A gorgeous girl with a rare Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) condition and her family found that their lovely home became small and inadequately adapted for her special needs and the daily comfort of the household.
At the end of an avenue, a modest single storey cottage diminished in a long corner plot had a constrained layout which didn’t work for a young girl with limited mobility. The previously council’s adaptations were restricted to a small hoist and the conversion of a bedroom into a wet oversized room. That left the remaining family sleeping in the loft and a cramped living room as the only area for the girl’s activities and exercises, depriving the family of a space to relax and live.
The layout needed an overall revision with view to further extend the house and provide easy wheelchair access, as it had none. The parents’ bedroom was moved downstairs to be close to their girl, allowing her sibling to finally have a decent size bedroom in the loft with proper sized bathroom, not just literally a wc. An open space with ample circulation was created to lodge a new kitchen and lounge area with full width bifold doors and wheelchair ramp, away from the activity room but with clear view to ensure child safety.
With the girl’s needs but also her family’s wellbeing in mind, JaM designed a new ground floor layout to improve the EHCP’s requirements at home, whilst creating spaces for the family to have a timeout, relax and finally have a social space where they all can be together and enjoy life.
JaM also prepared and obtained planning permission, worked with building surveyor and structural engineer on building solutions, and assisted with advice and information for building control under the premise of self-building work.
The work has finished, and the small cottage has now a brand new modern extension and partial refurbishment, finally making it a functional home for all. In addition, all design efforts were made to minimise the visual evidence of disabled adaptations, so it looks more like a vibrant household rather than a dull care home.
