Dual Living Home Designs

G.J. Gardner’s dual living series features a superb blend of modern architectural features, designed to be flexible and practical for families and individuals all while providing an excellent investment opportunity.

Perfect for modern day living

All G.J. Gardner duplex home designs make the most of open plan living spaces, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, clean lines and embracing natural light for year-round comfort. They also have individually crafted designer facades providing outstanding street appeal.

Unique dual living home designs

Each of G.J. Gardner’s two storey dual living designs offer something unique that sets them apart from the rest. From spacious four-bedroom designs, multiple living areas to cater to the needs of a growing family, to the flexibility of a ground floor master suite.

The evolution of the duplex

A duplex is a residential building that contains two homes on one lot that share a common dividing wall. The dual living homes will either exist on one land title and be owned and sold together, or exist on separate titles and be individually owned and sold.

Duplexes rose in popularity during the 1920’s and 1930’s and were designed to resemble a single-family house and blend into the streets they were being built in. This was a conscious strategy by city planners aimed at maintaining property values by giving the street a consistent appearance. Since then however, dual living has evolved into a cost effective and practical housing solution.

The versatile living solution

A dual living solution can be the best option for your home design as it is incredibly versatile with plenty of applications. They can provide a great opportunity to earn a passive income by living on one side of the duplex while renting out the other.

They are also a great option for extended family members, providing a great housing solution for elderly or disabled relatives as well as adult children. Duplexes allow for increased independence while still living on the same property.

Choosing the right block size

Council requirements for dual occupancy vary greatly in different areas, meaning there is no standard block size, shape or plan that will guarantee approval across all locations. There is no one size fits all choice for choosing the right land size for your dual living development. The necessary size is contingent on your own needs and what you are looking for in your home.

However, typically the minimum amount of land required for a duplex development is around 15 metres wide by 30 metres long, pending individual council regulations. Talk to your local G.J. Gardner office for area specific recommendations.

Dual Living FAQs

How much does it cost to build a duplex?
The cost of your duplex will depend on several features including your desired design and floor plan through to your land arrangement. There is the same amount of options that affect price as there are for building a single home house.
What is the difference between a duplex and a house?
A detached house is different from a duplex as it only contains one dwelling under a single roof, while a duplex contains two dwellings under a single roof. A duplex will share one common wall, though each dwelling will be an entirely separate entity with their own entrances and amenities.
Can you own half a duplex?
It is possible to own only half of a duplex, though this is dependant on if the two dwellings are on the same title or on different titles. It is only possible to buy one half of a duplex if half of the development has been subdivided into separate titles.
What is the difference between a duplex and a townhouse?
While a duplex provides full ownership over two dwellings on one piece of land, a townhouse allows for the purchase of a single unit within a row of similar houses that share separating walls.