Galinia Katoikia

Peaceful Dwelling

The client, Artemis Bouras is a 25-year-old female from Greece with Cerebral Palsy and a software developer who loves painting. She has a very social and active lifestyle due to her extroverted, charismatic, and creative personality. Since Artemis is from Greece, she wants her home to have natural lighting, stone and wood materials, beams, and Mediterranean tiles. Additional needs include open space, a walk-in shower, lower countertops/shelves, adaptive handles, and grab bars. Artemis is a wheelchair user so her home needs to adapt to her needs.

This design incorporates aspects of the client’s cultural heritage and specific accessibility features within the space to create a personal and functional environment for them to live in. The design aims to let the client use the space independently and helps them live their daily life free of assistance. By incorporating adaptive handles within the apartment, the client can navigate around the space without straining their muscles or putting too much effort into opening doors or cabinets. Also, the use of grab bars in the bathroom and using non-slip flooring will ensure the client’s safety when maneuvering around their home. Having furniture that is low enough for the client will allow them to transfer from their wheelchair with ease.

The floor and furniture plan was thoughtfully designed with Artemis in mind—a wheelchair user who wanted her space to reflect her Greek heritage. The layout prioritizes accessibility, with wide, open paths and minimal furniture to ensure she can move around comfortably. In addition to maintaining smooth traffic flow throughout the apartment, we incorporated elements of Mediterranean design. This includes arches, built-in features, and the use of rich, natural materials.

Key details throughout the apartment were chosen to both accommodate Artemis’s needs and reflect traditional Greek aesthetics. Features include pull-down shelves for the upper cabinets, a Mediterranean-style tile backsplash in the kitchen, open shelving, a faux fireplace, wooden ceiling beams, and an emphasis on natural textures and materials.