Barrier-free living: The LifePhasesHouse
More than 80% of people in Germany would like to spend all phases of their lives in their domestic living environment. How can the housing situation help to improve the quality of life and reduce the number of people in need of care? In the LifePhasesHouse, the University of Tübingen, in cooperation with the University Hospital and business partners from the region, is facing up to the central challenges of an ageing society.
Through a lively exchange between science, economy and society, social and technical innovations should be continuously developed over the course of ten years, which will, for example, be used to improve the quality of life of the population. The barrier-free show apartment, for example, allows visitors to experience this directly. Seminars and exhibitions provide an understanding of the demands on carers and the needs of seniors or people with disabilities. The offer is aimed at older building owners with a need for renovation as well as at building families who, for example, are looking for good solutions for the generational living.
The house
The floor plan and equipment of the SchwörerHaus efficiency house have been designed barrier-free and can be adapted to private living. The floor plan is complemented by a seminar room and a showroom on the first floor.
Barrier-free living
The LifePhasesHouse demonstrates that accessibility actually means increased comfort – for everyone. It is therefore a good example of an integrative life together. Accessibility starts in the head, i. e. in planning.
Building services & energy
Technology should also be used to support virtual mobility. This allows, for example, the access to the house via fingerprint scanner as well as the barrier-free kitchen and bathroom designs.
German Age Award 2016
In 2016, the LifePhasesHouse won the first place of the German Old Age Award, which is awarded annually by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Among a total of 146 applicants, the research project was able to prevail in Tübingen. "The model project shows exciting ways in which older people can live self-determinedly in their familiar environment for as long as possible”, said Social Minister Manne Lucha. The German Age Award is an award for initiatives and personalities in public life whose work contributes in an outstanding way to a positive image of old age in society. The people in Germany are getting older (one in three is expected to be over 65 years of age in 2060), which is why we want to make new living concepts possible in order to remain in the familiar surroundings even in old age.
Floor plan variants
FlyingSpaces are ideal as a stand-alone, barrier-free residential cube or e.g. are appropriate as an extension solution, which are being researched in the LebensPhasenHaus. They are delivered ready to use and, if desired, will be equipped with assistance systems in the near future. Inspired by the experiences of the LifePhasesHouse, SchwörerHaus has already developed a first age-appropriate FlyingSpace for the prefabricated house market that takes into account assistance systems and accessibility.
