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Modern living sometimes means adapting your life so several generations of family can be close by. Atlas Living has created the Eco 65 / Mod 65 for this very reason

THE good news is we are all living longer and the number of Australians aged 85 years or older is expected to quadruple in the next 40 years, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

With that comes the realisation that most of us would ultimately like to live in our own homes for as long as we are physically able, yet sometimes, that's not always possible.

For those in the sandwich generation, where you have responsibility for children as well as ageing parents, the option to send mum or dad to a retirement or aged-care facility isn't one we or they may want to consider.

So if you — as we have — considered buying a bigger property or building a granny flat where mum or dad can live independently, while still close by, then you're not alone.

Atlas Living fits the brief of combining independent, compact living with its standaloneEco 65 or Mod 65 home extension. The design can fit into two ranges: configured as an extension to an existing home (Mod 65), built as an independent and private "granny flat" (Eco 65) to a main residence.

It would also suit families with teens needing their own space or artistic types wanting a creative space to call their own.

"Building on the 'old way' has always been a solution to a growing family's need for space," Atlas Living product manager Helen Lowrie says. "However, it has its problems.

For instance, family life can be thrown into turmoil as the living area of the home is turned into a building site. "Our solution is to build this extension as a stand-alone structure and link it back to the main house with a glass breezeway afterwards."

Priced from only $53,900, it means the option to add on won't necessarily be a massive burden on the household budget, and it's a competitive option when compared to nursing home costs or purchasing a unit as part of a retirement village.

With 65sqm of living space configured in a rectangular shape, it has the flexibility to suit both wide and long blocks.

The living space features a galley-style kitchen with modern conveniences. The room is made to feel larger by sliding doors which span the majority of the rear wall, letting both essential light in and direct access to the outdoors and garden via the timber deck, which is optional.

Off the living are two decent size bedrooms, one with a built in robe and both with floor-to-ceiling windows adding to the space.

The threeway bathroom has been designed with practicality in mind, with a separate vanity area and toilet.

The Mod 65 design will connect to an existing house via a glass walkway, creating a middle courtyard and allowing light in, while remaining protected from the weather conditions.

"This glass breezeway or link has architectural merit in its own right," Helen says. Atlas Living builds with modern materials for both sustainability and energy efficiency, earning it GreenSmart accreditation.

Home owners have the choice of four exterior profiles, so you can choose a facade that will blend or contrast with your existing home.

The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

For more information about the house in this story please look at the Eco 65 or Mod 65.