Universal design and the quality of residential architecture for people with limited mobility: case study.

Abstract

Background: Housing conditions of elderly people in Poland, along with the increasing economic stratification of society, are quite diverse. Statistics show that senior citizens mostly live in dwellings built before the political and economic transformations of the 1990s. Many buildings from that period do not meet current construction law requirements. An analysis of the current developer market indicates that contemporary residential developments also insufficiently address the real needs of people with disabilities. Despite changing legal regulations and growing social awareness, individuals with various health limitations that increase with age still face numerous barriers in everyday life, including architectural ones.

Material and methods: The article presents the results of research involving a literature review, housing inventory, application of analytical and comparative methods, interpretation of collected data, and their synthesis. The study identifies typical cases of inadequate - by contemporary standards - architectural solutions in existing multi-family residential buildings, in the context of current legal regulations and principles of universal design. The article includes case studies of apartments from different time periods, with particular emphasis on newer developments.

Results: The presented examples demonstrate that residential buildings are still not sufficiently adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, including the elderly. Selected current building regulations are discussed, along with housing projects implemented based on these regulations that nevertheless fail to meet users' needs. Based on the conducted research and the authors' design experience, solutions are proposed that could improve housing quality in relation to the needs of diverse users.

Conclusions: There is a need to further specify regulations regarding the adaptation of buildings to the needs of elderly people and others with disabilities. At the same time, the growing population of seniors should become an attractive target group for developers constructing housing in accordance with market principles. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(4).