Marc Harrison’s Universal Design Home Gets Restored

But Harrison had his own ideas. After a sledding accident at age 11, Harrison had a profound experience. It left him in a long-term coma for several months. When he returned to school as a designer, he wanted to make things as simple and intuitive as possible. He also wanted to help his students understand the limitations and possibilities of the man-made environment. He was a pioneer for universal design. The term was first coined in late 1970s by Ronald L. Mace (an architect who had been in a wheelchair since childhood).

The new Cuisinart, which appeared in 1978, turned what had been a drab-looking machine with unlovely signage into a stylish, must-have kitchen tool — an aspirational object for the aspirational kitchen — and a design icon. Its pure lines were the inspiration for early Macintosh computers; Steve Jobs had admired Cuisinarts on the shelves at Macy’s.

The Cuisinart’s success was perhaps not surprising to Mr. Harrison, because he believed that if you designed for all abilities, you couldn’t help but make better products. So when he was asked to rethink the American home as a showcase for prefabricated components — also known as manufactured or industrialized housing — he and his students tackled the assignment the same way. They then built the house, including the furniture.

Their knockout was the result. However, it had a confusing name: the ILZRO House. (It was Mr. Harrison’s practice to bring industry and government sponsors and commissions into his classroom.)

The house was designed like a LEGO toy, a kit of parts that clipped together and then were bolted using basic tools — no experience required. There was no heavy or large part that required lifting equipment. Flatbed trailers could transport the pieces, just as Ikea furniture.

The heady idea was that this form of construction would cut costs with its efficiencies, and with its material — zinc panels filled with foam — which could be recycled. (The cost was approximately $133 per square foot. Maintenance costs would also be reduced, because zinc develops an appealing patina and doesn’t need to be painted or repainted. Think of Paris’ roofs! It was soundproof, waterproof, fireproof and bug proof. The magnetic picture hangers and conical light fixtures Mr. Harrison created could be easily attached to the walls.