1. Welcome
Welcome to Summer Housing’s display apartment at The Mews, Woolloongabba.
We are delighted to share with you first-hand the impact that well-designed, well-located homes designed with accessibility can have on the lives of people with disability.
The Summer Housing model consists of ten apartments for people with disability peppered throughout larger private developments. An additional apartment accommodates an office and sleepover space for disability support workers.
The Summer Housing apartments are a concrete example of an alternative housing option for young people living in nursing homes.
Our housing model has a very strong focus on supporting people to:
- Be as independent and included as possible
- Have choice and flexibility in their supports
- Have as much control over their home environment as possible
- Have a home environment that can support maintenance of family roles and contact with friends and family.
We aim to share the knowledge we have gathered about our housing projects, and to encourage others to replicate it in order to increase the scale and range of housing options available.
DESIGN OBJECTIVES
- Mainstream robust products for residential home-like look
- Accessible, functional and “multi-use” design
- Customisable to suit individual needs
- Safety to support independence
- Re-sale potential on open market (e.g. capacity to remove features)
- Range of apartments to suit different household setups
- Non-identifiable within building
ACCESSIBILITY (APARTMENT)
- 1.2m wide corridors
- 950mm clear opening doors
- Flexible open plan kitchen, dining and living
- Larger spaces to enable multi-sided approach
- Flush levels throughout, including into external areas
- Switches and controls offset 600mm above finished floor level and from corners

1. Entry
A. Entry door is automated with connection to the fire safety system so that if the building fire alarms are activated, the entry door will be unlocked and free-swinging so that assisted evacuation is possible.
B. The entry area has easy access to door controls, intercom, A/C system and automation controls. All items are lined up in an accessible height.

2. Living Area
A. The apartment has an open plan layout designed to maximise circulation and allow for flexible furniture configuration.
B. Lighting controls on Dynalite system to allow app control and programmable switches.
C. Flexible spatial use to allow accommodation of study or additional shared living space.
D. Slip-resistant flooring designed for durability and ease of access by wheelchair user.

3. Kitchen
A. Height adjustable bench with modular kitchen units on raised kickboards that can be replaced to allow alternative heights.
B. Joinery to allow for suitable toe-knee clearances under sink and cooktop areas with lockable plumbing area to allow ease of access for modifications.
C. LED strip lighting provides task lighting in food preparation areas.
D. A side opening oven allows residents to have access to an oven at an accessible height with no limitations for those with limited core function.
E. Pull-out heat proof mat under the oven allows for additional food preparation areas that is accessible for wheelchair user to roll-under.
F. Drawer style dishwasher allows resident to be involved in light household tasks such as cleaning.
G. Induction cooktops allows residents will be able to partake in cooking activities in a safe manner with no flame, flat surfaces to allow ease of transferring pots and pans, and no accidental burns.
H. Rangehood has an additional remote control so to allow wheelchair users to activate and adjust rangehood requirements without assistance.
I. Isolation switches at the front panel of the bench allows for accessible access and functionality without reaching over the bench. This provides additional safety.
J. Pull-out pantry maximises storage and ease of access at a range of heights suitable to persons in a wheelchair.
4. Laundry
A. Laundry designed to have a raised plinth incorporated so to allow greater access to front loaded washers.
B. Tapset side-mounted to allow greater reach and control from the front of the sink.
C. Task lighting over the sink allows for greater visibility of tasks within smaller spaces.

5. Bedroom
A. Larger bedroom circulation with views outside to ensure connectivity to surrounding environment, especially if residents are expected to spend long periods in bed.
B. Powerpoints at the bedhead connect to UPS to allow 2hour battery backup for life-safety requirements.
C. Carpet tiles selected for bedroom flooring to minimise reverberation and sensory overload. It also allows for ease of replacement for hygiene. Low-pile carpet is easier for wheelchair users to self-mobilise.
D. Built-in robe with recessed floor track and adjustable storage allows wheelchair user to maximise access to storage areas.
E. Blank plate in ceiling with power and data provisions for future window blind and door automation.
F. Reinforced wall with structure allowing for ceiling track installation as required.

6. Bathroom
A. Toilet located along low-height wall with replaceable panels provides access to plumbing so that pan can be adjusted for left or right handed transfers.
B. Bi-fold shower screen maximises shower circulation and provides a more hygienic and safer water management solution. It also provides a more mainstream look to the bathroom.
C. Strip drain and slip-resistant flooring within the bathroom simplifies the floor slopes and allows safer and easier mobility.
D. Basin installed on height adjustable brackets to allow for low-cost customisation to suit changing needs.
E. All walls within the bathroom are reinforced with ply to allow for grabrails to be installed where needed.
F. Bathroom has heat lamps and fan to assist with body heat regulation, ventilation as well as help with drying floor surfaces.

7. Balcony
A. No hob provided at balcony to allow for level access to external areas with strip drain and gentle slope for water shedding.

8. Safety
A. Accessible hush button to manage smoke alarm activation.
B. All apartments fitted with smoke detection and fire sprinklers to maximise safety and assist with safe evacuation. Staff apartment includes mimic panel to notify on-site staff if alarms are activated in resident apartments.
C. Push-button alarms triggers 2-way communication between resident and on-site care support team.