Archicentre

The Great Australian Dream, which has been growing in size for decades, will come under pressure from several areas to become smaller, more sustainable and affordable, Archicentre the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said today.

Angus Kell

Angus Kell, Archicentre spokesperson said the population debate would provide a major focus on the lack of affordable housing, land and the need to rethink the size and design of Australian homes given the current low level of housing affordability. "The financial stress of people over committing on their housing purchases has seen 25,000 home buyers default on their loans in the past twelve months, according to the Reserve Bank statistics." Mr Kell said whilst the debate may focus on smaller well designed homes where every space is treated as a premium for practical use and to lower the cost of heating and cooling given rising power and water costs, the Generation Y factor, where children unable to afford moving out to rent or buy their own property, will see an increasing trend for bigger ZONE HOMES. "ZONE HOMES, where two residences are built under the same roof and can have a central shared wall with pre-fitted structures that house doorways which can link the two zones into a large home or can be closed off to make two separate residences.

"Such a design will allow couples to rent out part of the home to help pay off their mortgage and then convert the home into a larger home when the family grows, and convert back to a rental situation to create a cash flow in retirement.

"Currently in many inner and middle ring suburbs we have large family homes with one resident, these homes could be retro-fitted to become zone homes."

Mr Kell said the changes in weather patterns with extreme storms could see a return of the original eaves which protect the home from flooding in the roof, shade windows, increase water harvesting and the re-thinking of specifications for the size of guttering on new domestic or renovated homes to cope with excessive and more common heavy bursts of rain.

"Current interest rate rises we believe will also provide an increasing trend for people to renovate existing homes to avoid up to $50,000 in government fees and other charges to move. Instead this money will be put into new kitchens, bathrooms, alfresco dining rooms or landscaping projects."

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Angus Kell Archicentre spokesperson Mobile: 0412 565 023
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre Mobile: 0417 329 201