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Articles on Housing design

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Green space, easily accessible to everyone no matter what their income, should be a priority in designing high-density residential areas. Marcus Jaaske from www.shutterstock.com

What’s equity got to do with health in a higher-density city?

Being crowded into poor-quality high-density units harms residents’ health, but design features that are known to promote wellbeing can make a big difference to the lives of low-income households.
The Sirius building and the Heritage Act are both products of a significant part of Sydney’s history: the Green Bans movement. Dean Lewins/AAP

Saving Sirius: why heritage protection should include social housing

Social housing can certainly have heritage significance. Over more than 100 years, it has been shaped by contemporary architectural and political ideas, sometimes in an exemplary way.
Soft Landing recycles the materials of mattresses that otherwise get dumped in landfill. Alan Stanton/flickr

What ethical business can do to help make ecocities a reality

City dwellers are individually starting to do their bit to live sustainably. Now pioneering businesses are aiming to make ecological and social sustainability part of their bottom line.
Low-cost housing development on the city outskirts can expose owners to higher costs in the long run. Paul Miller/AAP

Affordable housing is not just about the purchase price

People are taking on larger future risks and costs just so they can buy a house. Increases in new home owners are seen as a positive development, but what if they can’t afford the ongoing costs?
You shouldn’t have to crank up the aircon. chanus/shutterstock.com

Why bad housing design pumps up power prices for everyone

Power-hungry houses that rely on air conditioning to make up for their bad design mean that the electricity grid has to cope with summer demand peaks – and everybody pays.
The stereotype of a dependent generation who won’t leave home overlooks the many reasons adult family members choose to live together in the one house. SpeedKingz from www.shutterstock.com

Why adult children stay at home: looking beyond the myths of kidults, kippers and gestaters

The stereotype of a dependent generation who won’t leave home ignores the many reasons adult family members choose to live together in the one house.
The continued preference for detached housing in new suburbs is driving Perth’s urban sprawl and means two-thirds of dwellings built over the next 15 years need to be on infill sites to meet the state’s target. perthhdproductions/flickr

To cut urban sprawl, we need quality infill housing displays to win over the public

Government and industry need to demonstrate the benefits of well-designed higher-density housing. Rich residential display projects may be the ideal catalyst for creating smarter cities.
Unfortunately, there’s no ‘one size fits all.’ 'House' via www.shutterstock.com

How do you design a home for someone with autism?

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach. But a lot of little things – from colors to appliance noise – can make a big difference.
The freedom of the space outside can be a seductive distraction. from www.shutterstock.com.au

Why the million-dollar view is bad for our body and our soul

Had the Romans, Chinese and English of old seen our buildings, built around views that distract from the interior and our interior lives, they would not have been surprised by modern discontent.
It’s much cheaper and easier to build better access into homes instead of doing it later. AAP/Paul Miller

Australia’s housing standards are failing its ageing population

Community and housing industry leaders agreed a national guideline and a plan to provide basic access features in all new housing by 2020. But this voluntary approach is failing.
Despite the signing of agreements with NSW and Victoria to roll out the NDIS, many people with disability will still need much better supported housing options. AAP/Lukas Coch

Bringing the NDIS home: smarter housing design for people with disability

As the NDIS roll-out begins, Australia faces a housing shortfall affecting up to 122,000 participants. Developing smart technology and design offers more independent living for people with disability.

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