Apartment 303: Showcasing Universal Design

Société Logique and Habitation Logique St-Joseph have created a living space that’s accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The project partners are creating a showcase for universal design by renovating an apartment destroyed by a fire. Apartment 303 features floorplans, furniture and fixtures that can be used by anyone. However, these design elements are especially adapted for use by seniors and people with disabilities.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Making homes accessible to anyone through universal design

As people age, their needs in terms of home accommodations and features can change. Things as common as doorknobs that twist may cause problems because they are harder to use as joint mobility decreases.

But it’s not just seniors who may want features that make homes more accessible. Making housing truly accessible means making it accessible to anyone.

Universal design is an approach that aims to make a living environment accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Société Logique is a Quebec-based non-profit and leader in universal design. Their recent demonstration project, Apartment 303, showcases universal design features.

A fire turns into an opportunity to highlight accessibility

In April 2018, one of the Montréal apartments in a building owned by Habitation Logique St-Joseph was gutted by fire. Luckily, no residents were hurt. The organization partnered with Société Logique to rebuild the unit using universal design principles.

Apartment 303’s design features will make the unit accessible to all types of residents. Accessibility features include manoeuvring areas, open spaces, storage, kitchen modules, and specific bathroom facilities, faucets and fixtures, and more. The transformation will be showcased through a variety of communications tools.

Meeting the evolving needs of seniors and people with disabilities

By documenting and showcasing the process and results of this renovation, Société Logique hopes to:

• encourage consumer demand for homes that incorporate universal design elements
• motivate private and community housing developers to build homes that incorporate universal design
• highlight the differences between universal design and current accessibility features in the construction of community housing
• encourage affordable- and community housing decision makers to adopt regulatory measures that promote universal design

Affordable housing that meets every ones’ needs

Société Logique aims to encourage the creation of affordable, attractive housing that is accessible to all ages and abilities. The project will meet the changing needs of anyone who decides to live there.

This demonstration project will also show that successful universal design isn’t meant to be seen – it’s meant to be experienced. Successful universal design incorporates accessibility features in an efficient, visually appealing way.