Mirvac sees shift in traditional family homes with generational living

The traditional Victorian terrace home is seeing big change, as smaller lot sizes and buyers who have family elders staying with them redefine the family home.

Developer Mirvac is adapting to this shift with its 240 terrace-style homes at its Tullamore masterplanned community in Melbourne’s Doncaster, with the 134 released to date selling out. 

The emerging shift towards multi-generational living coupled with the unique needs of empty nesters has led to a reinvention of the traditional family home, according to Mirvac. 

Multi-storey designs on smaller blocks of land that feature private downstairs quarters are increasingly becoming the norm, over traditionally expansive single-level family homes. Many buyers are requesting studies and home office areas on the ground floor to be changed into self-contained master suites for older generations of families to live in.

In addition, attached tri-level homes that share common walls are providing a new take on the traditional Victorian terrace in new-build communities. 

Mirvac’s head of Residential, John Carfi, said in recent months the company’s architects had redesigned a swathe of homes in Melbourne to cater to the changing needs of buyers. 

“The traditional family home is undergoing a major makeover as our largest demographic – the baby boomers – ages and their housing needs change,” he said. 

“Our ageing population, coupled with record migration, is resulting in a new style of family home that costs less to maintain and is more flexible in its layout.” 

Tullamore has seen strong interest from international families, among whom multi-generational living is the norm, according to Mirvac.

At Tullamore, Mirvac has also introduced some feng shui elements to cater to the market.

“This is a new era in housing that will change the look and feel of parts of our suburbs, just as duplexes and townhouses did in the 1990s,” he said.

Mirvac has a pipeline of 14,000 new dwellings across Australia, which are expected to add to the market over the next four years, 

Mirvac architect Andrew La, behind the home designs at Tullamore, said a key factor in the evolution of housing was the increasing demand for smaller lot sizes by purchasers who don’t want a large backyard to take care of. 

Over the past five years, average lot sizes across Australia have shrunk. However, at Tullamore, Mirvac has increased lot sizes for its premium homes that offer city views and access to an adjacent reserve. 

“The lock and leave lifestyle whereby a resident can enjoy less maintenance on a property is a key factor in new home design today,” La said. 

“It is resulting in a reinvention of the traditional Victorian terrace home. With shared walls and height across three levels, the modern Victorian home offers purchasers much less maintenance, without compromising on space or style.”