Beyond the Backyard: New Paths to Multi-Dwelling Living
Over the past few months, we’ve been exploring how Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and secondary suites are reshaping what home can be. These small, flexible dwellings open up possibilities for families to stay connected, for communities to grow stronger, and for our land to be used more responsibly.
Now, as we work alongside more homeowners — and more families — we’re seeing something exciting unfold. People are imagining not just one additional unit, but entire properties designed for multiple households to thrive together. The conversation is naturally expanding from “How do we add a small suite?” to “How do we create a place where two or more generations can live with independence and proximity?”
This opens up new realms of possibility in the ongoing story we’ve been telling: homes that make belonging possible.
Why Multi-Dwelling Properties Are on the Rise
1. Families Are Choosing Intergenerational Living
As parents downsize or sell their long-held homes, and adult children look for stable, affordable places to raise their own families, more households are choosing to invest together in a single property. Multi-generational living lets them:
Stay close without sacrificing independence
Share childcare and elder-care naturally
Pool financial resources in a challenging housing market
Build generational wealth rather than watching it disperse
It’s not just practical — it’s relational. Home becomes a space of mutual care.
2. There Are Many Ways to Create a Multi-Dwelling Property
One of the most exciting parts is how varied the options are. A multi-dwelling property doesn’t have to look like a duplex — and often, it doesn’t.
Here are some of the most common approaches:
• Attached secondary dwellings
Think of a main home with a wing, breezeway, or addition — each with its own entrance and utilities, designed to feel connected yet autonomous.
• Interior conversions
Transforming a lower level, garage, or unused portion of a home into a complete, code-compliant suite.
• Detached backyard dwellings (ADUs)
Still a cornerstone of gentle density — but now imagined as part of a broader, whole-property plan.
• Multi-unit redesigns of existing homes
Some older homes are perfectly suited to become triplexes or two-unit homes with shared outdoor space.
Each option blends privacy and togetherness in different ways. The right fit comes from listening closely to the people who will share the land.
3. Shared Life Creates Shared Strength
Multi-dwelling living brings more than architectural benefit. It offers:
Collaborative stewardship of the property
Lower shared costs (maintenance, utilities, land use)
Natural support rhythms — meals, babysitting, helping hands
A richer sense of daily community
This is the kind of housing that meets human needs, not just market pressures.
How AERAS Approaches Multi-Dwelling Design
At AERAS, we start every project by asking: How do you want to live together?
From there, the design grows.
We consider:
Site flow and layout — entrances, privacy lines, movement between dwellings
Regulatory pathways — zoning, zoning variances, building code requirements
Long-term adaptability — how each unit can evolve as seasons of life change
The relational fabric — how families or co-residents want to share (or not share) outdoor space, utilities, or amenities
We’re not simply adding dwellings to properties. We’re helping families imagine a new form of home — one that’s resilient, connected, and future-proof.
Looking Ahead: A More Connected Way to Live
Choosing a multi-dwelling property isn’t about “adding units.” It’s about designing a place where multiple stories can unfold side by side:
Aging parents with their adult children
Families co-investing in a shared asset
Friends choosing intentional community
Homeowners planning today for the needs of tomorrow
This is gentle density with a heartbeat — density that preserves connection, dignity, and independence.
And it’s happening more and more across Ontario and Canada. People are rediscovering what many cultures have known for generations: home works best when we build it for each other.
Let’s Explore What Your Property Could Become
If you’re imagining a home that can hold more than one household — whether through an attached suite, an interior conversion, or a beautifully designed backyard dwelling — we’d love to walk with you as you explore the possibilities.
Together, we can create homes that aren’t just places to live, but places to belong.
– Timo, Nathan, and the AERAS Team
AERAS Dwellings — Building homes for wholeness, one village at a time
