Unpacking Japan’s Commitment to Universal Design

Unpacking Japan’s Commitment to Universal Design

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Read article from link above. Japan is the center of the universal design and aging in place movements. The photo was taken at Toto's Universal Design research center where the human functions from age 3 to 90 are studied in detail.

Families in the United States need to understand the aging issues that will directly impact lifestyle and independence in the years to come.

Remembering Charles Gwathmey

Remembering Charles Gwathmey
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Charles Gwathmey died on August 5th. Made famous through many of his projects, I especially like the addition to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum. Mr. Gwathmey was business partner with Robert Siegel founding Gwathmey & Siegel Associates in 1968. They recently completed the W Hotel in Hoboken and the new Art Complex at Yale University.

MAKE SAFE CHOICES

Shiny + Beautiful + Dangerous
Many clients want to create the most high end "look" they can afford. Every room needs a stand-out aesthetic touch. But polished stone or glazed tile flooring is never a good choice if there is any chance of the surface getting wet or forming condensation. Larger size tiles only make the floor area more slippery.


A polished marble floor is spectacular, but dangerous for young and old alike. Instead use large unglazed or rough textured flooring such as a porcelain slate or inset textured flooring with glazed flooring to minimize the ice rink danger. There is no such thing as "non-slip" flooring. Each product has a different coefficient of slip resistance. If you are looking to make safe choices, make sure you compare the coefficient ratings.