30/11/2009

30 November 2009

Large Houses, Efficient Building, Urban Sprawl, Climate Change and Ageing Population on Collision Course

The efficiency of the building industry, new materials, cheaper methods of construction and less expensive imported housing fittings is providing Australians with an ability to build larger homes, Archicentre the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said today.

Ron Tanton, Queensland State Manager of Archicentre said, the growth of the average floor area of the Australian home from 150 sqm in 1985 to almost 215 sqm in 2009* has been a response to people wanting and needing more space in the homes due to social trends and housing affordability. Source: CommSec report

"Children are living longer at home because of housing affordability and higher rents, more people are including home offices, there is a trend towards developing home entertainment centres and linking the garden to the living areas by semi enclosed floored areas."

Mr Tanton said the efficiency of the building industry has meant that the metre value per dollar for home builders or renovators has continued to remain extremely good for Australian home buyers and renovators with major cost escalation being in land.

"However the impact of climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme, combined with governments battling urban sprawl and a decreasing need for larger homes as Australia's ageing population requires smaller housing, will have an impact on the number of larger homes being built in the next ten to twenty years."

Mr Tanton said duplex constructions, where two separate homes are built on one block with an adjoining wall can become through a simple design adjustment one large home, and could form one of the future answers to Australia's housing affordability crisis and the creation of smaller homes.

"In the near future however we would see larger homes remain on the agendas of Australian home owners wanting to maximise their interior space and cut down the maintenance of large gardens areas due to time poor lifestyle preferring low maintenance courtyards as outdoor dining areas."

Australian weather also plays a role in bigger homes as interiors spaces can be used with comfort despite storms or heat waves, Mr Tanton added.

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Ron Tanton, Queensland State Manager Archicentre (07) 3846 4957 Mobile: 0421 598 233
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201