Fully Accessible Home for a Person Living With a Spinal Cord Injury

CASE STUDY

Fully Accessible Home for a Person Living With a Spinal Cord Injury

Location: Cheshire, England

For individuals who have sustained life-altering injuries, a home is more than just a place to live; it must be a purpose-built environment that promotes independence and facilitates rehabilitation.

This was the driving principle behind our project for a client living with a spinal cord injury following a road traffic accident. Due to the extent of our client's injuries, they were fully wheelchair-dependent and reliant on a support team for all aspects of daily life.

Crucially, following the settlement of their legal claim, the clients chose to instruct Steven Docker Associates directly.

Rather than relying on external case management referrals, the clients sought out SDA's specific expertise to lead the architectural design and project management of their new home. We were instructed to deliver a property that not only met the immediate requirements of accessibility, but also integrated cutting-edge low-carbon technology and specialist care facilities.

The Challenge

The project required a fundamental reimagining of the clients' living situation. We were instructed to demolish the clients' existing home in Cheshire, and erect a purpose-designed new-build dwelling.

Key Challenges Included:

Site Remediation and Replacement: The brief necessitated the total clearance of the site to allow for a new building footprint. This required navigating complex planning consents and complying with stringent Building Regulations to ensure the new structure met modern thermal and structural standards, whilst respecting to local environment.
Clinical Infrastructure: The design had to seamlessly accommodate high-dependency care requirements, including staff accommodation and hoists, without compromising the domestic aesthetic. This demanded a careful balance between clinical functionality and residential comfort.
Vertical Circulation: To capitalise on the site's potential for rural views, the design utilised a two storey layout, ensuring seamless vertical circulation for a wheelchair user across these levels was imperative.
M&E Integration: The brief specified a high degree of energy efficiency to offset the power demands for medical equipment and environment control systems, requiring a robust mechanical and electrical strategy.

The Solution

Our approach was rooted in a detailed feasibility analysis. We began with a comprehensive measured survey of the existing site parameters, subsequently producing multiple spatial configuration proposals for client review.

Once the design concept was agreed, SDA managed the pre-construction phase, including the submission of full planning applications to the Local Authority, including full technical drawings. Our team then coordinated the procurement phase, managing a competitive tendering process to appoint a principal contractor, before assuming the role of Contract Administrators for the on-site demolition and constructing the new dwelling.

Our Architectural and Project Management Services Delivered:

Integrated Hoist Infrastructure: SDA designed the structural elements to support fully integrated overhead hoist systems, creating a continuous track from the primary bedroom to the en-suite.
Specialist Specification: The en-suite bathroom was fitted with specialist sanitaryware specifically selected to suit the client's needs, including a specialist bath, WC, and washbasin.
Vertical Accessibility Strategy: A high-specification through-floor-lift was integrated into the core of the building, ensuring barrier-free access between the ground floor and upper levels.
External Connectivity: The design includes a first-floor rear terrace/ balcony, structurally engineered to provide level access from the upper-floor, opening lines-of-sight across the Cheshire countryside.
Therapeutic Spatial Planning: The floor plan includes a dedicated therapy room and a self-contained carers' suite, ensuring clinical support is embedded within the home's fabric without dominating the living space.
Smart Building Management: We oversaw the installation of a complex environmental control system, allowing the client autonomous control over the building's active systems.
Sustainable M&E Strategy: The property is supported by high-specification low-carbon technologies including air source heat pumps, a Tesla battery storage system, and a solar PV array, ensuring the property remains environmentally sustainable.

"Replacing an existing property with a purpose-built home is a huge undertaking. It's not just about the design; it's about successfully navigating Building Regulations and handling the day-to-day project management so the process runs smoothly. We managed the whole journey, from the initial meeting and concept designs right through to project handover. The real success here was integrating the specialist tech, like the hoists and environmental controls, so they feel like a natural part of the home, rather than clinical add-ons."

Alex Jones, Deputy Head of Design & Project Management

The Outcome

Completed in 2022, the resulting property is a fully accessible, purpose-built detached home that functions in harmony with the clients' lives. By combining specialist clinical features, such as the integrated hoists and therapy room, with domestic comforts and high-end sustainable technology, SDA has delivered a home that supports the client's physical needs while enriching their quality of life.

The inclusion of the full-width terrace has transformed the client's daily experience, offering a connection to nature that would otherwise have been inaccessible. In addition, the strategic investment in low-carbon technologies ensures the property remains economically viable and energy-secure for the future.