Kitchen & Bath Business March/April 2024 - 16

SMAR T HOME
DE SIGN
Collective Consciousness
The role of connected technology in the universal design movement
DESIGN OF A RESIDENTIAL space is a personal,
artistic collaboration between the design team
and the intended occupant. Every human's individual
taste, lifestyle and identity result in a varied
kaleidoscope of residential self-expression. However,
there are universalities in design that allow
spaces to function as inclusive meccas, providing
safety, comfort and convenience for all occupants,
regardless of age, size or ability. Th ese inclusive
design choices begin before a project even starts.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS GOOD DESIGN
Designing spaces prepared for all eventualities
can provide homeowners the solutions they
need in the years to come. Whether it's raising
a family, periods of convalescence or living in
place during their golden years, universal design
is good design and is essential in creating an elevated
quality of life for all.
" We often think of universal design as something
that's only in regard for those with limitations
in mobility, but it's bigger than abilities, "
said Molly Switzer, AKBD, principal designer
and owner of Molly N Switzer Designs in Portland,
Ore. " It's about how we can utilize spaces
throughout our lives, and technology can help. "
CREATING EQUITY WITH TECHNOLOGY
Long regarded as exclusively an entertaining
luxury, modern residential technology is now
an accessible tool within the built environment.
At the touch of a button, lights can dim or shift
colors to soothe those with sensory needs, shades
can lower on out-of-reach windows, and doors
open automatically. Notifi cations can appear on
televisions, and lights can fl ash to alert hard-ofhearing
occupants to the sound of the doorbell
or other alarms. Th ose without the ability to read
or the dexterity to type can dictate to or ask questions
of voice-controlled virtual assistants.
" Th e fact that you don't have to ask someone
for help, whether it's to open the drapes or answer
the door, gives people the dignity of independence, "
said Toni Sabatino, owner of New Yorkbased
Toni Sabatino Style.
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/ MARCH-APRIL 2024
According to Troy Dunnington, owner and CEO of San Diego-based
Lightworks, technology solutions all have a reliance on the presence of
power to the home, and for those reliant on technology for accessibility,
it is imperative they don't lose those supports when the power goes out.
Modern home automation provides energy management solutions that
support battery storage, renewable sources and the grid. Th ese systems give
both peace of mind and the independence for homeowners to continue
their daily lives with the technology that supports quality.
" Ultimately, technology can help achieve
any universal design goal, which is for a
homeowner to no longer have to figure out
how to accomplish a task but for the task
to be easily accomplished. "
INTUITIVE EXPERIENCES
Clients and even designers have various levels of comfort with using residential
technology based on their past experiences. Projects are strengthened
by including residential integration pros on the design team, who are
trained in the implementation of technology for the best user experience.
" Our mission is to enable the technology within a space to work seamlessly
to enhance the everyday moments of life, " said Nick DeClemente,
founder and CEO of Elevated Integration in Armonk, N.Y. " Homeowners
shouldn't be thinking about the technology itself, only the experience they
have as a result. "
Additionally, home technology brands should be viewed as partners
to designers. Curating the right team of professionals for each project is
critical to ensuring the fi nished result is a well-designed experience where
the technology complements both the aesthetic and the functionality of a
homeowner's lifestyle. With the right team and the right solutions, technology
itself can disappear, and only a homeowner's life experiences remain.
Ultimately, technology can help achieve any universal design goal, which
is for a homeowner to no longer have to fi gure out how to accomplish a task
but for the task to be easily accomplished. Providing a lifetime of fl exible
independence and dignity for homeowners requires insightful conversations
among the entire project team and the client, as well as the empathy
to envision the unforeseen needs of the client's future self. After all, good
design is always an exercise in deeply understanding others.
By Greg Barrett, director of specifier development,
Savant Systems, savant.com
http://www.savant.com
Kitchen & Bath Business March/April 2024

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