Hello,
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
I
italiano8316 Nov 2013 08:21Sliding doors in the bathroom have proven to be very effective. Here, I recommend a width of at least 1 meter (3.3 feet).
A low-height kitchen for wheelchair users should also be considered.
A low-height kitchen for wheelchair users should also be considered.
T
toxicmolotof16 Nov 2013 10:21Hans Max Wurth schrieb:
Regarding funding options for barrier-free living, there is a program offered by KFW (Reconstruction Loan Corporation). It provides subsidized loans up to 50,000 (fifty thousand) per housing unit, meaning lower interest rates.The only downside is that the KFW program does not apply to new construction, but only to existing buildings, meaning renovation or modernization.
S
Stadtpflanze18 Nov 2013 16:09Thanks for the responses!
Basically, a bungalow without a basement would be the best option, as it is also the most affordable financially. The issue, however, is that for me, accessibility — or at least reduced barriers — also means being close to S-Bahn or subway stations as well as local amenities, so they can be reached easily on foot or by bike. This way, at least in the first few years, we could avoid owning cars. We have never owned a car so far. Eventually, we will probably need at least one car. This, in turn, means that plots of land tend to be expensive and/or small.
In the S-Bahn area, prices for 600 square meters (approximately 6,460 sq ft) range from 100,000 to 120,000 euros. Sometimes, plots of 450 to 500 square meters (approximately 4,840 to 5,380 sq ft) are offered.
Where two cars are needed from the start, the price of land is about half as much.
So far, we are thinking of 130-150 square meters (1,400-1,615 sq ft) of living space plus a garage or carport. This is actually quite compact already. We are still not sure where to store the bikes and other items that are currently kept in our basement (camping and sports equipment, tools, and the like).
Possibly, the attic could be used for storage, but you can’t really keep items there that you need to access regularly.
Basically, a bungalow without a basement would be the best option, as it is also the most affordable financially. The issue, however, is that for me, accessibility — or at least reduced barriers — also means being close to S-Bahn or subway stations as well as local amenities, so they can be reached easily on foot or by bike. This way, at least in the first few years, we could avoid owning cars. We have never owned a car so far. Eventually, we will probably need at least one car. This, in turn, means that plots of land tend to be expensive and/or small.
In the S-Bahn area, prices for 600 square meters (approximately 6,460 sq ft) range from 100,000 to 120,000 euros. Sometimes, plots of 450 to 500 square meters (approximately 4,840 to 5,380 sq ft) are offered.
Where two cars are needed from the start, the price of land is about half as much.
So far, we are thinking of 130-150 square meters (1,400-1,615 sq ft) of living space plus a garage or carport. This is actually quite compact already. We are still not sure where to store the bikes and other items that are currently kept in our basement (camping and sports equipment, tools, and the like).
Possibly, the attic could be used for storage, but you can’t really keep items there that you need to access regularly.
H
Hans Max Wurth25 Nov 2013 18:25That's correct, I made a mistake here. I apologize for that.
Geedii schrieb:
Does elevator provision mean some kind of stairlift or an actual elevator? Because the latter would be very expensive; it might be better to invest more in a larger plot and try to keep as much as possible on one level... Sorry, I missed the question... I meant a storage room on every floor with a very thin ceiling between the levels, so that if the elevator is installed later, a suitable shaft would already exist or be very easy to create without major shaft construction needed.
toxicmolotow schrieb:
It’s just unfortunate that the KfW program doesn’t apply to new builds, only existing buildings, meaning renovation or modernization. Yes, unfortunately – but there is at least 50,000 EUR (about 54,000 USD) available under program 124, without accessibility requirements – how accessibility might later be retrofitted is another matter 😉Similar topics