Multi-Generational Home

In Taiwan, compact housing has become the prevailing norm, while population aging is increasingly evident. Traditional multi-generational residences often struggle to accommodate today’s demands. This project in Xi’an, China, reinterprets the multi-generational home, offering a considered response to the need for both independence and coexistence under one roof. With a restrained hand that seeks clarity after ornament falls away, 7F Design Studio returns to essentials. Known for tailoring highly personal spatial experiences in private homes and small-scale commercial projects, the studio anchors its practice in the client’s lived needs. For the designers, space-making is a process of “seeing oneself, seeing the world, and seeing others.” It begins with an inner perspective, extends to the role of space within a broader social context, and ultimately grounds itself in the inhabitant’s daily rituals. Size, novelty, or stylistic bravado are not the priority; what matters is the kind of life a design makes possible and the emotional resonance it offers.

Before | After

Here, the homeowner lives with two retired parents whose routines differ markedly. The plan follows the principle of equal allocation: the three bedrooms were reconfigured to ensure parity and autonomy for each occupant, while the primary and secondary bathrooms were consolidated into a shared wash area. Communal life unfolds by the sunniest, south-facing windows, where the dining and living areas form the family’s main gathering space. A pure white palette establishes clarity, complemented by the warmth of natural wood finishes. Occasional vivid accents introduce individuality while maintaining harmony.

From the entry, a timber louvered screen mediates openness and privacy, filtering light and casting shifting patterns that register time’s passage. Large-capacity storage enhances spatial depth; the aligned horizontal and vertical metal pulls reinforce order; and the material interplay of gray ceramic tiles with an earthen-toned washbasin expresses a tactile sensibility. Throughout, the detailing carries a quiet refinement reminiscent of Japanese aesthetics. In a world of constant change, this is a home that evolves with the times yet ages gracefully alongside its inhabitants. It offers “home” as a gentle presence, resilient to the wear of years, quietly companionable in everyday life.

Principal Designer | Wang Ye

Character of Space | 3LDK

Location | Xi'an, China