YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL about multiple generations of a family living close to each other. Now you’re lucky if you live in the same city, let alone the same street, as your folks – though, of course, that depends on how well you get along.
One extended family that’s as pleased as punch to be living on top of each other (without treading on each other’s toes) is the Demaios of Northcote, which ranges from Wren and Mae to their great-grandmother Bette. There are loads of reasons the family reckon it works, not least of which is that there are plenty of other people living in the block, and there are two lifts, so they’re not bumping into each other all the time. It helps, too, that they just happen to be a super-thoughtful and considerate bunch of people.
CARLO DEMAIO, SOCIAL IMPACT STRATEGIST
My dad’s from a very strong southern Italian background, and family is important to him. We don’t have a huge family but our small pod is
