HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN TOOLKIT
10 Household Profiles
Household Profile Cards Who are the members of your community?
The Holistic Housing Lab is a design-centered research platform dedicated to exploring housing as an interconnected system shaped by people and place. © 2026 Karla Sierralta & Brian Strawn
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Multi-generational Family parents + children • Renters / Low Income • Dream of owning but do not qualify for traditional funding options. • Kids need open spaces to burn-off energy. • Grandfather benefits from walking in the park for exercise and socializing.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Multi-generational Family grandparents + grandchildren • Owners / Retired / Low Income • As children grow older, they need more privacy, and grandparents are preparing for future in-home care. Spaces will need to be adapted or rearranged. • Grandparents need to be able to watch the children playing outside from their windows.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Multi-generational Family parents + grown children • Owners / Medium Income • A busy working couple must keep up with building updates and connect to this information remotely. • Aging parents would like to give back to their local community by sharing their skills in woodworking and cooking.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Roommates all ages • Renters / Medium Income • Do not have a lot of furniture, but need storage. Living lightly will make moving easier in the future. • They don’t mind sharing, but they all have different schedules and live separate lives. Living together helps them save money for future plans.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Small Family parents + young children • Owners / High Income • A child with special needs benefits from time outdoors while at home, but parents are anxious about bothering their neighbors. • There is a need for full accessibility of all spaces in the building.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Small Family couple - no kids / 25-45 age range • Owners / Medium Income • Bike to work and are active in the community jogging club. • Growing organic food and connecting to the land are part of their culture, mental health, and well-being.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Small Family retired couple / 65+ age range • Renters / Retired / Medium Income • Uncomfortable with driving and need to take public transportation. • Not able to take care of handy work, need help with household repairs and maintenance.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Single Adult + Children 25-45 age range • Renters / Low Income • Children are active in sports and need access to playing fields. • Live month-to-month and have experienced houselessness in the past.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Single Adult 45-65 age range • Owner / Medium Income • Works online for a large accounting firm but has plans to pilot a small business. • Does not own a car. Wants to be able to walk to do as many errands as possible.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit
HOUSEHOLD PROFILE CARDS
Single Adult 65+ age range • Owner / Retired / Low Income • Does not currently have mobility issues but is preparing to age in place. • Occasionally, needs a space to support a part-time small business that supplements income.
Holistic Housing Lab's Holistic Housing Design Toolkit