Creating a sustainable universal approach to social house design for a lifetime of living specific to vertical circulation, egress, bathrooms, and humanistic storage space requirements.

Abstract

With the demographic change which Ireland is experiencing, people are living longer. Adequate housing for an aging population is one of the many challenges that this presents. Government housing policy aspires to meet these needs. The problem is that it is questionable as to whether Irish social housing delivers a design for a life me of living for its occupants. This research examines the feasibility of creating a sustainable universal approach to Irish social house design for a lifetime of living specific to vertical circulation, egress, bathrooms, and humanistic storage space requirements. Literature insights from peer reviewed journal articles outline aging in place, aging mobility, stair falls, universal design, barrier free living, housing adaptation together with examining government policy on housing and the Irish building regulations. Insights from the literature review reveal that the concept of home becomes more significant over me, and it suggests that older people now wish to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. A case study methodology was used in this research. Empirical data collection was conducted using five separate live case studies, eleven semi-structured interviews, a research survey questionnaire with social housing tenants as participants and a comparison of layouts and associated costs using three samples of 2-storey, three-bedroom, semi-detached social house designs. Data analysis was conducted using mixed mode analysis and the findings were triangulated. One key finding identified that simple layout revisions to the design of 2-storey dwellings, if implemented, would enable homes to organically adapt to the changing needs of all its occupants for their life me of living, thus benefiting both young and old occupants alike. Another finding illustrated how these simple revisions would incur a minimal cost increase when implemented at the initial design stage. Furthermore, this has the potential to reduce and, in some cases, remove the need for future adaption or rehousing in later life and to allow people to age in place, implementing positive psychology into their life me of living in their own homes. This could also reflect a significant saving on additional adaptation works on into the future. One key contribution to the literature made by this research is to demonstrate that by incorporating selected simple UD principles into Irish social house design, it can benefit all occupants in their home, regardless of their age, size, ability, or disability for a lifetime of living while also future proofing against potential additional costs.