Assessment of Universal Home Construction by Habitat for HumanityRichard C. Duncan, M.R.P., Director of Training, The Center for Universal Design, USA Session Presented by: Laurie Ringaert, BSc., BMR-OT, MSc., Director, The Center for Universal Design, USA The Center for Universal Design at NC State University worked with two Habitat for Humanity affiliates in North Carolina to build 18 Habitat homes with universal features. The two-year project tested the efficacy and affordability of universal features as well as assessing constructability, and products and materials. Much was learned from these trials. Two follow up efforts further examined other outcomes of the projects from the resident's perspective and from the perspective of the Habitat organizations themselves. This forum will briefly describe the project, the research design, and the research results. Research questions: Do universal features really work for everyone? Which more than others? Does constructing universal homes yield an interest and commitment to continue? In prior efforts at universal housing construction, seldom have the homes been evaluated to determine outcomes from the users' perspective. The first study evaluated the impact of the houses with universal design features on the residents. This POE explored the effects of UD features on the residents, who are at various ability levels and ages. Since universal design refers to the sum of the usability by various ability levels and ages in various conditions, the data collected from this group of residents provided an insight into the effectiveness of the features. Household residents were interviewed for data collection. Demographics, residential background, and ability levels of each member in each household were considered as factors for their expectations, use and satisfaction with the existing universal design features in particular and the house globally. Consequently, a wide range of possible use and effects of the same features for different people were recorded and compared. Each house was taken as a particular case and will be evaluated according to the factors mentioned above. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis and content analysis. The results will contribute to improve the implementation of the UD features in housing. Secondly, the spread of universal design features in housing depends not only on the demand from user groups but also on the acceptance by builders and developers. Since universal design features have not been widely applied to houses, there haven't been many investigations exploring the impacts of these houses on users, builders, developers and policy makers. This particular study aims to find out if building homes with universal design features had any impact on the attitudes, policies or practices of two Habitat for Humanity affiliates in North Carolina. The assessment of this experience by the affiliates was conducted through exploring the positive and negative aspects of their experience with UD, their willingness to continue building houses with UD features or plans, and if they had any policy changes regarding UD principles in their organization. The architect and project manager for this particular project and members of the boards of directors in the organizations were interviewed to collect data. Content and thematic analysis were used for analyzing the data. The results will contribute to strategies for promoting universally designed homes. Key words: attitude, institutional. residential, architecture, assessment, post occupancy evaluation, universal design. |