Photography courtesy of 6 North
At first glance, 6 North looks like a trendy industrial-chic apartment complex. It gives no sign that its design is barrier free—livable and usable by all.
“That’s universal design, which at its best is beautiful, transparent, and seamless,” says Colleen Starkloff, co-founder of the Starkloff Disability Institute and an advisor for the building. She understands how disability affects people in their daily lives. “In 1975, I married the most wonderful man on the planet, Max Starkloff. He used a power chair. We hopped on the universal design train sometime in 1982 or 1983.”
The Starkloffs’ home, which they modified with stepless entries, an elevator, widened doorways and a redesigned bath, allowed Max to live at home until his death, in 2010. Colleen continues to reshape the space. “I’m renovating the kitchen with universal design ideas. I want to age in place in my house. As we grow older, most of us will experience a disability.”
For 6 North resident Ellie Cooper, 67, decreased mobility rendered life in her three-story house impossible. At 6 North, the features she needs to live independently were already in place. “It’s safe and convenient,” she says. “The kitchen oven is set higher to move dishes in and out easily. In some units, the cooktops have a pull-under space for people in wheel- chairs to sit and cook.”
Ryan Phillips, a 24-year-old with cerebral palsy, says the barrier-free design simplifies everyday tasks: “The cabinet doors at the kitchen sink open fully. Lower storage allows easier access, and the roll-in shower in the bathroom? That’s great.”
Most of 6 North’s residents are not disabled, but they appreciate the design, says manager Carolyn Dahm. “The island has one side at a fixed height; the other adjusts,” she says. “No table legs interfere when a person pulls under the counter.”
When thoughtful changes make an environment usable, attractive, and marketable to more people, we all benefit. That’s universal.
