How Will We Choose To Live?

Baby Boomers, as a generation, have grown accustomed to having consumer goods developed for them. Think of the cars designed to meet the new demand for choice; from Beetles and Corvairs in the 60's, Mustangs, Chargers and Pacers in the 70's, mini-vans in the 80's, SUVs and extended cab trucks in the 90's to hybrids, electric and other green cars in the new millennium. The automobile industry tracked Boomers' needs and interests and responded accordingly.

Boomers have grown accustomed to choice and customization but so far that hasn't always extended to home design and how and where they will live for the second half of life. An enterprising group of leading universal designers and architects would like to help focus the message and turn boomer's attention to creating beautiful, useful homes which will work not just for them, but for their children and aging parents.

In early June, designer Cynthia Leibrock, Easy Access to Health, LLC, convened a group of experts in Universal Design at her Green Mountain Ranch in Livermore, Colorado for the Green Mountain Ranch Fellowship 2011. The group met to work on this puzzle of how best to educate and motivate the consuming public about the possibility that lifestyle choice can be built into their living spaces right along with the color of their appliances. With Mary Jo Peterson, Mary Jo Peterson Designs; John Salmen, Universal Designers and Consultants, Inc.; Katherine Salant, syndicated columnist for the Washington Post and Diana Schrage, Kohler Plumbing Company, Leibrock led two days of brainstorming, information sharing and healthy living in the Colorado Rockies to explore how best to market the benefits of Universal/Healthy Living Design to the consumer.

Mary Jo Peterson practices what she calls "stealth marketing". She inflects every design presentation, teaching and speaking opportunity with the benefits of elements that have Universal Design. To Peterson, this is just smart design. Products such as touch control faucets, originally invented for commercial use, are more available and more affordable for home use and are simply easier to operate than conventional faucets. Peterson counsels that designers should never lose sight of the benefits to the end user. That means weaving the benefits of Universal Design into the conversation of remodel and design.

Two very different homes were featured at the retreat to demonstrate how Universal Design works while still allowing the choices we demand. Cynthia Leibrock's home, Green Mountain Ranch, was built to be a model of green design and healthy living in the wide-open

spaces. John Salmen's house, Home for the Next 50 Years in urban Takoma Park, Maryland, is an example of remodeling older housing stock to create open, functional space within the confines of a narrow lot in an historic district. Both homes showcase a plethora of products and design elements which work across a range of human function. John Salmen, architect and owner of the Home for the Next 50 years notes, "Boomer consumers will make choices based on lifestyle and quality of life, not accessibility or aging issues." Katherine Salant's September 24 column about Salmen's house became a feature article in the Real Estate section of the Washington Post when the editor realized the consumer appeal of the house's craftsman detailing and color palate. The accessible features are all there but put together in a way that emphasizes style, comfort and convenience.

In fact, these homes demonstrate that some manufacturers have embraced Universal Design and have increasingly added finishes and products at all price points for those builders and consumers savvy enough to select them. Part of the challenge is getting the decision makers and those influencing their choices (designers, architects, builders and remodelers) to understand and value the concept of building/remodeling/upgrading in a style that will work for anyone at any age or level of mobility, cognition or sensory function.

Katherine Salant featured the family friendly aspects of Universal Design (without naming it as such) in a September 17, 2011 article in the Washington Post on teaching children to cook. She features kitchen spaces with varying countertop levels and easy to reach lowered ovens, storage spaces and work surfaces - the very elements that make the kitchen usable by anyone.

As Leibrock discusses the features of her Rocky Mountain home, she talks about the health aspects of her home and how planning for health and wellness and green design go hand in hand. At the Green Mountain Ranch, the exercise area has the best view in the house. The kitchen is in close proximity to the bank of greenhouse windows in which fresh herbs are grown year round. "Boomers are interested in health and longevity," she says. "Safety aspects of design are easy to sell." She notes that Kohler markets their products for health and longevity, an example being their "comfort height" toilet that provides accessibility for wheelchair users and ease of use for standing adults. Certain themes typically resonate with her clients and Leibrock cites "the cool factor" of high tech products, green products and those facilitating comfort living.

Cynthia would like to see the Green Mountain Ranch Fellowship become an annual event where new designers can experience the synergies created when a diverse group of experts come together to share strategies and resources. Short of a trip to Colorado, she recommends viewing a concept video by Corning Glass for inspiration. To see the video, visit www.UniversalDesign.com and search for "Corning Glass".

Boomers seeking the "cool factor" and comfort design are having more to choose from and, with the growth in consumer interest spurred by such efforts as the Green Mountain Fellowship, it looks as if product manufacturers will keep the choices coming.