Mini profile: One roof, three generations

On a sloping suburban block in north-west Sydney, architect Vanessa Wegner has designed a dual residence that allows three generations of one family to live together – independently, but closely connected.

The design includes a two-storey home for a young family – Claire and Allister and their kids – with an adjoining self-contained two-bedroom apartment for Allister’s parents Geoffrey and Narelle along the eastern side.

“The older couple didn’t want a granny flat; they wanted something more generous, with privacy and their own front door, but shared spaces too,” says Vanessa. A shared entry to the building leads to an internal courtyard and two separate front doors, while a large backyard and natural swimming pool, fed by large rainwater tanks, provide communal space for the three generations to socialise.

Accessibility was a key consideration: the grandparents’ home is all on one level, with wide doors, grab rails in the bathrooms and easy access to the garden via both stairs and a ramp. While not designed to be converted into two separately titled dwellings in future, the layout offers flexibility: the apartment could one day become a home base for teenagers or extended family, or rented out. “The project is very tightly designed,” says Vanessa. “The bathrooms are compact, and the main bedrooms aren’t large. We prioritised space in the areas that count, like the kitchens and living rooms. There’s not a lot of space given to circulation.”

Passive solar design, a thermally efficient concrete slab and block walls, cross ventilation through high-level louvres, and rooftop solar with battery storage all help keep energy use low. Allister says they rarely use air conditioning, turning on ceiling fans instead.

Integrated living makes life easier for the family in many ways, including the joy of easily sharing a meal rather than driving to each other’s homes for dinner. “We can help Narelle and Geoffrey with whatever they need, and they help with the kids when Claire and I go out,” says Allister. “Our kids are very close with their grandparents now, as they see them just about every day. At least once a week my daughter says, ‘can I go up to UmMa’s to say good morning?’ and we will find them sharing breakfast and drawing or colouring in something and chatting away.”