Blum Embraces Ergonomics and Inclusivity in Design for Independent Living and Future Proofing Homes
A
ccording to data from World Population Prospects*, by 2050, one in six people in the world will be over the age of 65. That’s 16%, up from 9% in 2019. This is determined by fertility, mortality and migration, and population ageing is set to be one of the most significant transformations of the 21st century with implications for work and finance, services, health and housing.
Leading components and fittings manufacturer Blum has a keen interest in Gerontology, the scientific study of the processes and problems of ageing, as Amanda Hughes, Aging & Ergonomics Specialist at Blum UK, explains, “Here at Blum we understand the importance of staying close to people. Not only understanding the needs of today’s consumer, but also anticipating future requirements. There are no end of studies on the changing landscapes within our communities, societal changes, the impact of how we view the built environments we all occupy and how we strive as designers to improve the quality of our living spaces. They all, however, agree on one thing. We are aging as a population, living longer with disease and we want to age at home, not in institutions.”
Blum began researching ergonomics and how people move as they age back in 2003. We spend
at least two to three hours a day in our kitchens. And with kitchens lasting up to 20 years, it’s important to take ageing into consideration when designing and planning this space with products that match individuals both now and in their future. “For Blum to be successful in this new landscape, we need to stay close to people and watch and monitor these trends,” adds Amanda. “We need to be experts in ergonomics and aging and every aspect of domestic architecture now and for future living trends.”
With this in mind, Blum uses an AgeExplorer® suit that mimics aging in motion, strength, vision and hearing in order to help with the development of its products as well as the optimisation of existing ones. The suit was designed by the Meyer- Hentschel Institute in Germany, a renowned think tank and developer of medical simulation tools. Components such as straps, weights, goggles and special stitching enable the wearer to experience physical limitations such as diminishing sight and hearing, decreasing muscle strength, stiff joints and arthritis.
The findings have allowed Blum to design and produce practical solutions for different phases of life. These include Blum’s SERVO-DRIVE motion technology, which allows a waste bin to open at the touch of a knee or toe with no need to bend, AVENTOS wall cabinet fronts that move fully up
and out of the user’s way, hold in any position and close with a feather-light glide, a pull-out shelf with a lock-open stop for a worktop on demand, the SPACE STEP plinth solution for an instant height boost to access high storage, full extension drawers to see all contents at a glance, SPACE TOWER with individual pull-outs with easy access from three sides, U-shaped pull-outs under sinks and basins, TIP-ON BLUMOTION for easy opening and soft closing and inner dividing systems to make it easy to find and grip even the smallest utensils.
“Although we are all aware of a growth in the aging demographic,” concludes Amanda, “only a small percentage of businesses have an aging strategy. Blum is now a leading expert in this arena of how we age and the impact of aging in design. We are working alongside key partners to share research, upskill designers and built environment professionals so the kitchens of today, become the kitchens of the future.”
* Source:
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/ageing
01908 285700
www.blum.com
BKU NOVEMBER 2023 27
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