September’s webinar series, sponsored by Geberit, focuses on making spaces that are safe, accessible and sanitized.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
No one’s getting any younger. And as the population ages and puts a particular emphasis on healthier lifestyles and safe environments, principles of universal design, aging and living in place have taken on greater significance.
NKBA’s free September webinars focus on these principles and more. This month’s series is generously sponsored by Geberit, a global leader in plumbing technology. In North America, the company specializes in concealed systems for wall-hung toilets and fixtures that improve the look of any bathroom by hiding unsightly plumbing hardware, allowing more usable space, improved hygiene and better accessibility.
Each month, NKBA offers free 60-minute webinars, each featuring a presentation by a specific subject matter expert, delivered via a virtual platform. The sessions offer certified participants 0.1 CEU per event — it’s an easy way for designers to collect the CEUs needed to maintain NKBA certification. Participants must engage in 80 percent of the live sessions to receive CEU credit; registration closes two hours prior to start times. All webinars begin at 12 noon, Eastern Time. Visit www.nkba.org to register.
Starting the series on Sept. 7, LaDonna Eriksen, CLIPP, owner of Interiors by Design, presents “Designing the Multi-Generational Kitchen.” The Living In Place Institute, which grants CLIPP certification, represents the future of home design incorporating the principles of universal design, aging-in-place, multigenerational living, wellness and accessibility. Especially as more elderly parents move in with their adult children, designing homes with safety in mind is an important concept. But it’s not just for seniors. Everyone moving around the house — from toddlers to the parents carrying them to individuals with compromised mobility — needs a safe space. The physical anatomy is basically the same for everyone — just the size changes. It is important to create an environment that allows for all those living in that home to be safe, healthy and comfortable.
Ericksen will focus on creating kitchens — a universal gathering space — that meet all these needs. The session will explore designing kitchens that are safe, healthy and comfortable for all ages, shapes, and sizes; identify what makes a kitchen ergonomically compatible for a multi-generational home, and illustrate why it is important that the kitchen be designed for everyone, not just the chef.
To register for this webinar, click here.
“Going Curbless” is the topic of the day on Sept. 9, presented by Dean Moilanen, director of architectural services for Noble Co. Curbless showers are in high demand —aesthetically, for their streamlined look, and functionally, for ADA compliance efforts or similar aging-in-place design measures. This class will provide a brief overview of the growing demand for curbless showers, the difference between curbless and barrier-free, installation methods in the TCNA Handbook, and other design and installation considerations for a successful project.
Moilanen will discuss what’s required for a curbless shower to comply with ADA guidelines and building standards, and how to be sure to meet applicable plumbing codes and the wet-area coefficient of friction for flooring. He’ll review the various kits and systems for constructing curbless showers with emphasis on their benefits, nuances, and important best practices to consider when designing and installing. The session will present new trends and installation systems that provide an environment supporting an individual’s ability to accomplish day-to-day activities with little or no assistance. He will show how to evaluate current industry standards and their impact on shower systems, from getting in and out of the shower safely and cleaning thoroughly, clean to a healthy standard, and more.
To register for this webinar, click here.
On Sept. 21, Dacia Woodworth, architect and design community liaison for the Natural Stone Institute; Anna Gibson, CKBD, award-winning designer and founder of AKG Design Studio, and Evan Cohen, president and CEO of Quality Marble & Granite, comprise a panel on “Don’t Fake It When You Make It”: Reasons to Choose Natural Materials.” Materials like natural stone and real wood have a certain allure, but they also face misconceptions related to maintenance and sustainability.
The panel will talk about how artificial materials attempt to mimic the beauty of natural materials but can’t quite duplicate the authenticity. They will discuss benefits of choosing natural materials and dispel the myths surrounding two natural building products that will re-energize a project’s connection to nature. The trio will explore historical and modern uses of natural stone and wood that prove its longevity is achievable with proper installation and maintenance; compare performance data of natural and artificial materials, and discuss the human connection to natural materials and how using them in design and architecture can create a sense of serenity and contribute to green design goals.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Next up, join Shannon Ggem, Principal of Ggem Design Co. as she hosts luxury home builder Andrew Ggem of Tyler Development Corp., and Sarah Robertson, AKBD, founder and principal of Studio Dearborn to talk about “Biophilia by Design: For Wellness and to Save the World!” on Sept. 23.
As people’s eyesight and hearing decline and they become less happy, biophilia can help. Using three biophilic design considerations, these designers say we can help improve quality of life, and consequently “save the world.” This presentation will cover the definition of biophilia and put it in an actionable context, explore the role the kitchen and bath industry can play at this pivotal moment in human evolution, illustrate how to improve recovery times from olfactory, visual and auditory stressors, and present biophilic solutions. Shannon Ggem will provide three considerations for three senses to improve quality of life while digging into specifics of past projects with Robertson and Andy Ggem. They will talk about applying biophilic principles to reduce recovery times from stressors like VOCs and harsh sounds, and make choices including the use of plants and trees, natural light and light control, bilateral symmetry, the golden proportion/fractals, views and sounds of nature, artwork and more.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Finally, on Sept. 29, Jennifer Sheffield, brand sales specialist for Ferguson, presents “Design for Now and the Future.” An AARP study found that the desire to continue to live in the same house increases with age. Regardless their reasons, designing a living space — whether remodeling a current home or building a brand-new custom home — has become a new challenge. Besides being functional and aesthetically pleasing, it has become increasingly important to design these spaces and select products that will enable homeowners to live in the house for as long as they want to.
During this session, Sheffield will define the terms “universal design” or “aging-in-place,” present trends in home solutions for universal design or aging-in-place design, and explore kitchen, bath and lighting products to help with universal design projects.
To register for this webinar, click here.
