Of course, we all know that there are some great professionals who know exactly what to do when designing new homes for families. But there are some who specialize in designing places of worship along with those who tend to the people who need some help in the home. Church architects are conversant with the rules of building houses of worship which may not be apparent to some of us. Even assisted living design is more complicated than it looks with some rather innovative ideas being used.

In building using religious artifacts and such, some of the rules that apply are quite unusual. For example, in the Christian faith, buildings are usually made in the shape of a cross for obvious reasons. But the cross has to be on the north to south geographical line. The reason for this is a little hazy but this is why some buildings are built at an odd angle on a square compound.

On the other hand, those people who need some help in their daily lives have to have a whole host of innovative ideas installed. Wider doorways and non slip floors may be a little obvious, but what about grab rails at a specific height? Indeed, there are rules and regulations covering all aspects of this style of home. Hospices also have to be built to certain designs since they cater for all kinds of infirmities and without the professional, things could go wrong very easily.

If one is building a home, knowing that an aging parent will eventually come to stay, it is a good idea to have a separate annex prepared for their arrival. This is usually done on the ground level so that they do not have to go upstairs and down all day. Wider than normal doorways cater for those who have to be wheeled in by wheelchair and the toilet normally has a lot of space around it to accommodate it too. At the sides, and firmly anchored, will be grab rails so that the person is able to deal with their needs without others being present. (more…)