Anne-apolis

  I have been involved in a number of projects to improve wheelchair accessibility and other facilities for  people with disabilities, all of them on university campuses. But what do we need to do if we become disabled or have a wheelchair-bound family member in terms of our home? Adapting for accessibility can be quite expensive, so it is important to get it right first time, not least for the dignity and comfort of the user. I have been very fortunate to have wheelchair users take me round their workplaces, highlighting features that compromise their mobility. An example was a beautifully equipped bathroom that could not be accessed in a wheelchair as the entrance passage was too narrow! Before starting your alterations, see if you can borrow or hire a wheelchair for a couple of hours to do a "walkabout" of your home to identify problem areas. The first thing you may notice is the number of level changes and steps: a proficient wheelchair user can manage one or two steps, b...

Whether you are thinking of embarking on some DIY projects , planning to buy some flat-pack furniture, or simply need to do those small and annoying tasks around your home, it is good to have a couple of basic tools to make for a more professional and less frustrating result. For all hardware, rather buy the items incrementally and get the best quality you can afford, as these can serve you for a lifetime and are less likely to break when you are in the middle of a task. For all those little electrical jobs and for more general use, it is good to have two medium-size screwdrivers, a flat head and a Philips (star shaped) head. It is also very handy to have a set of jeweler's screwdrivers - my best ever gift was the set in the photo, which also includes wire cutters, needle-nosed pliers and thin tweezers. These have been so useful over the years for a diverse array of electrical and electronic repairs. A jeweler's toolset The other essential item is a good hammer - when you have ...

  Many of us got used to working from home during COVID, with the many benefits that come from this - not having to commute to work, being able to sleep in for those few precious moments, and greater freedom with how we organise our day. This may have sown the seeds of an idea to work from home permanently.  Home office Creative commons licensed: https://www.goodfon.com/interior/wallpaper-unique-rustic-home-office-design-interer-stil-domashnii-ofis.html A number of professions have been doing this for decades, such as dentists, tax consultants and other occupations that just require one or two rooms in the house. In South Africa, we have very comprehensive land legislation, with most larger towns and cities having a stringent town planning scheme that dictates what activities you can or cannot carry out on any property. We call this "zoning" and it is associated with a modernist approach to town planning, which sees a separation of activities such as residential, commerci...

  If you are planning a new house, it is obvious that your architect will need to submit plans to your local authority, but what about alterations and additions to an existing building? It is always worth dropping in to your local council and speaking to the plans control department if you are not sure. This is especially important if you live in a heritage building and are planning a facelift or any other work that will alter the external appearance of the building. In this case, also have a discussion with the heritage authority before doing any work. While you are doing your investigations, check the zoning and any other planning restrictions on your site with the planning department. They can advise you on whether your proposals can be carried out within the existing zoning restrictions, or whether you will need to go through the costly and time-consuming process of rezoning. This will usually be required only if you are changing the use of the building, eg if you want to conve...