Causing Health Across Ages Through Intergenerational Living
The intention is to foster a sense of coherence between generations, encourage interaction and collaboration, and engender a greater sense of empathy.
Dining space in the fourth floor common room at the Treehouse Intergenerational Living Building, Farrow Partners and Element 5
By 2030, 25% of the world’s population will be over 60 years old. With an increasingly ageing population, the percentage of seniors living independently is
expected to quickly increase to 40% by 2050. The popularity of intergenerational living spaces is growing in the younger demographic as people find more value in community and sustainability. Community living offers shared activity spaces through opportunities for personal development and social engagement.
Fourth floor common room at the Treehouse Intergenerational Living Building, Farrow Partners and Element 5
Social relationships can be built across a broader selection of demographics when living in an intergenerational environment. This expanded social network can foster opportunities for learning and growth for individuals, improved mental health and wellbeing, and a strengthened sense of community. Activities, co-learning, and community spaces such as kindergarten services and communal kitchens can help in fostering this cross-generational interaction.
Cooking and eating together is a persisting practice used to bring people together to collaborate and socialize. By encouraging this practice in an intergenerational living environment, the cross-pollination of personalities becomes enriched by the assortment of ages and experiences.
A study by Laura Carstenson from the Stanford Centre on Longevity details how contributing to the care of young people improves both physical and emotional wellbeing of an ageing population[1]. The ageing population benefits from improved critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills. This also allows them to establish of a sense of purpose by empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society. The younger generation also benefits as they receive the mentorship and attention that they require when growing up. Fostering such an environment, such as a kindergarten, where the ageing population and children can socialize and interact with each other, can produce positive social and emotional outcomes, and enhance resident wellbeing.
Courtyard, playscape, and communal kitchen at the Hillside Intergenerational Living Residence
Farrow Partners project, Treehouse Multigenerational Living Building and the Hillside Intergenerational Living Residence, engage with these methods, and more, to cause health across ages. The Treehouse Multigenerational Living Building, designed in collaboration with Element 5, features a double height common area and exterior terrace accessible by generous stairs that increase opportunities for spontaneous encounters with fellow residents. Ground-level suites are arranged as two-storey street or garden townhouses for multi-generational families. Here, young adults can benefit from the informal childcare provided by older residents, while elders can benefit from the variety, energy, and spontaneity that younger people bring, and children can gain insights from spending time with an older generation that brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and different perspectives to their lives.
Hillside Intergenerational Living rooftop park
Hillside Intergenerational Living Residence features three unit types that cater to a variety of lifestyles and ages; a two-bedroom unit for young families to accommodate parents and children with ample storage and a generous living space, a more manageable one-bedroom unit for elderly couples, and rental studios for short term tenancies and single residents. A number of communal spaces create several opportunities for residents to share time together, including a communal kitchen, kindergarten, rooftop park, library, cinema, and workshops.
Intergenerational living creates a housing environment that can uplift and enliven aging generations, teach and support younger generations, and foster an overall sense of enriching community. To see more of our intergenerational housing projects, visit the Our Work page on our website.
[1] Laura L. Carstensen, “Our Aging Population—It May Just Save us All,” The Upside of Aging: How Long Life is Changing the World of Health, Work, Innovation, Policy, and Purpose (2014)