Multigenerational Micro-Neighborhood
For my master’s thesis, I researched the aging of society. This includes falling birth rates, increased life span, and cost of specialized care for the elderly population.
As a result of my research and the desire of older generations to “age in place”, I decided to create a multigenerational micro-neighborhood.
The site for the micro neighborhood is on the east side of San Antonio, in the Pasadena Heights neighborhood. This is an up and coming neighborhood, several homes near the site have been remodeled or are undergoing renovations presently. To the southwest is Highlands High School and to the southeast is the Southside Lions Senior Center.
I aimed to create a model that can be replicated in other countries and modified to fit into other landscapes and cultures. The micro-neighborhood model aim to promote:
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family and multigenerational living through various layouts of the homes and ADUs on each property
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sustainability through the use of solar panels, rain water collection, and natural ventilation
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privacy through the use of existing fences and trees as natural screening
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community through the amenities on site, including the community garden, playground, and swimming pool
I chose to have the communal area in the center of the site to create a courtyard for the residents and create an additional layer of privacy. There are 8 houses on the site. Four different floor plans, and all have an ADU attached. The street is a one way with room for parking. Residents and guests will enter at the southeast corner and exit at the southwest corner.
The roofing material is standing seam steel. Each house and ADU have solar panels.
To control the collection of rain water, the roofs will have dutch gutters that flow to 300 gallon cisterns. Each home will have two cisterns and each ADU will have one. The cistern attached to the ADU and one attached to each house will flow to an underground storage tank for the use of the residents in each home. The second cistern attached to the house and the cisterns attached to the pool house will flow to one of two underground storage tanks for communal use.
Section A is a west to east section and shows the pool, pool house, the road, sidewalks, landscaping and the homes on the northern most lots. Sections B and C are north to south section cuts. B is on the eastern side of the site and C is on the western side.
Both sections show the sun angles at solar noon on the summer solstice, fall and spring equinoxes, and winter solstice.
I thought this was important to show and demonstrate how the placement of the light scoops dictated the light coming into the houses and where it would be reflected.
Below is a more in-depth look at the home outlined in blue.
This floor plan allows for an open family space in the center of the house and privacy for individuals. In my research, privacy and the separation of spaces was cited as one of the most important aspects of multigenerational living.
The west elevation shows the back of the house, what will be visible from the community area.
The east elevation shows the front of the house, facing the street.
The ADU, or "Granny Pod", is ideal for a couple or single person to occupy. If not occupied by a family member, the ADU can be used as a rental space for extra income.
