Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Adaptable House
Adaptable House
Private north
facing courtyard
Carport to side
of house with a
covered side or
rear entrance
Courtesy Robert Moore , “Housing for life”
Sump for
Low level lighting paving
limit distance
Pavement 1m wide to 25m
2nd carparking space
Design for the needs of the present owners, Always allow for a minimum unobstructed area, services. If you plan to remove this existing
without being too specific or inflexible in free of furniture, of 2.25m diameter in living wall, permission from the local council may
the design or form of construction. Plan for areas, 2.07m x 1.55m in at least one bedroom be required and advice should be obtained
modifications that will help to suit the needs and a distance of 1.55m between opposing from suitably qualified tradespeople and/or a
of people who may wish to buy the house in base cupboards in the laundry and kitchen. designer. During construction it is preferable
the future. to add this wall, as a removable partition, after
the floor, walls and ceiling have been finished,
Reversibility is another benefit of ‘Adaptable’ BENEFITS OF AN including cornices and skirtings.
housing. As the occupants of the house ADAPTABLE HOME
change so do the functions and lifestyles in Living in an ‘Adaptable’ home may also assure The bathroom floor should not contain a step
and around the house. Modifications should that the occupier does not need to move to down or raised ‘hob’ to step over to gain
be simple to carry out and become very cost a more accommodating residence, often at access into the shower. Waterproof the entire
effective when they are planned into the initial great cost. It extends the owner's life in their bathroom floor irrespective of whether a shower
design of the house. home, increases the value of their asset and the screen is fitted. The floor tiling of the entire
longevity of the house. The latter directly relates room should be graded to the shower floor
Wheelchair users should be able to freely
to ‘Sustainable’ design and construction. waste to prevent puddling of water.
access all the essential areas of the house
without assistance. If the house is more than Securely screw-fix 12mm structural plywood
one level it should incorporate all the areas to the wall framing of the shower recess, bath
required by a person in a wheelchair at the main
CONSTRUCTION and toilet, before fixing the finished wall sheets.
Construct the house so that future
entry level, or provide access to the other levels This is to allow for the fixing of future grab-
modifications can be carried out at minimum
that have these facilities, via ramps or lifts. rails and other fittings in any location. Record
cost. The following are some of the methods
this information on the plans for the future
Wall of room or that can be used to achieve the objectives of
purchaser.
face of wardrobe ‘Adaptable’ housing.
All such fixtures must be securely fixed to the
1.27m plywood with suitable screws or purpose-made
Bathroom and toilet anchors. Do not position a cavity sliding door
Courtesy Robert Moore , “Housing for life”
To simplify a possible future modification the beside a toilet pan because it will be difficult to
dividing wall between the bathroom and toilet fix future grab-rails onto that wall.
should not support any structural load or
contain any electrical or plumbing
1.35m
In the WC install a ‘P’ trap, in lieu of an ‘S’ trap, Kitchen Install storage cupboards with sliding doors in
to the toilet pan. This allows for easy relocation Install the kitchen cupboards after the floor corridoors, so that they can be later removed to
of the pan further out from the wall, where there surfacing has been finished right through to the increase circulation space if required.
is adequate space, if required for a wheelchair perimeter walls of the room. Wherever possible, install adjustable shelving
user. A ‘P’ trap to a toilet pan is where the
Construct cupboards so that sections below and pull-out baskets that can be accessed from
waste is flushed through the wall as opposed
the bench top can be easily removed to provide a seated position. This form of storage should
to the ‘S’ trap where the waste is flushed down
leg space for a person in a wheelchair and be used throughout the house.
through the floor.
provide for height-adjustment in at least one
Fix the toilet pan directly over the finished bench top for food preparation.
tiled floor with a bonding sealant and suitable
If an adjustable bench top is not practical, ADDITIONAL KEY REFERENCES
screws/expanding bolts, not with cement
incorporate a pull-out bench top into a Master Builders Association of the ACT. 2001
bedding to a section of cut away tiles. This
cupboard at the required height. ‘Housing for Life’ – Designed for Everybody.
preferred method enables the easy relocation
of the pan without the need to retile a section of Avoid using pull-out tops in areas that also Australian Standard 4299 – 1995 ‘Adaptable
the floor to match. serve as walkways. Housing’. Some dimensions referred to in this older
standard may be revised.
Install a mirror in the bathroom that can be
Australian Standard 1428.1 – 1998 ‘Design for
used by persons either seated or standing. This
Other Access and Mobility’. * A revision of this standard
can be achieved by either tilting the mirror to
Incorporate electrical conduits with draw will be released soon.
suit a seated user or by extending the mirror
wires into selected walls for the installation
down to the basin which then doubles as a
of an additional phone, security services, an
splash back to the wall.
intercom system, computerised systems, visual Principal author:
Fit semi-recessed wall hung basins to bench alarms, or similar appliances. Ensure that you Robert Moore MBA
tops with removable vanity units underneath. keep accurate records of the location of these
Use ‘P’ trap water seals to basins. These conduits for future reference.
provide greater leg room for wheelchair users
than ‘S’ traps.
Storage cupboards
Pipes and surfaces under sinks to be for occasional use,
insulated. ‘P’ traps are preferred to improve with hinged doors
the leg space for wheelchair users
Approximately
Natural ventilation, 2100mm above
light and a the floor
pleasent outlook
Sliding doors to
cupboards
1200mm max
above floor