MR AND MRS JACKSON'S HOME

This house was redesigned for Mr and Mrs Jackson. Mr Jackson is in a wheelchair, and Mrs Jackson has Parkinson's Disease. The house was redesigned so they could live more comfortably without limitations. The style used for their house is country modern. This house is monochrome - tints of black and white with wooden elements to warm up the house and make it feel homey. The reason for monochrome is to use big colour contrast so that the couple can easily identify differences. Looking at the dining area, the design is quite minimalistic. Throughout the house, chairs were used with armrests so that the couple could easily push themselves up when transitioning. These two areas have maximal space - 1500mm all around the furniture so that Mr Jones has comfortable turning circles throughout. A library was designed for the couple, combined with big windows to connect the couple with nature.

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The kitchen had much room for improvement. The newly designed kitchen is catered for Mr and Mrs Jackson's medical conditions. Firstly, the countertops and cabinetry's height were adjusted. The countertops are 850mm with 710mm knee clearance. The cabinetry is positioned at 1380mm so the couple can easily access cutlery. To make the cooking experience more comfortable, a pull-out cutting board and pull-out dustbin are positioned on opposing sides of the prep bowl. This allows minimal movement between different stations. Another element that will make the cooking experience more comfortable is a pot filler at the stove. There is also a pull-out tray underneath the side-opening oven, providing a space to put hot trays or pans. The microwave is also positioned underneath the counter instead of on top. Lastly, all cabinetry is either pull-down shelves, open shelving or sliding drawers to allow easy access to objects.

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In the new redesign, the end user was kept in mind. The water closet was enclosed to provide the couple privacy within their suite. This also made it possible that an extra wash hand basin could be included, which is ideal for the wheelchair user to use. The vanity has an angled design, allowing optimal knee clearance to use the wash hand basins. The same design was used for Mrs Jackson's vanity to create harmony. The vanity storage includes drawers and open shelving to allow comfortable usage. In the shower, there is a bench with park space for Mr Jackson's wheelchair. He then also has his niche for toiletries and a showerhead. The showerheads used have hand showers and adjustable thermostats in the design. This allows the couple not to burn themselves and wait for the water to warm up instead of sitting in cold water until it warms up. There is another showerhead at the connecting walls. This allows the couple to choose whether to sit

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Lastly, the main bedroom and the closet were carefully looked at to create maximum comfort for the couple. For the bedroom, there are safety bed rails which will ensure the couple does not fall off the bed when they sleep and will also aid them in getting up by pushing down on it for stability. Then for Mrs Jackson, there is a makeup table to allow her to do her makeup. For the closet, liftable hangers, a trousers rack and open shelving were designed for easy use. A pull-out seat is also incorporated into the design, allowing Mrs Jones to sit down if she feels faint. Another element of the built-in wardrobe is a seat where Mr and Mrs Jackson can sit if they need a surface to get dressed or to put on shoes. This has a tilted mirror so the couple can look at themselves before walking out of their rooms. Finally, the ramp has a handrail designed to comply with SANS 10400. The ramp is also illuminated when the couple must go to the restroom at night.