Age-appropriate and universal construction

Building consciously, planning ahead: age-appropriate or universal building means first and foremost building a comfortable, safe and adaptable home. With living spaces that can be very easily adapted to many, even changing life situations, you invest in your own future with stable value. Here you can live comfortably into old age.

When planning, fundamental considerations should be taken into account:

• Infrastructure: can you find everything you need to live in the immediate vicinity?
• Is one living level enough? Can stairs be dispensed with?
• If several floors are planned, provide a (usable) bathroom on each floor and plan the stairs as straight as possible. Then you are more flexible.
• Adapt the size to the need!
• Possibly provide a guest room or granny flat for rent or for a carer in old age.
• When planning the house, always think about accessibility
• Plan the entrance area as weather protection under a roof if possible.
• Ensure sufficient illumination - avoid dark areas
• Provide non-slip floor coverings

Exemplary criteria of universal building: 

• No thresholds, no steps and short, functional pathways
• Sufficient widths of doors and passages, sufficient space for movement
• Plan bathrooms to be barrier-free (movement areas, floor-level shower, door opening direction,...), plan sufficient storage space, think about the possibility of installing grab rails.
• Provide controls that are also universally operable and accessible

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Funding opportunities for (re)construction

Disability-friendly and age-friendly (re)construction are subsidised by public agencies. Here is an overview of the funding opportunities.

Learn more