Universal Design Kitchen
Universal Design Kitchen
The newly designed Signature Space Universal Design Kitchen was carefully planned by residential environments and design students, and through layout and product selection, they created a kitchen that accommodates people with a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities.
Universal Design Kitchen – Virginia Tech
It was an honor to be part of the Center for Real Life Design project. The Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Science recreated the new center to reflect all types of residential design.
Signature Space - Photo by Richard Mallory Allnut
The designer was able to achieve this objective by choosing muted colors and matte finishes to create a friendly environment for children with autism. To accommodate people with impaired vision, they have created a soft, but defined separation and contrast in the cooking area by using a grey cooking surface and cream countertop. In addition, the sink is lower and shallow to facilitate access for wheelchairs.
They’ve also included two PCS77 Pop-up Kitchen Power Grommets, which were strategically placed on the kitchen island for convenient power access. The PCS77 units blend perfectly into the décor, and they offer GFCI protection and tamper resistant outlets, making them the perfect power solution for an area that would otherwise not be able to host any traditional power options.
The new kitchen will serve as a laboratory for students and professors and will serve to inspire future designers to think outside the box when considering smart designs that will be inclusive and sustainable. As Julia Beamish, head of the department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, said during inauguration day, “The re-envisioned center reflects our expanded commitment to all types of residential design”.
We hope the new Center for Real Life Design will serve as an inspiration for current and future students to continue creating designs that reflect family needs and sustainability!
Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt
Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt
Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt
Photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt
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