Residential Design Final

Which of the following best describes “ambient lighting”

general, overall lighting in a space

According to Edward T. Hall, which distance range is considered “social-consultative?”

4-12 feet

Which law requires that all public building accommodate people with disabilities?

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

What type of luminaire is typically mounted to a ceiling track and allows adjustable lighting heads?

Track-mounted

(T/F) A bedroom is considered a private territory within a home.

True

Name and briefly describe one theory that explains how people use or divide space within a home.

Sebba and Churchman describe areas within a home that are used by all as “shared territory,” with limited privacy; “individual primary territories” are those seen as belonging to individuals such as bedroom, which becomes the private sanctuary of the individual.

List the 3 main types of lighting and give one example of where each might be used in a home.

• Ambient lighting

  • living room

  • Task lighting

    • bedroom or office

  • Accent lighting

    • outside the home to feature plants

According to the ADA, what is the maximum legal slope for a ramp to be used independently by a wheelchair user?

1:12

What is the minimum hallway width required by code for general circulation?

36 inches

What is the required turning space diameter for a wheelchair user?

60 inches

Which of the following is NOT a recommended feature for accessible circulation design?

Stairs without handrails

What is the required minimum stair headroom height per code?

6’8”

(T/F) A door should never swing out over the top step of a staircase

True

(T/F) A minimum of two handrails are always required on residential stairs.

False

List 2 design elements that make an entryway or foyer more inviting.

1. Color can have an effect of making someone feel welcomed or uninvited. This can be from the brightness, hue, and color compliments in the foyer/entrance.

2. Another example is the flow of the foyer/entrance into the rest of the home. When someone feels comfortable with moving along the house without feeling restricted, then it makes them feel invited into the home. 

Why is the size of the stair treads especially important for people edescending stairs?

Descending requires room on the tread surface for the heel to completely rest. This requires the tread size not to be too small and that the stair nose be limited in size. A tread too small will put the toe too far out beyond the nosing and compromise the footing. 

In the United States, how has the average home size changed over time in relation to family size?

Homes have grown larger while family size has decreased.

Which type of lighting is designed to highlight features, objects, or areas in a room?

Accent lighting

According to code, residential handrails must fall within which height range?

34-38 inches

Which theorist identified four distance body distances - intimate, personal, social, and public?

Edward T. Hall

What is the ideal diameter for a conversation cluster to support face-to-face interaction?

6-10 feet

Which of the following best supports universal design in a leisure space?

Step-free access and easy-to-use furniture

In a living room layout, why should paths not cut through seating clusters?

It interrupts conversation and interaction

What clearance is required behind a dining chair to allow for through traffic?

24 inches

Which screen size is best suited for a viewing distance of 7 to 11 feet?

52 inches

Round tables generally require more space than rectangular tables in dining rooms.

False

(T/F) A conversation cluster of 4-6 people for social interaction in leisure spaces.

True

(T/F) Providing 18 inches behind a chair is always sufficient for someone to walk behind it comfortably.

False

Name two feature that improve accessibility in leisure space for users with mobility limitations.

• furnishings w/ the ease of sitting in and getting out

• range of various heights for furnishings/furniture

Describe how door and passageway placement can impact furniture layout in a leisure room. 

It affects the clearance between furniture, whether there is room for those who are needing accessibility, and if the layout works as a whole. 

What three points are traditionally used to form the kitchen work triangle?

sink, refrigerator, cooktop

Which kitchen zone includes items like pots, pans, and cooking utensils?

cooking zone

What is a common issue with standard dishwashers in accessible kitchens?

They require bending to load/unload

What type of refrigerator is most recommended for wheelchair accessibility?

Side-by-side

Which of the following is NOT a common accessibility feature for kitchen sinks?

Deeper-than-average sink bowl

(T/F) Drawer-style dishwashers are sometimes used to improve accessibility in kitchens.

True

(T/F) The kitchen is considered one of the easiest spaces to make accessible.

False

(T/F) A preparation zone often overlaps with both the cooking and non-consumable zone.

True

Name two features that make an oven more accessible for seated users.

• side hinged and double swing oven doors

  • require a pullout shelf underneath

• optimum wall-mounted oven height for universal use

Describe how the 5-zone kitchen model improves workflow and organization.

The five zone kitchen model helps improve workflow by keeping these grouped together so the user doesn’t have to move across the kitchen. It also helps to know where things belong and keep things organized as they are all kept together. 

What is the minimum clear opening width required for an accessible bedroom doorway?

32 inches

(T/F) Using a 36-inch-wide door is recommended to help meet the minimum 32-inch clear space requirement for accessibility.

True

How much clearance is required around a bed for wheelchair accessibility?

36 inches

Which of the following is an accessible alternative to a 60-inch turning circle?

T-shaped turn

A clear latch-side space of at least ________ by ________ is required to accessible door operation.

18 inches

48 inches

A home becomes “visitable” by including which feature?

An accessible half-bath

(T/F) Mounting clothing rods and shelves at lower is only required in public buildings, not private residences.

False

Where should the main bedroom light switch be located for best accessibility?

Near the entry door, on the latch side

What type of switch allows lighting control from two different locations in the bedroom?

Three-way switch

Name two reasons why accessibility considerations in bedroom design benefit more than just people who use wheelchairs.

1. Allows for better circulation and controls traffic with large clear space

2. Enough space allows for room when opening doors and drawers

Which bathroom fixtures are most commonly used, in order from most to least frequent?

Sink, toilet, bath/shower

(T/F) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) creates specific guidelines for private residential bathrooms.

False

Which type of sink provides the best wheelchair accessibility?

Wall-mounted sink

A clear space of at least _______ inches in diameter is required for a full wheelchair turning circle in a bathroom.

60

(T/F) According to the IDEA Center, ambulatory users prefer a lavatory height of 34 inches, whereas a 32-inch height is better for wheelchair users.

True

Which door type can save space while still providing a 32-inch clear opening for accessibility?

Pocket Door

In an accessible bathroom, what is the minimum clear knee space height under a sink?

27 inches

List two design features that can improve bathtub safety for people with limited mobility.

1. Tub integral handles or rails for entering and exiting

2. Grab bars to allow grip and to help a person not to use much of their own strength and limit range of motion

What mirror type if best used in designs for those who are wheelchair bound?

Mirrors that can be adjusted, tilted, or at a lower typical height to allow the user to have access to the mirror.

(T/F) Water supply pipes can be fed from below or above.

True

Which of the following is NOT a stated purpose of a home office?

Acting as a primary family entertainment room

When planning a home office, the location should prioritize:

Quiet zones away from high-traffic areas

(T/F) An ergonomic work setup includes keeping the monitor at eye level and using a lumbar-supporting chair.

True

Good storage and organization in a home office includes:

A combination of open shelving, closed storage, and integrated filing

Which lighting strategy is recommended for a home office?

Layered lighting including ambient, task, and accent

Which layout is ideal for maximizing surface area for folding in a laundry room?

Side-by-side appliances with a counter above

(T/F) Laundry rooms often serve dual functions, such as combining laundry with mudroom tasks.

True

Which of the following is NOT a recommended durable material or feature for mudrooms?

Delicate wallpaper

List two common storage elements found in a mudroom.

pull-out hampers and drying racks

What is one important safety or code consideration for utility spaces such as laundry rooms?

anti-slip flooring and GFCI outlets in wet or damp rooms