FUTUREPROOFING YOUR BUNGALOW
OPINDER LIDDAR
KILIAN O’SULLIVAN
One of the main reasons these homes remain popular is that they offer singlestorey living – ie no stairs. Therefore they’re very suitable for older people or those with mobility issues. So, even if you’re building a roof extension, you should seriously consider keeping a part of the ground floor for a bedroom. This could be a study you can easily convert, should the need arise. Remember to plan easy access to a downstairs WC as part of your design. Ideally, this will have a shower or could easily accommodate one if required. And think about widening existing doorways so that a wheelchair can get through. Consider pocket doors that slide into walls, rather than those which impede flow into habitable spaces. Introduce level thresholds and entrances, too.
Opinder Liddar is a Build It Award-winning designer and a director at Lapd Architects. He specialises in self build homes and renovation projects, and is a regular expert at Build It Live. For more information about Lapd Architects call 01865 407722 or visit www.lapdarchitects.co.uk
Bungalows came into fashion in the late 19th century and peaked in popularity towards the end of the 1960s. Most developments these days look to maximise the number of properties (and the amount of accommodation) per hectare. So it is unusual to find bungalows in modern building schemes as, relatively speaking, they take up more land than other property types.
Whilst you may not need these adjustments immediately, when the time comes you will thank yourself for these simple steps when you initially carried out the works. Retrofitting changes when you desperately need them can cause significant disruption to your life. These adaptations will also add value and, if incorporated early, won’t look out of place.