Media Enquiries:
David Hallett, Victorian State Manager Archicentre (03) 9819 4577
Mobile: 0439 439 115
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre Mobile: 0417 329 201
Media Release
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 cheap
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.
David Hallett, Victorian 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 Hallett 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 Hallett 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 Hallett added.
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