Empowered through accessible design

Designer Charmaine Wong of Chalk Architects shares how she designed an accessible, open-plan home for a wheelchair-bound mother.

-  JOYCE YANG

Back in 2017, Charmaine Wong of Chalk Architects received an unprecedented brief in her inbox: to transform a 5-room HDB flat in Bukit Merah into a wheelchair-friendly home, with a budget of just $80,000.

The brief came from a couple in their thirties, accompanied by their lively eighty-year-old son. The wife, recovering from a spinal injury, needed a space that could aid in facilitating in-home physiotherapy sessions while preserving the family’s ability to host their cherished gatherings.

They dreamed of a home where universally accessible features, which are often associated with a clinical atmosphere, do not take away from its conviviality.

“This project was our first time addressing universal design features,” says Charmaine, sharing insights into her preparation to strike the right balance between form and function. “We arranged several meet-up sessions over coffee and food near the homeowners, followed by visits to their previous home to understand their requirements and living habits.”

After sizing up the 1,313 sq ft space, Charmaine identified two challenges. First, they needed to level the flooring throughout the house to ensure seamless movement. Second, addressing the structural columns necessitated a complete overhaul of the flat’s layout—and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.