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U.K. development offers owners multiple (and evolving) options
THE DESIGNS of future homes will pose several challenges. They will have to be functional and address new lifestyle trends, be comfortable to live in, be cost- and energy-efficient, as well as sustainable in their construction and operation.
This seems to be a tall order from a designer, builder and homebuyer standpoint. Yet it offers an opportunity to be creative and address issues that in the past were considered marginal, such as adaptability.
The need to make homes adaptable to a wide range of occupants involves a conceptual approach to make any space look larger to begin with. Traditionally, the proportions of a dwelling’s footprint can be either square or rectangular. The interior of a home with a square plan is likely to be easier to subdivide. When the unit is detached, there will also be greater flexibility in the placement of rooms next to windows.
One of the distinguishing features of adaptable design is the option for homebuyers to purchase the type and “quantity” of residence that they need and can afford. This option is made possible by designing a threestorey structure that can be built, sold and inhabited as a single-family house, a duplex or a triplex; thereby contributing to a healthy mix of user types in the same development.
For example, in the case of a singlefamily house for a couple with one child, the ground floor can accommodate a living room, dining area, washroom, laundry room and kitchen, with plenty of storage, leaving the second level for three bedrooms and a complete washroom with a bathtub. The semi-basement can be used as a garage, home office or workshop. Therefore, considering the same family 20 years later, the original buyers may decide to rent their semi-basement as an independent unit with a kitchen, living/ dining area, bedroom and washroom.
Woodview Mews is the first application of Geraghty Taylor Architects’ LivinHome typology, located in London, U.K. The design focuses on providing flexibility through layout and facade choices that can reflect its owners’ lifestyles.
The LivinHome concept consists of three standard plans on open floor plates. One is an open-plan living space, another contains only bedrooms and the third encompasses one- or twobedroom apartments. The service zone of each layout is placed at the same location, which facilitates a change in plan when needed.
At Woodview Mews, the six townhomes are organized into 11 units of various densities: townhouses, duplexes and apartments. The first floor features a recessed entryway, while the second and third floors have balconies.
A couple purchasing a townhouse may live in a duplex and rent out an apartment or live in an apartment and rent out two. When they decide to start a family, the townhouse can be reorganized to become their home. After the children grow up, the parents may rent out apartment floors to their children. They may also transform the first floor into an office or shop. As they age, they may choose to enclose the balcony space to make room for an elevator. Using this method, aging in place is possible with minimal disturbance to the buildings and to neighbours.
Woodview Mews practices sustainability first by offering interior flexibility that encourages homeowners to stay with their current home. This increases the lifespan of the development, which also saves owners money by avoiding the costs of moving to a larger home. OHB
