Housing Accessibility Methodology: Older People in a European Context - Assessment and Standards : ph.d. projekt

In order to create accessible housing environments supporting health, independence, participation and activity for all citizens, valid and reliable assessment instruments are needed. Moreover, research-based standards taking the needs of different user groups into account are crucial, while such standards to a great extent are lacking. Conceptually, accessibility is based on person-environment-fit interaction in compliance with national standards for housing design, while usability with its base in user perceptions of person-environment-task transactions approaches universal design. In order to nurture a development of research-standards grounded on usability rather than on accessibility only, in-depth methodological studies are imperative.

The overarching aims are to contribute to the development and improvement of 1) assessments targeting accessible housing design, and 2) research-based standards - through methodological exploration and empirical testing.

In order to create accessible housing environments supporting health, independence, participation and activity for all citizens, valid and reliable assessment instruments are needed. Moreover, research-based standards taking the needs of different user groups into account are crucial, while such standards to a great extent are lacking. Conceptually, accessibility is based on person-environment-fit interaction in compliance with national standards for housing design, while usability with its base in user perceptions of person-environment-task transactions approaches universal design. In order to nurture a development of research-standards grounded on usability rather than on accessibility only, in-depth methodological studies are imperative.

The overarching aims are to contribute to the development and improvement of 1) assessments targeting accessible housing design, and 2) research-based standards - through methodological exploration and empirical testing.