All the homes here incorporate “universal design”, an idea conceived by the late architect Ron Mace who founded and directed The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University (www.design.ncsu.edu/cud). In this concept, elements are chosen which, while aesthetically pleasing, function for the greatest variety of people.

The Rotorua NOW Home® is a first-time collaboration between Beacon Pathway Ltd and Housing New Zealand Corporation. The new, three-bedroom home in Fordlands has been designed to focus on energy efficiency, sustainable water use, effective storm water disposal and waste reduction.

The design and product choices of the Waitakere NOW Home® were the result of input from architects, building scientists and sustainability researchers. We have brought together the details of these choices as an example of what can be done to create an efficiently-performing house using products and design readily available today.

The home will incorporate three bedrooms, a study / guest room and two bathrooms to meet the local target market of second and third home buyers with a medium income, two children and committed to living and working in the city. The designs will have readily accessible areas making it easier to move around within the home.

Home to be Retrofitted with Universal Design, Green Features

http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=0&newsID=7072

A vacant, city-owned house at 2635 18th St. NE reopened on Thursday as a model of universal design.

http://www.aarp.org/staes/dc/articles/universal_design_featurtes_of_the_aarp_andrus_house.html 

"Although it looks like a normal house, Freedom Home exceeds established guidelines and has been designed to evolve with the owner's changing requirements," said Ben Ritter, a director with the Gulf Coast Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. "It's remarkably turnkey - just open the door and you can move in immediately.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/02/na-freedom-home-a-national-first-for-the-mobility-/

Collins Custom Builders is using universal design to build the house, which means it is accessible to those with handicaps.
http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?id=17524