Interesting twist this week. How many of us picture ourselves and/or our companions in a wheelchair as we age? Are the Wolfs looking to the assistance of their daughter as well? If so how does that affect future accommodations?

I did not have time to submit this week, but my thoughts were always with the functionality of the washrooms. Accessibility and usefulness of the shower, toilet and sink had my attention throughout the day. I think Terri’s first plan and Steve’s plan addressed that quite well. Though the door of the master bath in Terri’s plan may be a bit of an obstacle.

Overall though I would say John’s plan offers the best option. Lots of maneuverability and all of the facilities are easily accessible.

Exciting stuff, I’m always so impressed by everyone’s efforts.

I like how you considered privacy to the bedroom with the millwork. Nice touch.

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Steve,
I echo Brad and Terri’s assessments with respect to your plan from yesterday. Very nice plan, crisp, clean, refined, very nice. I especially like how the living space is much better defined/proportional. Depending on one’s inclination and/or maybe a desire for more kitchen prep area, one could move the dining to the center (formally the study) and extend the kitchen along the entire sidewall. (hope you don’t mind but I took a stab at it here)

[img]shdp332.jpg[/img]

John – I agree with Jim – the millwork in front of the master bedroom door is a nice detail. I also like your master bath layout. The kitchen seems to have a very large work triangle.

I tweaked my design from yesterday – The guest bathroom no longer permits wheelchair access but this results in a larger guest bedroom. The master has been changed to incorporate pocket doors instead of swing doors and the dresser and headboard have been adapted form John’s design. The laundry is a compromise – a stacked unit would be difficult to use from a wheelchair but it can be located in the more private space of the master suite (alternatively, there still is room in the storage area beside the water heater).

One thing we often overlook in these designs is storage. I think PaulC made this point a few months ago in some of his designs. Where does one store things like a vacuum, brooms, other cleaning suppiles, ironing board, etc…

There isn’t a 5ft turning diameter in this new kitchen, Paul.
I’m just saying… ;)

Terri,
Opps, sorry that was a quick copy and paste. I think there is likely enough space adjusting things to provide the 1.5m circle.

Steve

1. no public living space access/view of the courtyard – in the brief one of the most liked aspects of the house was the front garden
2. no study – in order to resolve the small kitchen the study was eliminated in favour of a dining space – not only is accessibility a factor in the kitchen but also size – the client complained about the current small kitchen and ranked the kitchen as the second most important room – note that the study was ranked more important than the dining room – the PaulC fix must be modified to incorporate a smaller island or, more likely, no island
3. closet space in master – the closet in the master is an approx. 10′ linear run – compared to other plans this is on the small side – also it appears dimensionally narrow as it is shown in line with the master bathroom vanity
4. other issues
a. the plumbing behind the guest bath vanity will need special attention to accommodate the pocket door framing
b. the guest bath tiolet is a considerable distance from its original location – plumbing changes may be difficult
c. the hallway from the guest bedroom thru to the kitchen appears dimensionally narrow
d. the guest bath is small
e. you cannot get from the kitchen directly outside – the nearest exit is in the study/dining room
f. the kitchen is a long way from the front door when bringing groceries home
g. minimal towel hanging space in the master bath
h. no door shown on the master bath

I really like the living room and the client did rank that as most important – and that is a compromise John made in his design.

Remember you asked…

Wow Brad, that is quite a list! I will only address one of your many concerns.

I don’t think you can criticize Steve’s plan for not satisfying the front garden element of the design brief. All the design brief said was that the clients really liked both the front garden and the rear raised balcony overlooking the park. The design brief did not specify that they wanted to be able to view/access the front garden from the living space. What would be wrong with presenting an option to the clients that would allow them to enjoy the front garden from their master bedroom? In fact, as designers, we probably wouldn’t be doing our job very well if we didn’t present an option like Steve’s to the clients, as his option was the only one of the bunch this time (including John’s) that dared to be different. Maybe the clients would turn up their noses, but maybe they would say “Wow, we never thought of doing that, but now that you have opened our eyes to the possibility, here is our chequebook!”

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Oops…a couple of more points.

I proposed sliding doors to the Pantry rather than swing door for less hindrance of circulation and better accessibility. Also, i noticed a lot of rectangular dining tables in the proposed plans. Wouldn’t a circular dining table provide less obstruction?

(better graphic quality img attached)

[img]wolf3.jpg[/img]

This plan is a variant of Steve’s and likely the last one for me for this exercise. I (as per usual maybe?) wanted to try something else for the kitchen. Having the fireplace in the kitchen might be rather neat. Who knows maybe it could actually be used to cook/bake!!! The hallway glass panel over the study, could be rigged such that when it is left open it hides the hot water tank utility door.

I admit having the access into the laundry via the bathroom is a little strange(maybe even wwwth material) however having it there does help to maintain the “art” wall in the corridor. Thank you Brad W for the reminder about storage. It is easy sometimes to get carried away with the “fun” and forget about the important. You’ll note additional storage in this plan here and there.

Not sure if I will be able to post over the next few days so to my fellow countrymen and women and their families…all the best to you and yours over this upcoming Thanksgiving Weekend. We all have very much to be thankful for here in Canada and elsewhere for that matter. Cheers everyone.

BradW – i count 15 submissions/variations of plans to date for this Design Project. I agree i wouldn’t likely present that many options to a client. BUT this is an open forum and I would expect any ‘client’ paritcipating in such an exercise to welcome as many solutions as possible.

Right Louis and in this open forum the client has five or more architects working for them! In your practice is that a reality? Not likely. You present your vision to your colleagues in the office (if any) and revise. You present to the client and revise. If the client wishes to proceed then further revisions to deal with the realities of budget, building codes, materials, etc.. Or am I wrong?

Furthermore, when have I suggested that this anything other than an open forum? I was asked specifically by Steve to provide additional feedback on his design which I did. I am more than happy to entertain any comments from Steve or anyone else on the forum regarding that feedback. I am more than happy to have my work reviewed with something other than “Nice plan”. But no where in that response do I suggest additional options or contributions from anyone are not welcome. Louis, you are seriously out of line suggesting that I do not respect this forum. Clarification and/or apology is required on your behalf.

John – I still cannot believe those comments from Louis…maybe I have misinterpreted them but…

Steve – Thanks…I have on many of the design exercises gone in a different direction for precisely the reasons you cite. It creates discussion on the forum – something I would say you succeeded in doing very well this week.

Hi Max, Most of us open the jpg file using the Paint program but some use a more sophisticated (or possibly versatile)program. Could someone else provide the program name?

I hate to wade into this forum at this point but I’m compelled. I hope I don’t make things worse, by saying I agree with John. I believe both of you, Louis and Brad, are basically on the same page. The problem is this medium–it is devoid of intonation, body language, timing and so on. I’m guessing that Louis was in a hurry when he made the comment in question. When he reads this later, he’ll feel bad that he offended you, Brad. Afterall, you were the first to draw our attention to Steve’s plan here today–obviously you embrace the open forum concept.

Anyway, thanks, everyone! It’s been a lively and interesting and informative discussion, as always.

Wow…what just happened here?

There was, without question, and unequivocally, no slight intended…to anyone. I am profoundly regretful.

“My words must therfore be few. I can say no more.” – Chief Joseph