events. The findings relate to ageing societies across the globe and within the context of changing environmental conditions. The decision tools that researchers devised from this participatory research are useful for older people and for architects and other designers. 

The title of the article by Bev James and Kay Saville-Smith is “Designing housing decision-support tools for resilient older people“. There are several useful references at the end of this excellent study. 

From the abstract

It’s critical that older people continue to live and participate in their communities. ‘Ageing in place’, rather than in residential care, is desired by older people themselves and promoted as policy in many countries. Its success, both as policy and practice, depends on housing.

House performance, resilience, functionality and adaptability are all essential to maintaining independence. Three New Zealand research programmes have worked with older people to investigate issues around housing. They include ageing in place, and resilience to adverse natural events.

Using participatory research techniques, we developed evidence-based decision-support tools to help older people maintain independence. These tools have been co-designed and widely tested with older people and others. The tools help older people identify priorities and assess diverse factors determining thermal performance. They also help improve decisions around: repairs and maintenance assessment and solutions; dwelling and location choices and housing options.

This work demonstrates how research outputs can be used to facilitate older people’s housing choices while also giving architects and designers guides for meeting older people’s housing needs.

Image by David Mark.

Three housing presentations focused on universally designed and accessible housing and discuss the need for regulation in the building code. 

Margaret Ward tells the story from the perspective of Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD) and their advocacy and lobbying for regulation. Universal design in all new housing: Keeping COAG to account (PDF 13MB).  Transcript of the presentation in Word. 

Courtney Wright reports on a survey about accessible housing and attitudes to regulation, costs and benefits to Australian society. Building all new homes to an agreed universal design standard: Understanding the perceived costs and benefits to Australian society. (PDF 500kb).  Transcript of the presentation in Word.

Penny Galbraith gives a policy perspective and links it to Population, Participation and Productivity. She provides some interesting facts and figures including how costs can be designed out. Home Coming? A story of reassurance, opportunity and hope. (PDF 1MB).  Transcript of the presentation in Word.

All presentations were converted to PDF before being provided to CUDA. If you are unable to access the content of the documents please email udaustralia@gmail.com.

Guy Luscombe did a great report on his findings from a study tour of residential settings for older people. He found aspects such as natural light were of important to residents. A similar study was undertaken in Hong Kong looking at age, gender, marital status, etc., to see the preferences of older people in residential design

The importance of living in a space you like has ongoing health benefits (or detriments if not). This is a thorough study using qualitative techniques which looks at residents preferences. Differences emerged about windows, but there seemed to be some general agreement about bedroom size. The title of the paper is, Comparison of facilities management in private domestic buildings among different elderly groups in Hong Kong.  Here is the last part of the abstract:

The result shows that satisfaction with natural daylight was significantly different among older people of different genders. However, there was satisfaction with the size of bedrooms, turning spaces at doors, temperature in bathrooms and/or toilets, and use of colour. Accessibility and ease of closing or opening the doors were significantly different among older people belonging to different age groups and of different marital status and education level.

Luscombe recommends designers and private developers increase the sizes of bedrooms, and install windows on opposite sides of walls in flats. Also, ensure there is an adequate light reflection for wall and floor colours.

Rachelle Newman‘s Masters thesis provides some valuable insights into some of the issues in creating accessible homes. Written in 2010, the content remans relevant as the changes to the National Construction Code are pending in two states. The Home is for Every Body is a great title.

The thesis is well researched, well written and well presented. It discusses the role of Livable Housing Australia, Landcom Guidelines, national standards, state planning instruments, and legislative frameworks. The section on the relationship between adaptable housing and universal design is very useful for anyone confused by it. Tables and photographs add to the explanations throughout. The title of the thesis is: The home is for every body? An investigation of the statutory and strategic planning implications of inclusive housing design.

Abstract excerpt:

This thesis explores the employment of two types of inclusive design – adaptable and universal – in Australia-wide and NSW contexts. There is a lack of coordination at the national level which has resulted in a divergence of approaches and interpretation between states. This thesis offers an understanding of the planning implications of inclusive housing design so that better policy and legislation may be developed.

Steve’s Story.

This is the fourth and last in the series of stories about wheelchair users building a new home. Steve is married with two children and tells his story about building a two storey project home. Similarly to George, he had to make compromises when the builder failed to deliver on promises. However, when allowed to speak directly with tradespeople, some of the problems were easily solved.

Download the synopsis of Steve’s Story

Mike’s Story

I interviewed four wheelchair users who had recently built a home as part of my PhD research project. I was interested in the process and the interaction with house-building professionals. In coming newsletters I will feature the other three interviews. Mike tells how he engaged an architect because he had little confidence in a project home builder understanding what he wanted. However, this did not result in plain sailing.

Download Mike’s story

George’s Story

George who comes from a family of builders. He relates his experiences with a project home builder and how he had to overcome resistance to incorporating basic access features.

Download a synopsis of George’s story

Tomas and Lisa’s Story.

Tomas tells his story about designing a home for two wheelchair users and their children. Unlike Mike, Tomas and Lisa had an easier time. Tomas also provides some comparisons with Europe.

Download the synopsis of Tomas’ Story

A builder’s perspective

This is Sam’s story. As part of my PhD research project I interviewed a family member who built a home for a relative who uses a wheelchair. It transpired he was also a builder. The interview shows that being a builder with a family member with a disability does not always make for a better understanding of when and where regulations apply. It also shows how misunderstood the whole area of accessibility, public domain standards and housing design can get mixed up. 

Download Sam’s story

I interviewed four wheelchair users who had recently built a home as part of my PhD research project. I was interested in the process and the interaction with house-building professionals.

Jane Bringolf, Website Editor