Advice...
Storage units
Design criteria and solutions for Skyline_lab
This section offers practical advice on designing a Skyline_lab
layout together with technical information on the features of this kitchen, which was mainly designed to overcome the obstacles connected with physical disability.
Storage units
The storage units are positioned 141 cm off the ground (with a 15 cm high baseboard). This is the area that can effectively be used by a person sitting in a wheelchair. Given the difficulty in accessing the insides of units, they are fitted with pull-out baskets or drawers.
Units for built-in electrical appliances
The units for built-in electrical appliances have the same height as the storage units and should be positioned in order to make the electrical appliances easy to use.
For what concerns the oven and microwave, the pull-out shelf under the oven can be used to hold hot dishes straight out of the oven; this shelf is placed at the same level as the adjacent worktop to allow it to be pushed around and not lifted.
If a unit is used with a normal dishwasher, there must be enough space at the side for a wheelchair to get in to allow users to load and unload the machine (it is very difficult for people sitting down to work in front of the dishwasher); if there is not enough space, a dishwasher with a totally removable basket should be installed as this can be used at the front. When it comes to units for built-in appliances, it is best to use pull-out elements, such as baskets or drawers, wherever possible.
Handles
Especially for users with limited manual skills, it is important to fit handles with large gripping surfaces that are as large as possible in order to allow them to be horizontally gripped from all directions for pull-out or flap units and vertically for doors opening to the left or right.
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