New Internal Layout Checklist for Universal Design Homes

Joint Press Release from the National Disability Authority and Age Friendly Ireland

Working in partnership, the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (part of the National Disability Authority) and Age Friendly Ireland, recently produced an Internal Layout Checklist for Universal Design Homes which should be applied in the design of Age Friendly homes.

This checklist summarises the guidelines from the Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland that impact on the internal spatial layout of dwellings. The checklist is provided as a tool for designers to ensure that Universal Design is considered at the early stages of housing design.

Five example floor plans are provided with the checklist, to demonstrate how the universal design guidance can be applied in both UD Home and UD Home+ (wheelchair liveable) dwellings. The checklist booklet is supported by an excel version which provides designers with a useful means of systematically applying universal design guidelines to a range of housing typologies.

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland welcomed the publication of the checklist

“Ireland has a rapidly ageing population and more people than ever before are living longer. Older people want greater options when it comes to ageing in place and a critical part of that is the supply and delivery of Age Friendly housing which enables older people to age in place. I warmly welcome this checklist which will be a valuable tool in supporting technical practitioners to design more Age Friendly housing across Ireland.

Dr. Aideen Hartney, Director of the National Disability Authority highlighted the importance of Universal Design homes

“The checklist aims to make it easier for architectural and housing professionals to implement Universal Design at the early stages of housing projects. We know from experience that integrating Universal Design from the outset of a project is the most successful and cost-effective approach.”

The checklist booklet and excel toolkit are available from the Age Friendly Homes website and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design website.