With the cost-of-living and rental crisis continuing to worsen, there is an increasing demand for innovative flexible home design to cater for the lifestyle needs of intergenerational households, a phenomenon often referred to as multigenerational living.
The increase in demand comes after a rise was recorded in multigenerational living in Australia, with one in five Australians living in households where more than one generation of related adults live together; for Sydney, this increased to one in four.
In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found households containing three generations had increased by 21.81% between the 2016 census (275,000) and 2021 census (335,000), with projections this figure will increase following years of pandemic-related turmoil and inflation.
G.J. Gardner Homes Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris Thornton said the double whammy of cost- of-living and property prices, makes it increasingly difficult for those wanting to get a foot hold on the property ladder.
“The financial pressure instigated by the current economic climate leaves young adults with no other choice but to continue living or move back home with their parents where expenses can be shared such as mortgage payments and groceries,” Mr. Thornton said.
“Our local franchise offices across Australia have observed a rise in enquiry for intergeneration home designs as more buyers continue to seek out flexible living arrangements to suit their growing and changing family needs.
“At the same time, we are also seeing families look for homes that accommodate elderly parents living with their adult children, due to either financial or caregiving reasons.
“As buyers move away from traditional homes and look for alternatives options – to make the most of the space they have – builders are challenged to be more creative in their designs to meet demands.”
G.J. Gardner Homes specialises in creating custom high-end intergenerational specific home designs suitable for accommodating multiple generations of adults under the same roof.
“Our intergenerational home design range includes two master bedrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs, offering extended family members such as adult children or elderly parents with their own private space within the home.”
“The floor plans also allow for multiple living areas enabling larger families to entertain whilst also offering private spaces to relax – the perfect balance between independent and shared common areas.
“These homes not only are growing in popularity due to servicing independent living, but the design itself promotes family interaction, a need at the forefront of many families since the pandemic.”
While dual master bedrooms and additional living areas are standard across G.J. Gardner’s five intergenerational home designs – the Freemantle, Moreton Bay, Sacramento, South Bank and Ventura – different features also include home gyms, offices and additional rooms for storage.
Mr. Thornton said it is important buyers seek out a builder who has the right resources and ability to accommodate needs and preferences when building a home.
“With expertise in shaping homes around family needs, G.J. Gardner Homes prides itself in being able to offer flexible home solutions to meet the needs of customers,” he said.
“Our local builders work to tailor the home to suit the individual family situation by considering the number of generations living together, their level of independence, privacy preferences, and lifestyle.
“Whether it is accommodating space for adult children retreats with separate living areas or entirely separate spaces for elderly parents – our range of designs are adaptable and can be used for various purposes, accommodating different living arrangements over time.”
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