Intergenerational Living – Kindred by Panovscott Architects
A study in intergenerational independent living, Kindred by Panovscott Architects is the deconstructing of the familiar and the recomposing of its parts, uniquely responding to the nuanced needs of its custodians that encompass many ages and stages of life.
As a commentary on the dated and no longer relevant housing models within Australia, Kindred speaks to a highly nuanced brief that aims to shape the home as an extension of those living in it, not the other way around. Australian suburban housing has remained unchanged for such an extended period of time, despite the immeasurable changes to the typologies of families, living situations and groupings of those residing within the same household. While the nuclear family model of two parents and their children living together in the suburbs has not been the norm for some time, the residential offerings still reflect this archetype. Panovscott Architects combines a critical and opportunistic approach to bring an unexpected and distinctive brief to realisation.
Kindred opposes the typical and shapes its own mould while optimising the site’s potential and rethinking the elements that make a home. The resulting architecture is almost a micro village, bringing together its three generations under one roof. Located in Greater Melbourne and built by Glyde Constructions, together with engineering by OPS Engineers, Kindred is the coming together of gardens, external rooms, inverted forms, thickened threshold and windows as points of visual and physical connection. Linking to nature and being able to open façade elements of the home to encourage flow of movement and engagement with living elements was key. Across the site, there are five designated gardens (Front, Hall, Potting, Shared and Productive) each serving their respective parts in supporting life, providing respite and buffering the built edges.
Imagined as a dynamic series of spaces, the approach is one grounded in core principles of flexibility. Panovscott Architects refer to the planning as the ‘current configuration’ – inferring that over time, the layout and delegation of certain spaces are designed to be able to be altered, based on best use. Currently housing its three generations, the home stretches lengthways deep into its generous site, where an elongated two-storey volume houses a three-bedroom home to the middle and rear. And at the front of the site, a single-story, two-bedroom home is allocated for the older generation. Ultimately, the volumes can be opened up or closed off to allow for a multitude of arrangements. Clad externally in dark timber battens, the rhythmic glazed openings reference the familiar residential formality of facades, while creating a unique identity as it engages in its own way with the streetscape. Internally, the approach is restrained and classically formed, to avoid ornateness or detail that could date or lineate internal function. Instead, moving elements, furniture and artwork are used to express meaning and occupation.
Australian suburban housing has remained unchanged for such an extended period of time, despite the immeasurable changes to the typologies of families, living situations and groupings of those residing within the same household.
Kindred is a multi-layered and intricately rich response to the changing residential condition. In pushing the traditionally-carved envelope, Panovscott Architects, together with their pioneering clients, have created a uniquely interesting proposition.