i29 creates senior home that balances independence and family connection
Designed with care and intention, a new senior residence by i29 architects complements an existing family home while offering an independent yet connected living experience for older residents.
Set on the same plot as the primary house, the single-level 100 m² dwelling accommodates a pair of grandparents in a manner that strengthens intergenerational bonds without compromising privacy.
The spatial configuration ensures both homes remain close yet distinct, maintaining a subtle balance between familial proximity and personal autonomy.
This secondary home blends with the surrounding architecture while embracing its own identity. Its exposed-rafter roof shelters a layout that prioritizes light, movement, and calm.
A central patio becomes the heart of the home, bordered by large sliding glass doors that draw in daylight and visually dissolve the boundary between inside and outside.
The architectural rhythm is fluid, kitchen, dining, and living areas all orient around this outdoor core, reinforcing a connection with nature and enhancing the perception of space within the compact structure.
The spatial language of the home emphasizes tranquility through a refined material palette. Light grey concrete flooring, soft oak wall cladding, and a white-painted rafter ceiling create a unified visual experience rooted in simplicity.
This tactile harmony reinforces a peaceful daily routine for the senior occupants while maintaining aesthetic continuity with the natural setting.
The home’s exterior, clad in waxed wood, is paired with a roof formed from sandwich panels that conceal functional elements like rain gutters in their clean lines.
This modern material strategy enhances durability while aligning with the house’s overall calm expression.
Extended rooflines provide covered walkways, enhancing accessibility and allowing protected transitions between indoor and outdoor areas, an essential feature for residents with mobility considerations.
Functionality is subtly embedded within the home’s design. Custom cabinetry and built-in storage align with architectural lines to avoid visual clutter and preserve openness.
Oak cladding wraps interior surfaces, blurring the line between architectural structure and interior design. Every element is interwoven into a whole that feels deliberate, cohesive, and supportive of aging-in-place principles.
By creating a home that’s architecturally integrated, modest in scale, and enriched with thoughtful spatial planning, i29 presents a contemporary model for multigenerational living.
The project reflects how a compact residence can preserve comfort and dignity for seniors while fostering meaningful daily interaction with younger family members.
This approach to housing goes beyond practicality, offering a vision of community and continuity in residential design that supports connection across generations.
Photography by Ewout Huibers, with courtesy of i29 architects
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