House for Three Generations

by po-co Architecture

The House for Three Generations by po-co Architecture helps a large family of eclectic ages to feel at home within a generous contemporary space.

This new residence with its angled facade – a composition of solid and screened walls – fits comfortably into its context of neighboring established single and double storey homes with gabled roof forms, on a leafy suburban street. Behind this private and enclosed frontage belies the spaces behind – a spacious and light-filled home for three generations of one family.

The private and enclosed frontage hides the spaces beyond – a spacious and light-filled home for three generations of one family.

The key requirements were to design a house with two master suites with their own living areas – one with a pair of kids’ bedrooms for the future third generation. These zones are visually and spatially focussed around an established oak tree and rooftop garden at the east, and a central landscaped courtyard at the west.

One suite was designed to suit a middle-aged couple and allow them to live safely and comfortably into old age within the family home, the other suite was designed to welcome a future third generation.

Central to the arrangement of the plan is a main shared living area, a double height space which is flooded with afternoon and evening light, when the occupants would do most of their entertaining and gathering as a family. This area comprises the kitchen and dining zones, plus a series of in-between spaces, which can be opened or closed via sliding doors to split this area as required, or create one large open plan space.

Throughout the home, the spaces expand and contract, and contrast shadow with light, and function as shared formal and informal family zones with views or connection to garden or sky, giving the interior spaces a feeling of oasis from its suburban landscape.

The House for Three Generations by po-co Architecture adopts the feeling of a private oasis hidden from its suburban landscape.