Prototype of Adaptable and Universal Home in Brazil
Sandra Perito, Director, Instituto Brasil Acessivel, FAUUSP / Director, Marcondes Perito Engenharia e Arquitetura, Brazil
Introduction
The aging of population, a global phenomenon, is also strongly observed in Brazil and, with the advancement of age, the permanence and use of the domestic environment become increasingly intense. Such environment, if it is not adequate to the limitations proper of age, can hinder the full use of space, endanger safety of the dweller, and induce to behavioral dependence. The sustainability of a building lays also on its adequacy to the user, and adaptable homes, that assimilate the changes due to age, may warrant the safety, individuality and privacy of the elder user. The domestic environment planning must foresee not only the current needs but also those that occur over time in life, promoting and stimulating independence and autonomy during any life stage.
Objective
A research conducted by the author, with 253 Brazilian elders, showed that they tend to live in the house acquired during their productive adult phase, and they do not want to move. The Brazilian residential architecture, following traditional patterns, does not support changes in capacities and limitations due to the passing of time occurring to people. We will present a prototype designed and built focused on the adaptability and harmonized with Brazilian cultural, social, and economic parameters, with the objective of showing the physical and economic feasibility of building residences according to the universal design principles, in the national building context.
Material and Methods
An attempt was made to identify the design requisites that may reduce the negative impact of functional losses assuring safety and effective functioning of the elders in the domestic environment. Planning and design included universal characteristics installed and foreseen, minimizing the limitations due to aging, encompassing research of materials and products available in the national market responding to the universal concept, as well as the preferences of the Brazilian user. The design focused on building adaptability and universality, to allow its comfortable use for long periods of time, a manifest desire of the Brazilian elder. The costs involved with the forecasts were considered, without detriment to the durability of the building and its constructive elements, because the construction deterioration, as the years go by, can be a factor of eviction of the elders from their dwelling. The design took into account temporary or permanent limitations, natural or pathologic, of probable residents, and proposed architectonic adaptable solutions besides specification of products found in the national market. The project had the collaboration of 24 Brazilian companies, which manufacture products with universal characteristics.
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Image Descriptions
Image 1 Description: The picture shows a recessed sidewalk in the main pedestrian path to the house.
Image 2 Description: Photo of an open shaf tithin a house, for future installation of a lift.
Image 3 Description: Photo of stairs leading down, showing color contrast on the edge of each stair.
Image 4 Description: Photo of someone testing an audible gas leak alarm by releasing fuel from a lighter. A red light is turned on, showing the visible alarm reaction.
Image 5 Description: Photo of a fully accessible bathroom with a non-slip floor covering.
Image 6 Description: Photo of a kitchen garden with the planting/growing surface raised to 80cm high, allowing people of various abilities to reach it.
Image 7 Description: Photos of a height-adjustable sink in two positions and a removable kitchen cabinet being pulled out position.
Results
The two-story house was found financially feasible, with its final cost compatible with market practices. Also, the physical feasibility, to attend a large specter of users, was shown because of its building adaptability, besides a non-stigmatized appearance.
Total cost of prototype = R$ 746,10. Excluding the expenses not included in index, the comparison is shown in the table below.
| Pini 1, 2 | Prototype | A & C | Prototype |
|---|---|---|---|
| R$ 775,43/m2 | R$ 664,44 | R$ 725,38 | R$ 734,96/m2 |
Conclusions
Adaptable housing designs taking into account human diversity, based on universal design principles, deliver good environmental solutions, free from stereotypes and affordable. They preserve the user autonomy as allow that adaptations occur naturally and with low cost intervention, enabling ample and dignified use by all users, emphasizing that Architecture must be not only economically and ecologically, but also socially sustainable.
Discussion
The participants will be able to: get acquainted with the universal design principles as they visualize their application in housing in the Brazilian context; put down the stigma that a dwelling, in order to attend the elders, must have an institutional appearance; acknowledge simple solutions, even obvious, with feasible application in any dwelling in Brazil; understand the relevance of application of universal design concept in housing design, in order to improve functioning. The presentation of the costs analysis will show the feasibility of the universal concept application within the national market, which can stimulate new initiatives in Brazil.
Notes
- CONSTRUCTION & MARKET. São Paulo: Pini Editor, February/2003. (National monthly magazine).
- ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION. São Paulo: Abril Editor, march/2003. (National monthly magazine).