Housing Design
From Peoplebrokers
Contents |
Design Features For Unrelated Adults
Sharing Homes
Unrelated adults have been sharing homes for years. Either one person owns the home and has a spare bedroom to rent or one or both parties have a lease on the dwelling. Generally this arrangement is very successful and very enjoyable.
The arrangement continues until one of the parties has a change of plan (work or relationship related) or the sharing relationship deteriorates.
A prime factor for the relationship deteriorating is the design of the dwelling - usually a family home which isn't always conducive to single adults leading independent lives.
Design Factors to consider
Any or all of the following design factors will enhance compatible living for sharing adults.
- Bedrooms away from living areas and not affected by bathroom noise
- Bedrooms of equal and generous size
- Bedrooms away from each other or good sound proofing
- Toilet separate from bathroom - maybe a toilet in bathroom as well and if room permits there could be a second shower where the second toilet is
- Hot water system that cope with all the occupants getting ready for work at the same time
- Two living areas - separated by the kitchen and both having access to the kitchen. One could be sitting room which transforms into a dining
- Lots of cupboards, especially separate linen closets. If the bathroom is big enough it could have cupboards for towels. Unrelated adults have more things to store than a family who shares the use of things like linen
- Hobby area: computer, sewing room or whatever
Lifestyle Factors to Consider
Unrelated adults sharing usually enjoy each other's company but lead separate lives. Retaining some independence generally makes for a better sharing relationship. Although they may do some things together but because they have their own life and commitments will do many things separately.
For instance:
- one may go to bed early, need to study or want to have a heart to heart chat with a close friend; the other may have a dinner party that same night.
- one may rise early so the bathroom noise shouldn't disturb the other.
- one may be a shift worker whose lifestyle is back to front.
Basically, the internal design should allow each person as much freedom to 'be and let be' but without compromising the communal aspect of the living arrangement. The one thing to keep in mind is that these people like each other and have chosen to live together.
Housing Code Considerations
Housing codes should encourage flexibility of use of the internal space.
It should not focus on each person needing an ensuite - we have all shared bathrooms in the past and that works quite well (see notes above re toilets).
Off-street parking should not be a hindrance - as it often is with studio units. People have coped with street parking for years. The focus here should be on better public transport and taxi services to discourage people from owning cars.
Encourage 3 storey private dwellings. This could also incorporate split level dwellings to the equivalent of three stories which may then allow for adequate parking underneath the dwelling.
Encouraging the conversion of existing housing stock and commercial buildings (especially warehouses) in the inner city.