Accessible
These universal design homes are not conceived as niche architecture suitable for a small percentage of the population, but proceed from the premise that a family can remain in them for the lifetimes of its members, as they inevitably pass through various phases of physical relationships to their environment. Accordingly, accessibility, or universal design, is not a "special" feature of the homes, but an inherent quality of their design elements. Sloping walks approach homes built a maximum of 6" above surrounding grade, inviting families and extended families that include toddlers, the elderly, and the disabled. Semi-private gardens are linked to the major living spaces on the same level, inviting interaction with the outdoors as part of daily life for everyone. At a minimum of 3'6", hallways are open, light-filled, universally accessible spaces that reinforce the expansiveness created by the rooms' relationship to the outdoors. Doorways are easily maneuverable panels, which, when open, offer barrier-free views of multiple indoor and outdoor public and semi-private living spaces. In the interest of preserving these design and accessibility features, the proposed two-flat home has been replaced with two single family homes placed on one lot, separated by a generous garden space. These are only a few of the ways in which universal accessibility and the more general design priorities of light, air, and wide-open spaces are mutually reinforcing in these homes that invite families to stay for a lifetime.

Affordable
Light is free. The outdoors is for everyone. In the urban environment this seems not always to be the case, and a home filled with light and air is often available only to those with above-average means. These designs stand as arguments that a home of expansive spaces, filled with natural light, organically and directly connected to the outdoors, can be built affordably and placed within the reach of average Chicagoans. Design ideas that place a high priority on quality of life are coupled with a vocabulary of modular materials and systems. For example, these homes are designed to be built within the standard 4' x 8' construction module, pre-cut wood framing members, and exterior / interior cladding that can be installed with a minimal amount of cutting and labor. Inexpensive and insulative transparent, semi-transparent, and translucent 4' x 8' panels fit within the construction module while allowing more natural light and air into the homes, reinforcing interior and exterior physical and visual connections. These economical building methods and materials do not facilitate good design at the expense of durability. Ten, fifteen, and twenty years from now, the occupants of these homes will still claim them proudly as part of one of the gracefully aging neighborhoods of Chicago.