Chapter 3: Strategies in
Designing Multi-Generational Housing
In searching for the
ideal living condition, people would prefer to keep in touch with their family
as well as to express love and caring along with the psychological support. A
recent survey shows that there is 38% of the survey respondents would want to live
with family in the same house while 32% of them would want to live with their
family in the different compound within the same housing area. Practice of
multi-generational living were still being supported and agreed by the
community nowadays.
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| Chart 17 shows the ideal living condition from the targeted survey respondents. |
Meanwhile, in order to promote multi-generational living efficiently, elements such as communication, togetherness, privacy and others would need to be kept in mind. Therefore, different strategies were being analysed with the aim to promote multi-generational living as an option in future housing plans.
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Chart 18 shows the concern of survey respondents in choosing multi-generational living.
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3.1 Overall Space
Planning
Today,
many people would prefer to live on the outskirts of urban area. Bigger space,
better affordability, greener environment and less pollution are the
characteristics makes the ideal living place. Therefore, multi-generational
housing suits well to be located within mixed landed estates in a ‘suburban
lifestyle’ neighbourhood such as Ampang area in Selangor, Malaysia. It is
regarded as second tier development which provide many chances for growth. As
compared to the first tier in Klang Valley, it is much more affordable and
compatible to the middle-income group members.
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Figure 8 shows the suburban development in Ampang Jaya area.
Ampang Jaya located near to the city of Kuala Lumpur and developed as 'suburban lifestyle' neighbourhood. |
With the aim of concerning on privacy
and spaciousness of landed properties, independence housing is designed to be
closer to each other in groupings. Larger areas of open spaces within the plot
of land would form landscape buffer as the public zone. It holds the aim of
giving feeling like mini villages, with a real neighbourhood vibe. (O'Donoghue, 2016)
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| Figure 9 shows the initial spatial planning and zonning of the multi-generational living proposal. The independence housing unit are arranged in cluster groupings. Large area of open space will be transformed into buffer zone. |
Neighbours act as
our second family member who can offer immediate help to us whenever we need.
They are important as in Islamic teachings, Prophet Muhammad taught us that
neighbour includes all those up to 40 houses around our house in all
directions. (Syed, 2016)
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| Figure 10 shows the cluster arrangements in the traditional Malay kampong area which enable them to know each other very well and thus create a strong community among themselves. |
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| Figure 11 shows the arrangement and development of Malay traditional kampong area. |
Generally, traditional Malay villages
consists of closely-clustered houses. They are commonly organized around
religious buildings and public facilities such as mosque, schools and clinics.
This situation undoubtedly encouraged the people to share the public amenities
together. Not only facilities they shared, but also common language as well as
food from their harvest. “Sharing is caring”, the value of give-and-take enable
them to know and offering help to each other whenever there is a need.
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| Figure 12 shows the kampong spirit being strongly expressed through the gotong royong activities held in a Malay kampong. Everyone of them take the responsibilities beyond the sense of belongings within their living area. |
Similarities found within the
community helps one to blend into the community and thus gives a sense of
belongings. Multi-generational housings built with independence units and
organized into cluster groupings is great for participants alike. They get to
make friends quickly.
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| Figure 13 shows the target user in multi-generational living proposal who having similarities with each other. |
Through encouraging a strong neighbourhood atmosphere,
the residents felt secure when they lived in someplace they knew their
neighbours. The overall space will be separated wisely into public zone,
semi-public zone and private zone. Public zone which represents the common
space is ideally to be located in the middle of the developed independence
housing unit. It is to give adequate access to all the participants through the
connected pathways or corridors.
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| Figure 14 shows the spatial planning and zonning within the multi-generational living proposal. |
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| Figure 15 shows the public zone, which is the common space to be designed in central location to give adequate access for all the users from all directions. |
Within the cohousing design, common
house which consists of play area for children is placed in central location.
Every resident get to view the common space easily and this encouraging helps
from each other to keep an eye on the children in play area. Because of the
central locations, it also becomes an informal meeting places for residents of
all ages. With the planning which allowing the majority of development to be
pedestrian-oriented, it helps to encourage the residents to drop in the central
common space who will passed by the space.
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| Figure 16 shows the common space in cohousing design. |
3.2 Accessibility and
Circulation / Intentional Neighbourhood Design
Site proposed, Ampang area is a town,
an effectively suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. It is well connected to other places
via several highways and routes. Besides, Ampang area is also served by
Malaysia first LRT system, Ampang Line with a few stations such as Cahaya,
Cempaka, Pandan Indah and Pandan Jaya. (Council, 2016)
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| Figure 17 shows the public transport station located within Ampang Jaya area. |
Proximity to public transport and
amenities such as retail centres, major banks and hospitals, the
multi-generational housing area would become a transit-oriented development
which enable the maximum circulation and navigation of the residents.
Within the multi-generational
housing area, the neighbourhood atmosphere is enhanced by separating the
driveways with pedestrian walkways. Driveways road design with each road at
least 50ft wide could provide more space and privacy. Besides, placing the visitor parking at the edge of the site would allow maximum pedestrian-oriented
development and thus encourage the interaction and communication between the
residents.
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| Figure 18 shows the location of semi-public zone included driveways and pedestrian pathways as well as the bicycle lane. |
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Figure 19 shows the design of pedestrian pathways which is the linkage between the housing unit.
(NDIRA Residences at 16 Sierra, Puchong South) |
On the other hand, every
independence unit will be connected with pedestrian pathways and bicycle lane to allow easy access to
neighbours as well as other family group.
Furthermore,
bicycle station with battery-operated bicycle will be designed to take the
community around the housing zone and thus get to know each other within the
housing area.
3.3 Public Facilities
and Amenities / Health and Wellness
Today,
it is common for the property developers to provide a self-sufficient
environment within the development housing area for ensuring the amenities such
as retail stores and healthcare centres are within decent proximity. However, convenience
of condominium facilities such as gym rooms, swimming pools, yoga deck were
hardly to be enjoyed by a resident living in landed property.
In order to promote a neighbourhood
atmosphere which remain social active, basic facilities such as recreation park
and sport facilities are a need to be provided. This will helps in heighten
ventilation and natural light exposure within the living area and thus bringing
a sense of refreshment to the residents. Tai Chi Lawn, Jogging tracks,
Basketball and Futsal courts would encourage the involvement of residents in
social activities and culminate for a full “Play-Learn-Bond” experience.
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| Figure 20 shows the location of public facilities within the public zone. Facilities that meet both elders and youngsters' interests were well-designed to enable their interaction and communication. |
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| Figure 21 shows the design of Tai Chi Lawn which best suits with the senior citizens. They get to make new friends from the same age group by joining the healthy activities together. |
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| Figure 22 shows the design of jogging truck as well as the bicycle lane best suit for all generations. |
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| Figure 23 shows the design of outdoor playground which planned to located in the middle of public zone. It also acts as the informal gathering place with the provision of bench and table. |
Development of facilities which meet both elders’ and children’s interests is
ideal for strengthening relationship and bonding between the participants. They
can carry out their own interest activities whilst at the same time gather with
friends and family members.
Moreover, childcare and senior care
facilities enable the residents such as unemployed or retired residents to
volunteer in providing care for the elders and children of the other residents
especially the working adults during the working time. Care centre would be
only capable for daytime and the space would be converted into other purposes
like informal gathering place during the night time. This is essential as the
recent survey shows that 42 percent of the survey respondents find out that it
is critically important for the assess of health and welfare needs of parents within
the housing area.
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| Chart 19 shows the importance of the assess of health and welfare needs for elder parents in multi-generational living. |
Therefore, healthcare services such as health check, first
aid and emergency would be provided within the multi-generational housing area.
3.4 Communal Space for
Community
The
private dwellings today has reduced in size in order to build more extensive
facilities to attract the buyers. It is common to see a clubhouse or a
community room within the typical condominium in Malaysia. Unfortunately,
despite of the failure of physical design, a clubhouse is typically set to rent
out for extra income and yet it is often limit in size and most of the time, we
would find it to be empty or locked.
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Figure 24 shows the dis-active of community area within the typical condominium in Malaysia.
(Suriamas Condominium in Bandar Sunway) |
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Remain social active
gives a sense of community to the users. Users felt secure and belong to the
community when being around with the society which they knew well about it. A
recent survey also shows that majority of the survey respondents find out that
it is important and essential to integrate sense of community into housing
planning.
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| Chart 20 shows the importance of integrating sense of community in housing aspects. |
Family, community and a sense of
belongings are things people usually take for granted. In order to revitalize
the heart-warming community, a place for community activities plays an
important role. The common house in cohousing design is the place for common
dinners, children’s games on rainy days, Friday night bar, crafts workshop and
numerous other organized and informal activities.
Common house opens all days and
becoming an essential part of daily living due to the basic activities such as
cooking being held almost every day in the common house. With the provision of
spacious kitchens and pleasant dining rooms, residents desired to drop by and
enjoying the evening together with the meals provided. This might sound a
utopia dream however the common dinners have proven overwhelmingly successful
in cohousing design.
Common area in multi-generational
housing acts as a substitution to the existing clubhouse area. Providing
cooking area enable the unemployed or retired residents to spend their time
through some hobby activities meanwhile bringing advantages to the working
adults to enjoy the well-prepared dinner after a tired working day. Besides,
children playing area as well as “pillow room’ can be provided as an informal
gathering and relaxation place for the time after dinner.
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| Figure 25 shows the spatial planning of community activities zone within the communal area. |
Furthermore, extended common
facilities such as car repair garage and workshop provides both practical and
social benefits. Residents get to share the skills and knowledge among the
neighbourhood who had different professionalism. It will then also replaces the
needs of every single family to have space and tools to fix furniture and
repair cars or bicycle.
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