The design of
intergenerational housing responds to cultural,religious as well as familial
needs pertinent to minority groups, by
breaking the typical single family home and incorporating the above facets in order to maintain native
traditions.
With the current layout of the single family
home, multi generational families tackle the problem of creating a living space
that accommodates each meme bee within the household. Whether it’s an extra
kitchen for a second family or another bedroom for the children, it is seen as
a nationwide cultural problem. The Bangladeshi residents of Hamtramck follow
this same ideology and traditional lifestyle when inhabiting these homes. With
the multiple cultural facets, such as evening tea time, traditional garments,
or even large family gatherings, the South Asian community has placed it upon
themselves to create a small world of their own within cities such as
Hamtramck. These families own small businesses
to supply income to their families that consist of grandparents,
parents, children and even grandchildren. Lifestyles such as these are
representative of the ways of life that occur in countries native to these
individuals. With my project I hope to embody these cultural and even religious
contexts to cater to these groups in order to better the transition of not only
South Asian immigrants but also other immigrants who share the same values and
traditions within the American society.
