Accessible Bath Space Planning: ORC23
Updated August 1, 2024 | Average read time: 8-10 min An accessible bathroom renovation design in New Westminster
Introduction
Do you want to learn about accessibility?
Space planning might seem superfluous, but it is a fundamental part of making sure this bathroom will be functional and designed for living in place.
Some people might ask: Are all accessible bathrooms exactly the same?
There is no one size fits all design to convert a bathroom for living in place and accessible needs.
This is because each project for a residential bathroom will be unique
A project will have been evaluated as to whether an accessible design is possible.
The space will need to be PLANNED.
Yes, despite what people might be looking for there is no one size fits all solution . You can NOT take the measurements from our 2023 case study (linked to below) for an accessible condo bathroom design and reproduce it somewhere else. The site conditions of a project will be as unique as the needs of each user.
But, there are some elements you can learn in this article. To appreciate how far we have come in making the built environment inclusive to a broader portion of our population and their physical needs.
So let’s dive into space planning, we will cover some of the important details about accessibility that you are searching for. Yes, there are some pretty pictures and layouts of this bathroom to give you inspiration. Yet keep in mind, It is important to get it right the first time! We will cover why space planning involves a lot of critical thinking and has 4 important considerations at play in every project:
Design Program
As-Built
Relationship
Design Criteria
In this article we will discuss:
What is space planning?
Our project, a luxury accessible bathroom and spa.
Arranging and fitting out the space for accessibility
A final spaceplan
Can you make a condo bathroom accessible?
Other Case Studies + Evergreen Resources
Our History with Accessible Design
The beginning
New clients sometimes don’t realise the level of detail we plan out a design. This is to ensure that the physical requirements of the equipment being specified for a project are clearly accounted for. The timing of the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge is catching a transformation that has taken months to properly design and plan for in the New Westminster, B.C.. We will use this project to illustrate our design process for a luxury bathroom. You will see the elements we chose to make this bathroom accessible without feeling like a clinic or hospital space using quality tested materials. Not only is our Creative Director known for their colourful style, Corey Klassen is a recognised design industry advocate.
This is our second article in this series for Week 3 for the One Room Challenge. You might be asking yourself why space planning is so important for a bathroom. This is the part of a project where a designer tests out ideas in relation to not only the goals of the clients and their physical requirements in relation to the placement of the accessible hardware.
What is “Space Planning”?
Each of the unique needs of a user needs to addressed and is a fundamental part of designing an accessible space.
The user’s equipment considerations and body measurements are key to mapping out a project in order for it to be successful.
How will you know that your needs will be fully addressed when the design is complete?
Space Planning is a complex set of activities that should never be overlooked when designing an interior space. Without a plan, how will you know that your needs will be fully addressed when the design is complete? Corey’s favourite part of teaching interior design in post-secondary education involves space planning and I could not agree more that it is the single most essential part of the entire design process. Space planning involves a lot of critical thinking and synthesis of 4 important considerations including the design criteria.
Program.
The design program is like going to the opera. When you arrive, you will receive a pamphlet of the event, actors, players, and more. Consider that the program is the thinking part before the design can begin with a physical solution. For a residential project with Articulated, we go through the problems and activities with our clients because homes are our nests and shelter from threats. In a commercial project, this will involve interviews, speaking with consultants, and more.
As-Built.
In order to address the conditions of an environment that already exists, a visit to the location is important. Reviewing the site and it’s existing conditions, structural limitations, daylighting, orientation are essential to creating an As-Built Drawing is essential. Articulated has a strong process on this step using LiDAR scanning and taking physical measurements with a laser and tape measure.
Relationships.
There are various relationships and zoning requirements that may influence space planning. Relationships are either macro- or micro-level. Macro-level means an overview of the zones and relationships of a whole physical environment while micro-level means the activities and zones within a singular room or activity area. These relationships are diagrammatic in nature and not physically related to the actual space. Our goal at this phase of the project is to identify how the activities and zones, or spaces will connect to each other.
Design Criteria.
Once the relationships are understood and solidified, then we can determine the area required, and functional needs for each space.
Some of you may want a detailed breakdown of design Criteria and Space Planning:
For a peek at the types of tables and diagrams used to prepare a space plan check out our previous One room Challenge Week 3.
Now back to our Luxury Bathroom project
For the purpose of this topic about accessible space planning I will feature the resulting layouts and construction drawings below in this carousel gallery to scroll through.
Arranging & Fitting out the Space for Accessibility
People also ask: Is proper design and preparation needed for an accessible space?
Yes!
Interior design is an applied arts and science field and it goes well beyond selecting pretty colours and fabrics. Interior designers are coordinators, analyziers, drafters, verbal and visual communicators, and creatives who address the health, safety, and wellness of the occupants in the space. A comprehensive level of space planning is required in order to identify and address the factors that the humans occupying a physical environment could potentially be positively or negatively affected by.
As a qualified design studio, we are known for our thorough planning and comprehensive construction drawings so that our client’s contractors have everything they need to order and execute the design to the building code of our client’s municipality. In addition to the occupancy requirements for residential project our construction drawings will account for addition requirements of this bathroom project :
The technical spacial requirements of steam generator needs to be planned for how it will function in the shower enclosure.
The tiled elements need to account for the body measurements of the clients in the bench area.
The tiled elements need to account for the specific angles of the surfaces inside the steam shower enclosure.
The circulation patterns of everyday activity in the bathroom need to account for the door swings of the cabinetry and shower as well as the toilet.
The correct placement for the assist bars will be planned in relation to the body dimensions of our clients
Most importantly, there is structural preparation of the walls for the assist bars to meet the manufacturer’s recommended installation requirements for the long term safety of our clients. The walls will be reinforced with additional plywood to later install the assist bars over the ceramic tiles so they can take the full weight of our clients.
Thereby not allowing the equipment to fail and cause injury to our client in their home as they live in place.
Finally: The exact brand and model of assist bars will also be specified in our drawings because we only recommend equipment of this type that has been certified and extensively tested to bear weight specifically for accessible design.
Basically before we start choosing out tiles, colours and light fixtures we need to address all the functional requirements. These factors are why this level of detail is important. When we work with a client, the functional needs of a space have to be worked out before the schematic design can be completed. In terms of accessibility a residential bathroom can be customised to the variety of needs of our clients like a roll in shower for a wheelchair.
Why proper design + preparation is important for an accessible bathroom?
We hear stories about people installing equipment from their local big box store without any qualified guidance to:
Select and purchase equipment specifically for accessible use
Design and structurally prepare for proper installation
People can be being injured in their own home because:
They installed the assist bars improperly. Installing an assist bar is NOT like screwing in a towel bar (with 2 screws into the wall). The installation must result in the equipment bearing the entire weight of the intended user at all access points of the assist bar.
They did not purchase equipment which is certified and tested. Currently the marketplace of both Canada and the United States have many brands that meet accessible standards. Each have invested in rigorous testing to prove themselves. If a big box store does not carry certified and tested product for accessible use, then keep in mind that there are other locations to bring your business.
Our advice: We encourage you to ask questions and seek out qualifications for the most important equipment you will need for either yourself or your client. “Mostly accessible” is a phrase we are reading occasionally on internet resources and at retailers. We advise you to think critically about your choices before you finalise them.
The Final Space Plan
For the purposes of this bathroom you can see that the existing layout was not significantly changed from its original design. In fact it was optimised for better storage and use. The materials and fixtures were chosen for easy maintenance.
Can you make Condo Bathroom Fully Accessible?
Not every condo can be made accessible.
A design professional will need to evaluate the project site. Accounting for the locations of the electrical, drains, water supply, load bearing walls, and ventilation. Determining whether a space plan can be created to meet the specific accessible goals of the client.
Accessible Condos and Townhouses
Our Creative Director has successfully designed and converted an entire Vancouver condominium for wheelchair accessibility. Understanding the fundamentals of condo bathrooms can be very tricky, as you need to consider ventilation, drainage, load bearing walls, and water supply. We literally can not guarantee that every condo or Coop can be converted for accessibility. This is why you will need a design consultation before we commit to the rest of the design work.
Our condo bathroom renovation guide (See link above) is a resource for clients to learn about a project’s potential limitations way before we even design solutions. This will properly prepare you for the types of conversations we can have.
Check out our 2 accessible design case studies below from a condo bathroom renovation in the West End, a neighbourhood in the downtown core of Vancouver, BC.
In a nutshell condominiums and some townhouses have elements which are difficult to change due to some common factors. The cast concrete construction of its structure as well as the condo’s strata bylaws create the rules one will have to play by. Sometimes there is no drain location to allow for a wet room style of roll in shower or even enough room for a wheel chair to move around in successfully with the toilet area. Same with steam showers, sometimes there isn’t enough electrical or ventilation capacity built into the unit and this is difficult to change.
Consulting with a qualified designer who knows how to optimise small spaces like condominiums for a residential accessible bathroom renovation is needed to confirm whether the investment in an accessible design will meet code, strata approval, and the budget goals. Our design studio provides a virtual online design work session for this type of consultation across Canada. To evaluate the potential of a project meeting a client’s goals and the building code requirements of the municipalities across Canada and most of the United States.
Since our project in New Westminster is a detached home with timber framed construction. This means the water supply, drainage locations and ventilation ducts can be more easily adapted. This doesn’t mean we haven’t had surprises.
The wall hung toilet Corey specified arrived with an update to their technical requirements that were different to when the design was finalised 4 months earlier. Meaning the height of the wall detail behind the toilet went up 8 inches.
The steam generator for the steam shower needed a different sized box to house it. Meaning the bench seat on top of the generator became deeper, so an angled back was added in the revised design. This will help our clients to relax and not strain their backs.
This resulted in two changes to the construction drawings we provided our clients’ at the onset of their design journey. Our studio’s provides complete design services and design support throughout an entire project.
Resources & Accessible Case Studies
Our History with Accessible Design
The facts are that there are so many ways to customise a bathroom. This is why you hire a qualified designer, to make sure that any technical requirements are addressed in the bathroom’s design well in advance. Which is why organisations like the National Kitchen + Bath Association publish up to date resources like their 4th edition of the NKBA Planning Guidelines with Support Spaces and Accessibility. Corey was not only one of 10 subject matter experts consulting on the book, he also was the content coordinator with Judith Neary. The 4th edition not only provided guidelines to plan for custom accessible features for bathroom designs. All while meeting the municipal building codes for not only residential but also commercial bathrooms in both the US and Canada.
Having both metric and Imperial systems of measurement accounted for the building code requirements of both countries was a part of this major update that Corey (one of two Canadians subject matter experts) saw the importance of advocating for in the 4th edition. This resource more than tripled in size and was also digitally available for smart devices making it easy for the next generation of designers to access the guidelines resources and content. It not only helps the industry keep pace with the changing needs of our clients, and the state and municipal building requirements in both countries.
Corey’s work on the 4th Edition is a contributing factor that peers in the industry independently nominated him for Kitchen & Bath Design News’ annual award to recognize Innovators in the design industry.
To learn more read our article: Corey recognised As A KBDN Top Innovator of 2022
This is one of the reasons our client approached Corey for this project. They wanted a bathroom in their “forever home” to allow them to gracefully live together. To not just reflect their needs for now, but also to follow them into retirement and meet a variety of needs as they age. Therefore the functional space requirements for the bathroom needed to be properly planned out. This is a very specific need that deserves qualified selection for assist bars which meet testing standards for the amount of weight they can bear as well as provide recommendation for successful installation. You can read more about accessible design in our resources above as well as my upcoming article for this bathroom.
The accessible story to our bathroom renovation project is a great way to start revealing what has been happening behind the scenes at Articulated. It wasn’t until a industry publication in 2022, recognised our Creative Director for contributions to both accessible and inclusive design to the design industry at large across the United States and Canada. The work on the 4th edition also provided more opportunities to contribute to Kitchen and Bath Industry through learning and certification of industry standards.
“Then there was the total revamping of our certification program. I would like to give a shout out to two of our long time collaborators: Corey Klassen CMKBD of Articulated Design Studio and Judith Neary CMKBD of Roadside Attractions. Thank you both for your help and guidance with our new program which features a learning management system that makes it easier to access materials, as well as to track your progress online. Our certifications as well as our growing badge program are even more valuable as a competitive tool in today’s market.”
Bill Darcy, CEO National Kitchen + Bath Association (NKBA), January 31, 2023, Time stamp 20:57 min/sec
https://nkba.org/insights/nkba-ceo-delivered-state-of-the-association-address-at-kbis-2023/
NKBA 4th Edition Kitchen + Bath Planning Guidelines; with Support Spaces + Accessibility
Corey has won local and international awards for bath designs and spoken to the industry about steam showers and luxury bathroom design.
Our history with luxury bathrooms
Corey has worked with a range of quality brand names that produce steam showers, as well as plumbing fixtures like Brizo and DXV. Corey’s first time speaking at IDS Vancouver was when he presented the Luxury Bathroom CEU for designers in Fall 2014. His participation in an international marketing campaign for DXV by American Standard not only brought him early local recognition. It was a part of his love affair with steam showers. He even wrote articles for Mr Steam ( a pre-eminent brand in the luxury bath marketplace) as well as presented his own CEU about steam showers at an international design conference for the kitchen and bath industry called KBIS. Below you can see the video produced for Lofty Visions, the project for DXV, where it showcases a steam shower for the advertising campaign.
Our Creative Director, Corey Klassen CMKBD NCIDQ IIDA, is also a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer through the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Not only has Corey has contributed back to the design industry at large not only through teaching the next generation of designers, and providing educational content at design industry events across both Canada and the United States. He has also been involved in publications and programs for the design industry at large. They are a recognised subject matter expert in the topics of:
Luxury bath design
Steam shower planning and design
Inclusive design
Conclusion
For the purposes of this bathroom the existing layout was not significantly changed from its original space plan. In fact it was optimised for better storage and use. The materials and fixtures were chosen for easy maintenance. There were a few millwork ideas proposed for the bathroom that were quite thoughtful. The one that resonated with the clients is the privacy screen that was designed between the toilet area and the rest of the bathroom. Not only did it provide an architectural feature in the central part of the space it coordinates beautifully with the new custom riff cut oak cabinetry of the bathroom. The space will have natural light from the existing skylight and will feature both a soaker tub and steam shower. Each of the features of the bathroom have been planned out so that the design can be implemented efficiently by client’s contractors, Kingswood Builders, in the building codes of their municipality, New Westminster, BC. This meant they could count on our design to meet their very specific functional needs in a variety of ways.
Since we are known for our love of colour and working in a range of design styles from Art Deco to West Coast Minimalism. The clients knew that once the planning and layout were approved, they would also have a beautiful design and colour that incorporated their goals for the space. The bathroom will feature a historic colour over 200 years old in a modern Japandi design.
Articles in this series
Accessible design for a principle bathroom.