Guidelines for Designing Wheelchair-Accessible Houses for People with Disabilities

        Interior environmental design can improve the quality of life of people with disabilities, as it enables them to live normally like everybody else in both public and private places. Therefore, this study focuses on creating clear and practical guidelines for designing accessible houses that can accommodate wheelchair users in the most efficient way.The objectives of this research were 1) to explore the characteristics of interior architecture and accessible facilities for wheelchair users, 2) to study the problems and needs of wheelchair users in terms of environments, behaviors, and activities, and 3) to create clear and practical guidelines for designing accessible houses and environments for wheelchair users. A qualitative design was employed in this research. The preliminary data collected through the observational survey were used to analyze the feasibility of the project and improve the research tools before being used for further data collection. The obtained data were analyzed, summarized, and prioritized in order to find appropriate solutions and create design guidelines.The results suggested that the design of wheelchair-accessible houses should place importance on two main points: 1) accessibility, which enables wheelchair users to access all areas both inside and outside the building, including flooring height level, passage width or size, and flooring materials and surfaces, and 2) usability, which enables wheelchair users to use all spaces in a convenient and effective way. The design of wheelchair-accessible houses should take into account various related factors, covering the proportion of spaces suitable for wheelchair users, dimension of furniture, installation of wheelchair-friendly technologies and facilities, and special areas for disabled people that require a specific design, such as bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. All elements should be designed based on the concept of easy-to-use, convenience, and safety. The findings of this research can be used to create practical guidelines for interior architectural design and to develop detailed designs for the construction of wheelchair-accessible houses for people with disabilities.

Keywords: Residential renovation, disability, wheelchair