Is your profile suitable for an intergenerational home?
This article is designed to help you self-assess whether you have the right profile for an intergenerational home project. We understand that such a project is a major decision, affecting not only your lifestyle but also that of your loved ones.
The purpose of this article is to help you determine whether this type of home meets your specific needs. As experts in intergenerational housing, our role is to support you in this reflection and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice.
Understanding your needs and your situation
Assessing your current situation
To begin, it is essential to understand your current situation. An intergenerational home is designed to accommodate multiple generations under one roof while preserving everyone’s privacy. Here are a few questions to assess your situation:
- Who will live in the home? Aging parents, adult children, close friends?
- What are the relationships between the occupants?
- What are the specific needs of each generation in terms of space and privacy?
The Altera series offers solutions suited to these considerations, such as the Évolution model, which provides flexible spaces to meet your family’s changing needs.
Analyzing your needs
Every family has unique needs. Here is how to analyze yours:
- Required spaces: How many bedrooms and living areas are needed?
- Desired level of privacy: Do you prefer fully separate spaces or shared common areas?
- Accessibility: Are there specific accessibility needs for seniors or people with reduced mobility?
What are your long-term goals?
Your future plans play a crucial role in this decision. Do you intend to make this home your permanent residence, or is it a temporary solution? Do you plan to grow your family or welcome additional members in the future?
Why consider an intergenerational home?
An intergenerational home is designed to provide independent living spaces for multiple generations while allowing certain common areas to be shared. This concept meets families’ evolving needs and offers advantageous economic and social solutions.
Analyzing your needs
Financial benefits are one of the main attractions of intergenerational homes. By sharing purchase costs and ongoing expenses, families can achieve significant savings. In addition, some families choose to rent out part of the home to generate additional income.
Investors also see value in this type of home, as it can generate steady rental income while increasing the property’s value over the long term. Our Origine model from the Altera series, with its functional design, is ideal for families seeking an affordable solution without compromising on quality.
Social and family benefits
Living under the same roof helps strengthen family bonds and encourages mutual support between generations. The fully customizable Horizon model promotes independent living spaces while allowing for convivial moments in well-designed common areas. Grandparents can help care for the children, while young adults can support their aging parents.
Flexibility and adaptability
Homes in the Altera series are designed to evolve with your family. Whether to reconfigure spaces or anticipate future needs, the Évolution model adapts perfectly to the challenges of an ever-changing life. It can be reconfigured to match the family’s evolving needs. For example, common areas can be converted into private zones if necessary.
This flexibility is particularly advantageous for investors, as it allows living spaces to be adjusted to tenants’ needs or the home to be reconfigured to maximize rental income. Investors can therefore take advantage of the different possible layouts to meet market demand and optimize their return on investment.
The Altera bi-generational vision, driven by experience and passion.
Discover the vision that gave rise to Altera bi-generation. Guided by their personal experiences and a shared passion for bi-generational housing, Maxime Thérien, President, and Maurice Dagenais, Co-Founder of Harmonie Construction, share the journey that led them to develop unmatched expertise. Their mission: to support families in bringing their multigenerational projects to life.
Typology: One above the other
This typology is characterized by a main dwelling located above a secondary dwelling. It can take the form of a bungalow or a two-storey home, with possible layouts as a full basement, half basement, or garden-level unit. Our Altera Origine model perfectly matches this typology.
✓ Cost-effective solution thanks to the use of the basement.
✓ Easy to lay out shared living areas.
✓ Reduced construction costs.
✓ Reduced sound privacy.
✓ Less natural light for the basement unit.
✓ Limited accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Typology: Side-by-side
Our Altera Évolution model offers this configuration: the two units are adjacent, allowing greater flexibility in design. You can choose bungalows, two-storey homes, or a combination of both, depending on your needs and preferences.
✓ Good sound attenuation thanks to shared walls.
✓ Excellent window area and natural light.
✓ Flexibility to create private outdoor spaces.
✓ Slightly higher maintenance costs.
✓ Less flexibility in lot selection.
Typology: The parental annex
This typology consists of two complete homes side by side, offering maximum privacy and comfort for each generation. Although this configuration is the most expensive to build, it offers many advantages, particularly in terms of window area and accessibility.
Our fully customizable Altera Horizon model meets the needs of this typology by offering maximum comfort and complete autonomy for each generation.
Maximum privacy and comfort.
Optimal windows for all living spaces.
Ideal accessibility for seniors.
Higher construction cost.
Less flexibility in lot selection.
Explore the 3 main typologies of intergenerational homes in more detail.
You may have the ideal profile for an intergenerational home, but which configuration is right for you? Discover the 3 main typologies of intergenerational homes and find the one that best meets your needs—whether to enhance privacy, optimize space, or encourage interaction between generations.
Read the full article and get inspired by the possibilities available.
Read the articleTake advantage of our expertise to have your intergenerational home project assessed
A meeting with our team of housing advisors will allow you to benefit from personalized expertise. We will take the time to understand your specific needs and long-term goals to propose adapted solutions.
With the Altera bi-generational series, Harmonie Construction offers you much more than a residence. Our Altera Origine, Evolution, and Horizon models represent a modern and sustainable solution to meet the needs of evolving families and allow your needs to be transformed into a concrete vision, while guaranteeing an optimal quality of life for every family member.
Complete evaluation of your project
Our experts will perform a complete evaluation of your project, taking into account all aspects, whether financial, logistical, or emotional. We will help you weigh the pros and cons of each option to guide you toward the best decision.
Support throughout the process
At every stage of the process, from initial design to final completion, you will be supported by our team. We will be there to answer all your questions, manage unforeseen events, and ensure your project runs smoothly.
Access to quality resources and partners
By collaborating with us, you benefit from our network of trusted partners, including specialized architects, contractors, and financiers. This guarantees you access to the best resources to successfully complete your bi-generational home project.
Our team is here to help you realize your intergenerational project
Book an appointment today with a Harmonie Construction advisor to explore the options available to you and begin realizing your bi-generational project with confidence.
Explore our intergenerational resources
Discover three key configurations for bi-generational homes: stacked units, side-by-side, and parental annexes. Learn more to choose the ideal solution that combines family harmony and personalized comfort.
Eric dreamed of an intergenerational home for his family. Despite the challenges, they worked closely with the Harmonie Construction team to design a unique space. The result? You will discover it in this case study article.
(FAQ) Intergenerational home frequently asked questions
One of the main concerns for families considering an intergenerational home is managing shared and private spaces. It is important to find a balance between communal living and privacy. Good planning and clear rules can help prevent conflicts.
The purchase and construction cost of an intergenerational home may seem high, but it is often offset by savings on expenses and shared costs. It is also possible to find financing solutions tailored to this type of project.
Finally, it is important to take legal and administrative implications into account. Ensure you obtain all necessary permits and comply with local construction regulations.
Planning and completing a bi-generational home construction is a more complex process than a standard single-family project, but with the support of our team, you can be assured that your project will run smoothly and that your new home will perfectly meet your needs.
Once the legal and administrative aspects are in place, planning your bi-generational home project can begin. In collaboration with our team of architects and housing advisors, you will define the detailed plans, choose materials, and determine the layout of the spaces.
Harmonie Construction works with trusted partners to ensure optimal build quality. Our team will oversee every stage of the worksite to ensure the work meets timelines and quality standards.
At the end of the work, we will accompany you during the home inspection to verify that everything meets your expectations, and we will remain available for any questions or necessary adjustments after you move in.