Modern two-story houses with large windows, surrounded by a well-maintained yard where children are playing soccer and adults are socializing.
Modern two-story houses with large windows, surrounded by a well-maintained yard where children are playing soccer and adults are socializing.

Shared Site & Multi-Generational Design

Thoughtful planning for two or more homes on one site — for family, co-ownership or future flexibility.

RotoSpace applies the same efficient, flexible design thinking used for individual homes across an entire site.

Rather than designing each house in isolation, we look at how the whole site works — including the relationship between homes, privacy, sun, outlook, access, parking and outdoor space.

This could mean two generations of one family living independently on the same property, friends purchasing together, or a site designed so additional homes can be added over time.

The goal is to make better use of the land while still giving each household a home that feels like its own.

Pricing discussed after initial review.

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Start with the whole site

Before deciding exactly what each house looks like, we work out how the site needs to function.

We consider:

  • How many homes the site may reasonably support

  • Who will live in each home

  • The size and type of home each household needs

  • Privacy between dwellings

  • Sun, outlook and outdoor living

  • Vehicle access and parking

  • Shared and private outdoor areas

  • Opportunities to build or expand in stages

Once the overall site strategy is clear, individual RotoSpace home layouts can be selected and adapted to suit each household.

One design system. Different homes.

The homes do not need to be identical.

A shared site could combine a compact one-bedroom home for a parent, a two-bedroom home for a smaller household and a larger family home — while using the same underlying design logic across all three.

This allows the site to feel considered as a whole without every home having to be designed from scratch.

One possible three-home arrangement

Modern two-story houses with a large backyard, children playing soccer, and adults socializing on the patio on a bright, sunny day.
Modern two-story houses with a large backyard, children playing soccer, and adults socializing on the patio on a bright, sunny day.

This is one example of how the RotoSpace system can be applied across a shared site.

The actual combination of homes would be developed around the site, the people who will live there and how their needs may change over time.

This example includes:

  • 3-bedroom two level home

  • 2-bedroom two level home

  • 1-bedroom single level home

  • Shared driveway + outdoor space

Who could this work for?

Shared-site design can suit:

  • Parents and adult children wanting to live close while remaining independent

  • Families creating a separate home for grandparents

  • Siblings or extended whānau sharing land

  • Friends purchasing a site together

  • Households looking for a more affordable way to own a home

  • Landowners wanting to add homes gradually as family needs change

The exact arrangement will depend on the site, planning requirements and the people who will live there.

Floor Areas

Floor plan of a house showing rooms labeled Living, Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom, Entry, WC, Laundry, and various square meter measurements, with outdoor area and directional compass.
Floor plan of a house showing rooms labeled Living, Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom, Entry, WC, Laundry, and various square meter measurements, with outdoor area and directional compass.
Floor plan of an upper floor including master bedrooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and exterior decks.

  • 1-bedroom: 46m²

  • 2-bedroom: 78.5m²

  • 3-bedroom: 104m²

TOTAL FLOOR AREA: 228.5m²

These example layouts were developed around sites of approximately 400m² or larger. Actual site requirements will depend on planning rules, access, servicing and the arrangement of the homes.

One possible two-home arrangement

Modern house with large windows and a backyard garden with raised flower beds and a wooden deck, with two people sitting at an outdoor table during sunset.

Two homes on one site can create a balance between independence and shared land, while allowing each household to retain its own private home and outdoor space.

This example includes:

  • 2 x Two-bedroom single level homes

  • Shared driveway + outdoor space

Who could this work for?

  • A parent or grandparent living independently beside family

  • Adult children buying alongside parents

  • Siblings or extended whānau sharing a site

  • Friends purchasing land together

  • Two smaller households who want their own homes while sharing the cost of land and some site infrastructure

  • Landowners wanting to create a second independent home now, with flexibility for the future

Floor Areas

Floor plan layout of a house with labeled rooms including bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, laundry areas, and entryways, with room sizes specified in square meters.

  • 2-bedroom: 70m²

  • 2-bedroom: 75m²

    TOTAL FLOOR AREA: 145m²

Why share a site?

A well-planned shared site can create:

  • Better use of valuable land

  • More generous shared outdoor space

  • Independent homes within close reach of family or friends

  • Opportunities to share some site and infrastructure costs

  • Greater flexibility as households change over time

  • The ability to stage development rather than building everything at once

The key is designing the whole site carefully from the beginning, so each home works individually as well as part of the larger arrangement.

Thinking about sharing a site?

You don't need to know exactly how many homes will fit or what each one should look like before getting started.

We can begin by looking at the site, the households involved and what you're trying to achieve, then work out the most sensible design direction.

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