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At first glance, One Flushing looks like many of the other mid-rise apartment buildings that have cropped up in Flushing, the New York neighbourhood that’s long been a magnet for Chinese and Korean immigrants. But this ten-storey complex has a quality that makes it stand out from its neighbours: it was purposely built to bring people of different generations together.
Construction began in 2015, when community development organisation Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) was awarded a contract by the New York City government to develop affordable housing on the site of a municipally owned car park. When it opened four years later with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and traditional Cantonese lion dance, the building offered 231 apartments, 2,000 square metres of local retail space and almost as much landscaped outdoor space, plus a community centre run by AAFE.
The apartments, which range in size from studios to three bedrooms, are geared towards families and individuals with low to medium incomes. And 66 units are reserved for seniors with very low incomes. The building’s architect, Andrew Bernheimer of Bernheimer Architects, told The New York Times in 2019 that the apartments for elderly people ‘are all banked into the centre of the building’ so their residents didn’t need to walk far to and from the lifts.
But this isn’t senior housing: it’s intergenerational housing. Shared spaces, including a rooftop farm maintained by residents, are intended to foster a demographically diverse community. And it’s not just the elderly who benefit. ‘My generation and younger, feel isolated and there seems to be a real fear and stigma around community,’ one 34-year-old resident, Mike, told researchers in a report for Generations United, a charity organisation dedicated to promoting intergenerational collaboration. Since moving into One Flushing, Mike hasn’t just found an affordable place to live, he has made friends with his neighbours.
One Flushing is just one example of a new wave of intergenerational housing complexes being built around the world. The goal is to fight social isolation — a growing problem shared by old and young alike — while building stronger, more resilient communities. There’s speculation that encouraging more contact between generations can improve mental health, although the science on that is so far unclear, according to a 2023 review of research in six different countries. But in an increasingly lonely, fragmented and polarised world, the benefits of bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds seem self-evident.
And it goes beyond housing. ‘A truly sustainable community is one where people of all ages — children, young adults, parents, and seniors — can find spaces that meet their needs, inspire connection, and foster a sense of belonging,’ writes California-based property developer Manoucher Sarbaz. ‘It’s our responsibility to consider the needs of everyone in the community, and to remember that a well-designed space is one where people of all generations can come together, learn from each other, and build a better future.’
Sarbaz points out key elements to consider in designing intergenerational spaces. They should be green, because nature is appealing to almost everyone, and natural elements like community gardens tend to bring people together. They must be accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Spaces should be flexible to facilitate a diverse range of activities. There should be plenty of seating and gathering areas. And they should be playful, with features like outdoor exercise equipment and tables for games like chess and ping-pong.
In a sense, those are basic principles of good urban design. But the focus on fostering intergenerational connections adds another dimension. Canadian urbanist Claire Nelischer calls it ‘caring public space’. And who doesn’t want their communities to care for them?
