PRODUCT FEATURE | Multigenerational bathrooms
Showerwall’s panel designs are easy to clean and maintain in a multigenerational bathroom
TOGETHER All now
Demand for multigenerational design is growing. Lara Sargent looks at why today’s bathrooms need to work for more than one generation – and how retailers can best sell products for the entire household to use and enjoy, now and in the future
omes with more than one generation living under the same roof are significantly on the rise. In fact, according to recent research by global real estate company CBRE, there are now around 1.8 million households that contain two or more generations – that’s a substantial increase of 38% in just 10 years.
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“Multigenerational bathrooms meet the evolving needs of modern families,” says Richard Ticehurst, brand expert at Crosswater. “It’s a design approach that considers the requirements of a family across different age groups and generations – from babies to adults and the elderly. If someone has elderly family members in the home, then they will want a bathroom design that is safe, comfortable and accessible.” Research by property specialists David Burr reveals that multigene- rational living will triple by 2040. It’s a
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broad market for sure and can include older
relatives that live with their
families for health or financial reasons or ‘boomerang’ children, where adult offspring have returned to the family home. Then there are young grandchildren, guests and vulnerable users that need to be considered. “We all know that the way families are living together is evolving,” says Russell
Wright, owner of Ripples
Solihull, “with children staying in the family home for longer. Therefore, in some instances four or five adults are using the same space, through to grandparents
moving in with their
children, and in some cases, grandchildren. Bathrooms need to cater for a wide range of needs.” Caroline Borowski, national sales manager, retail and merchant, at Coram UK (including Impey wet rooms) adds: “We are generally living longer now, and as such, multi- generational living is on the rise.
Reasons for this can include cost of living and families pooling monies together to have a better standard of living. Some households wish to be able to accommodate visiting friends or
relatives who have accessibility
requirements. And for properties that are being used as holiday lets, it’s ideal to provide showering options for all of the guests.”
Multipurpose space Although multigenerational homes differ
in composition, the premise
behind designing shared spaces is the same. They need to be accessible, usable and safe for everyone to use. “Multigenerational design is impor - tant because everyone uses the bathroom,” says Louise Murphy, head of marketing at Sonas. “The focus is on fulfilling as many user needs as possible, not just as many users as possible.”
For the bathroom, this design
approach is key. Not only because today’s bathroom is such a well-used space, but because it has evolved from a purely functional room into a well-being bolthole. “The bathroom serves many purposes,” says Steph Harris, product manager at Showerwall, “and is often a relaxing space to unwind at the end of a long week as well as a functional area for day-to-day morning routines. These aren’t age-specific experiences – they are something we all benefit from, and no one should have their ability to use the bathroom hampered in any way.”
In fact, a shower study carried out by Grohe UK in 2020 found that 58% of respondents use the shower as a method to relieve tension and stress. “The bathroom is a place where independence and personal dignity is essential,” adds Ronke Ugbaja, leader, product management at Lixil EMENA and Grohe UK. “Therefore, accessibility
• December 2023
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