All under one roof

Demographic change is an important issue in sustainable architecture. For example, the benefits of several generations living together under one roof and how this can be structurally integrated into an overall concept are demonstrated by the three-generation house in Aalst in Belgium.

Three-generation house in Belgium

Today we live in a world in which, on the one hand, both parents usually have to work and, on the other, older people remain fit and active long after retirement.

In the face of this demographic change, the concept of intergenerational living has become enormously more attractive, whereby it is necessary to integrate this harmoniously into a building structure in which the specific needs of each generation are met.

This was also the idea of client Etienne and his family during the planning of a flexible residential complex, which was completed in 2017 and houses people from three generations. The intergenerational compatibility was reflected in the selection of environment-friendly materials, which contribute to the energy efficiency and durability of the home.

Privacy guaranteed

Etienne and his children Leen and Chris decided to build four apartments within one complex. On the left and right are the apartments of Chris and Leen. Between the two, a rental apartment was created on the ground floor and can be made barrier-free if necessary.Above that is Etienne’s duplex.

“We share a basement with eight parking spaces, but other than that, the apartments are completely separate, each with a separate entrance and private garden,” is how Etienne describes the concept, which allows for proximity without anyone having to forgo his/her personal space.

“In order to accentuate the summery colours and the massive character of the façades, the facing bricks were harmonised in different shades of the same colour.” - Patricia Pissens, Hamblok-Pissens architecten

Future-ready

At the request of the family, Architect Patricia Pissens of HAMBLOK-PISSENS used light Terca Agora facing bricks in muted silver-grey. “In order to accentuate the summery colours and the massive character of the façades, the facing bricks were harmonised in different shades of the same colour,” says the architect.

To ensure that the house can be enjoyed for generations to come, it has been comprehensively future-proofed and designed for maximum energy efficiency. Solid insulation for the walls, roofs and floors, in combination with the terracotta façade, creates a building envelope that saves energy costs and protects the environment.

A type D ventilation system with heat recovery maintains the freshness of the indoor air. Covers on the left side garden façades prevent overheating on hot, sunny summer days. Overall, the apartment complex reaches an energy level of 37.