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ARCH 402A: Architectural Design IV Gallery: Model Inhabitants

Botanical House of Accessibility

For my project, I wanted to create a single family home that went beyond simply being accessible to those with mobility issues, but actually celebrated its accessibility. As a result, I focused on eliminating the need for doors, which often act as barriers either by requiring extra movement or extra strength, while maintaining the privacy of the residents. I also wanted to ensure that all occupants had access to natural and garden spaces since nature is often one of the most inaccessible spaces, theming each of the gardens off of a Botanical Garden to ensure both aesthetic and practical garden spaces were accessible to the residents. These two requirements led me to a plan that was sunken into the ground, with a single spine circulation to prevent winding corridors, sectional differences to provide variation as well as a gradient of public to private, garden spaces for each room, skylights to allow light into each underground room, and a private roof park that acted as the entry sequence for residents. The end result was a home that could be enjoyed by both those with and without mobility issues seamlessly.