Someone thoughtful was here
My favorite aspect of design is that a good one feels like brushing paths with someone thoughtful.
Last year I visited my grandma's public housing apartment. This is located in a tiny village out in nowhere Illinois where cell reception is sparce and the nearest Walmart or hospital is a 45 minute country road drive. Despite being far from a Town Hall, the apartment met ADA standards.
On the wall was Henry Dreyfuss's Honeywell thermostat installed low to accommodate for folks in wheelchairs. Kitchen countertops were slightly lower. Doorways were slightly wider. Metal grab bars were installed in the bathroom.
While far from luxury, small accommodations made it a comfortable place to live. Thoughtful design details make me feel close to civilization, even when I'm not.
