by Dornob
Accessible design isn’t just a trend—it’s essential. Advocates of universal design urge professionals to follow seven key principles, like simplifying spaces and minimizing physical effort, to ensure inclusivity for all.
Designing accessible spaces from scratch—like wheelchair-friendly kitchens—is easier than retrofitting, such as adding elevators to stair-filled homes. Designer Chan Wen Jie offers a creative, if imperfect, solution for older buildings.
The larger issue, though, is one of slope – a typical wheelchair ramp needs to be much shallower than a normal staircase. Still, you could imagine extending the ramp out past the stairs to ease that slope, or evolve the design in different directions.