Lifetime Homes
The Lifetime Homes standard is a set of 16 design criteria that provide a model for building accessible and adaptable homes. Developed in the 1990s by a group of housing experts, the group was formed due to concerns with the inaccessibility of homes.
16 design criteria were formulated to be applied universally to homes to crete inclusive and accessible homes for all, with minimal impact on cost. Each design feature adds to the comfort and convenience of the home and supports the changing needs of individuals and families at different stages of life. The list of design criteria are to help thoughtfully design homes to be formed, creating better living environments for everyone, of all ages and varying levels of health.
The following is the list of the design criteria and their principles. Points particualrity relevant to the housing proposals in Sway have been looked into further so that they can be applied to the designs, in principle the designs need to incorporate all of the points, though some dwellings may not be able to incorporate all of the points. The following are minimal requirements:
1 Parking
- 1b Where parking is provided by communal or shared bays, spaces with a width of 3300mm should be provided.
2 Approch from dwelling to parking
- Ideally approaches should be level, or if sloping gradient should not exceed 1:60
- Communal paths should be 1200mm. private 900mm.
3 Approch to all entrances
- The approach to all entrances should preferably be level or gently sloping.
- A ‘gently sloping’ approach may have a gradient of 1:12 for a distance of up to 2 metres and 1:20 for a distance of 10 metres.
4 Entrances
- All entrances should: a) Be illuminated b) Have level access over the threshold; and c) Have effective clear opening widths and nibs as specified below. In addition, main entrances should also: d) Have adequate weather protection; e) Have a level external landing.
5 Communal stairs & lifts
6 Internal doorways & hallways
- Movement in hallways and through doorways should be as convenient to the widest range of people, including those using mobility aids or wheelchairs, and those moving furniture or other objects.
- Narrower hallways and landings will need wider doorways in their side walls. The width of doorways and hallways should conform to the specification below.
- Ideally widths should be a minimunum of 750mm
7 Circulation spaces
- There should be space for turning a wheelchair in dining areas and living rooms and basic circulation space for wheelchair users elsewhere.
- Living rooms need 1500mm diameter turning circle
- Kitchen needs 1200mm between facing units
- Bedrooms need 750mm either side and to the foot of the main bed, other bedrooms need 750mm to the foot and one side.
8 Entrance level living space
- A living room / living space should be provided on the entrance level of every dwelling.
- In dwelings of 2 or more storeys a temporary bed space may at entrance level is to be provided.
9 Potential for entrance level bed-space
- In dwellings with two or more storeys, with no permanent bedroom on the entrance level, there should be space on the entrance level that could be used as a convenient temporary bed-space with 750mm next to a single bed.
10 Entrance level WC and shower drainage
- The entrance level should have an accessible WC with potential for showering facilities.
- An accessible WC shoul dhave a centre line from the pan to the wall of 400mm 500mm.
11 WC and bathroom walls
- Walls in all bathrooms and WC compartments should be capable of firm fixing and support for adaptations such as grab rails.
12 Stairs and potential through-floor lift in dwellings
- The design within a dwelling of two or more storeys should incorporate both:
a) Potential for stair lift installation; and,
b) A suitable identified space for a through-the–floor lift from the entrance level to a storey containing a main bedroom and a bathroom satisfying Criterion 14.
- Clear width of 900mm is needed on the stairs
- Site for potentail lift should be 1500mmx1000mm
13 Potential for fitting of hoists and bedroom / bathroom relationship
- Structure above a main bedroom and bathroom ceilings should be capable of supporting ceiling hoists and the design should provide a reasonable route between this bedroom and the bathroom.
14 Bathrooms
- An accessible bathroom, providing ease of access in accordance with the specification below, should be provided in every dwelling on the same storey as a main bedroom.
15 Glazing and window handle heights
- Windows in the principal living space should allow people to see out when seated. In addition, at least one opening light in each habitable room should be approachable and usable by a wide range of people – including those with restricted movement and reach.
16 Location of service controls
- Service controls should be within a height band of 450mm to1200mm from the floor and at least 300mm away from any internal room corner.
Some of these points may not be feasible for all of the proposed dwellings on the site but the 1 bedroom dwellings should pay particular attention to theses criteria, making sure provisions are made for future as they are envisaged to be lived in by mainly older people who wish to downsize. The main principle behind the Lifetime Homes initiative is for the houses to adapt to the people living in them, with the idea being it could be a home for life from childhood to old age. This ideology fits somewhat with the idea behind my project, homes for different generations.
References:
Lifetime Homes (n.d) Introducing the Design Criteria [online] Available from: http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/pages/introducing-the-design-criteria.html [Accessed 10th November 2015]
Lifetime Homes (2010) Revised Design Criteria [online] Available from: http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/pages/revised-design-criteria.html [Accessed 10th November 2015]