2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 19

MENTS
Considerations for
multigenerational
home design
To realize the vision of multigenerational
living, individual
homes will need to be
designed to meet the needs of
people at different life stages
and abilities.
As a whole, today's housing
stock is not set to accommodate
the changing needs of
multigenerational households.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
one in four U.S. adults
(61 million Americans) has a
disability that affects major life
activities. Nevertheless, most
homes in the United States are
not fully accessible. Improving
building accessibility is an
important strategy for expanding
the housing stock suitable
for multigenerational households.
Achieving
a higher standard
of accessibility at scale will
require improvements to the
existing building stock. Retrofits
and alterations to existing
homes can improve the quality
of life for residents through
thoughtful design for people
with both physical and cognitive
differences.
Successful multigenerational
homes must also include flexible
spaces that allow for both
privacy and togetherness. Multigenerational
living arrangements
can alleviate feelings of
isolation and foster closer relationships
for members of the
household. However, a lack of
flexible spaces that allow privacy
can be a source of stress.
Design considerations that
enable privacy when much of
the home is communal include:
A separate bedroom with
its own bathroom on the first
level of the home
Bedrooms for each family
member with ample space and
storage
A second kitchen and exterior
stairs, or exterior access,
that can separate rooms from
the main house
Private entries
Flex spaces, which allow
rooms to be easily converted
from living space to workspace
Multigenerational housing
types
Expanded housing options and
classifications will be required
to facilitate multigenerational
living. Although intentional
multigenerational housing
types and developments exist,
most multigenerational households
currently live in " general
occupancy " homes that may
or may not be conducive to
the diversity of their needs.
Supply constraints combined
with economic challenges
can drive attainability issues
for households of all types.
Purpose-built multigenerational
communities are relatively
rare but can be targeted to
meeting specific needs. These
communities are often tied to
subsidies or other incentives
for affordable housing.
Zoning policies and building
codes may prevent new multigenerational
homes from being
built. Today, about 75 percent
of land zoned for housing in
major U.S. cities allows only
single-family homes, and many
policies do not allow accessory
dwelling units (ADUs). Multifamily
housing faces barriers
that single-family homes do
not face. Multi-unit buildings
are often subject to mandatory
public hearings to gain
approval, whereas single-family
housing rarely faces this barrier,
because it is allowed by right.
To accommodate the varied
needs of multigenerational
households, cities may need
to amend their zoning policies
and building codes to allow
for a diversity of housing types
that increases the number of
accessible units.
Housing types that can
accommodate multigenerational
living include:
Single-family homes, including
ones with features such
as step-free access or second
kitchens
Missing middle housing,
including duplexes, triplexes,
courtyard apartments, and
townhouses in walkable settings
Multifamily
housing units,
including ones with three or
more bedrooms
Cohousing-a living option
where residents have their own
private dwellings, but community
areas such as gardens and
gathering spaces are shared
Accessory dwelling units-
small residences that share a
lot with a larger primary dwelling
Tiny
home and cottage
communities with small, selfcontained
units
SUMMER 2 024
URBAN LAND
19
" Although
intentional
multigenerational
housing types and
developments
exist, most
multigenerational
households
currently live
in 'general
occupancy'
homes that may
or may not be
conducive to the
diversity of their
needs. "
DEVELOPMENTS
2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land
