FOCUS | Multigenerational living
Ropox rise-and-fall wall unit from Häfele
Simon Collyns, marketing and retail sales director at Symphony, adds: “Inclusive design should refl ect current trends and style, but the most important role of the kitchen designer is to know and understand the ergonomics of designing an inclusive kitchen to ensure clear and comfortable use for all. People are living longer, and requirements change, which means
that the need for accessible and
multigenerational kitchens has increased – but that doesn’t mean that accessible kitchens need to look institutional.
“Accessible kitchens are about planning for the future, and ensuring that vital details are considered, such as ensuring that enough room has been left for the turning space for a wheelchair, heights of work surfaces are comfortable and fl exible, as well as providing
access pull-out to key trays cooking and and cooling
appliances, workfl ow, and accessories. Clever storage,
adjustable-height
worktops are just part of what should be considered to future-proof their designs.
“Research shows that we are living longer and having to think about how we live with illnesses and potential issues as we continue to age. An accessible kitchen offers independence to everyone.”
A multigenerational and truly accessible kitchen
takes a lot of planning and in-depth knowledge about the needs of your clients both in the present and about their potential needs in the future.
It’s fair to say the kitchen industry has some way to go before it can be considered fully inclusive. As Thomas notes, “this is one of the few remaining areas of disabled people’s lives that is not considered”.
But then, ultimately, when it comes to designing any kitchen, the key to a long-lasting functional design will always lie around your in-depth understanding of the wants and needs of your customers, whoever they might be, and then designing carefully and sympathetically to create a kitchen that will work for them for years to come. When asked whether more brands should consider creating a multigenerational/accessible range and when asked what retailers who might be interested in getting involved need to consider, Tara Neil’s McGinty comments: “It is a big investment, so I understand why more furniture manufacturers haven’t created their own accessible ranges, but the market is changing. People are living longer and healthier lives and want to remain independent. The housing market in this area is taking action and creating bigger homes for multigenerational families. The social care system won’t be able to cope with
the
ageing
population,
so
multigenerational
households will increase and manufacturers and retailers who don’t get on board with this soon will be left behind.
“I would say to retailers that it is hard work and you cannot do things by halves in this market. You have to fully commit – invest in the training, adapt the showroom if you need to and put an accessible display front and centre – but that commitment really is worth it.”
Bathrooms
In bathrooms, the story is quite different from the kitchen sector, as there are hundreds of products that are suitable for a multigenerational and accessible design. This is partly because kitchens are, arguably, more complicated to plan, but perhaps also because independence in the bathroom is considered more widely. The bathroom is likely to be more hazardous, because the slip risk is higher and it’s a personal space, with help not readily available. What products suit a multigenerational bathroom? Firstly, the fl oor must be 100% slip-resistant. Peter
CDA linear induction hob
54
Vann, director at Céramique Internationale, comments: “Thanks to new innovations in technology, there is now a much wider selection of stunning porcelain tiles with high anti-slip ratings, replicating a range of natural stone, limestone and even wood – so style doesn’t have to be compromised.” Secondly, all parts of the bathroom must be fully accessible, so step-free access to a large shower area is preferable, as is wall-hung sanitaryware, so that someone less able will be able to easily access the basin or loo. Flush-to-fl oor shower trays usually come as standard and wet rooms, wall-hung sanitaryware and furniture are popular anyway, so converting a bathroom to make it fully accessible is unlikely to be such a leap as it might be in the
· April 2020
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