This five-story tower, designed for three generations of a Dutch family, is an example of how multigenerational living benefits city dwellers of all ages. Two separate apartments are stacked directly above one another to create a home where the family and their elderly parents can enjoy each other’s company without sacrificing the advantages of privacy.

Unlike many multistory homes, the elderly couple live on the top-floor apartment which has been accessibly designed to accommodate wheelchairs and reduced physical ability. When needed, the entire building can be reconfigured into four apartments, allowing the children to have their own space once they grow up.

The sculptural home features a lot of concrete, with bright yellow painted walls providing the interior spaces with vibrant pops of color. The home is a great example of cohabiting in an urban context, and a reminder that all generations should look out for one another.

Text by Steph Wade, excerpted from Come Together: The Architecture of Multigenerational Living (gestalten, 2021). Edited by gestalten and Joann Plockova.

Related Reading:

A Multigenerational Home Complete With Vegetable Gardens Rises in Central Melbourne

Three Generations Live Under One Green Roof in San Francisco

A Dutch Family’s Resourceful Addition Makes Room for Three Generations

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: BETA Office for Architecture and the City / @beta_office

Photography: Ossip van Duivenbode / @ossipvanduivenbode

Appears In

A Multigenerational Home in Amsterdam Can Be Reconfigured for Changing Demands