This design was for a family in Sandringham, along with the beachside suburbs of Melbourne. The father of the home has MS (multiple sclerosis) and wanted to continue interacting with his family daily. He is unable to walk and therefore needed a space where it was flexible for contact. The upstairs area is dedicated to him, a room for his care and his fun. As a caregiver for the father, I was aware of his needs and desires to have more opportunities to interact with the family. In addition, as a very social and kind individual, he wanted to continue engagement and relationships with his friends.

The following space responds to the needs of the entire family. The space breaks the traditional uses of a dining room and a living room combined. It allows for multiple interactions during the day: mealtime, a movie night, drinks and conversations, games and activities. It honoured the families love for collaboration and union, enabling connectivity with each other aimlessly through the flexibility in spatial layout.

The plants around the space enabled both ambience and symbolisation of growth. They bring life into the room, offering engagement by filling it with living organisms, promoting healthy living. By looking after the plants, the father could engage in activities that announced his meeting with the space.  

Additionally, the upstairs home’s design considers future-proofing and multigenerational living, enabling multiple needs to be met and considered through its spatial use and organisation.