Australian houses are growing up: for a more durable future, home cannot be place for everything

Average Australian household size In 1911, 4.5 people per house decreased to 2.5 people in 2024. At the same time, average home size has increased100 square meters to 236 meters in 1950s² In 2020. Australian homes are now average space 84m² Per capita,

The way we live in our homes – our habits and daily routines – are growing and changing with our housing, and the way we want to live can shape the size of our homes.

For a more durable future, we need to embrace living in small places. This means that our homes should not be allowed to be our primary place for every activity in our life.

Our house and ‘space creeping’

Our houses grew up due to the first space crawling, bringing more parts inside.

Once, the older children were handed over to “sleep out”, or closed-way verandah when new siblings came. Over time, these can be drafts and unfit locations Converted into bedroomAnd the houses were rapidly built with rooms dedicated to each child.

our research Show space creep now shrinks, also in empty nest houses. The garages and sheds are rapidly being converted into a rampus room for “man-caves” or tinkering, play and privacy.

With some families we bought large houses because there was a different “hobby room” For crafts or musicOr separate domestic office. People now see these places as an integral part of their domestic life, and keep it in mind or make a house.

Space creeping is also connected about how we consume. We saw many old fridge and chest freezer in the garage, which allowed maximum permission food storage Because people were worried about enough food in the house, there was a need to buy goods to save money, or because they tried to reduce trips in the store.

As a result of the routine set in these places, we have to consume more space. As we, as a society, these places get used to, we think we should need them.

Kovid changed the perceptions of how much space is needed in our homes. People living in apartments now describe them as emotion Very small He did before.

Pets are seen rapidly as part of the family: About half The houses have a dog, and a third is a cat. This means that either to make or buy more space to adjust pets, Also more energy consumption,

Found in the study We spend more time in our homes than in the past, but the total time spent in each place in the house is short. And while the vastness of our homes can bear privacy, we lose the connection. If a member of each family is in a separate room on his personal screen, we lose some benefits of a family room.

Do we need more apartments?

After children leave, many people prefer to age in their communities. Older people often, without better options for small, well -built homes at the same place Grab Big family house.

Planning rules and traditionally designed homes Do not offer flexibility Very large houses have grown very big.

The same region may have two stories with small townhouse stairs, which make them inaccessible for many older people. Older people need to be able to downsize without moving away from their communities, services and local regions.

And yet, it is not as simple or straightforward as everyone living in apartments or units. Some large homes are still required to meet some needs, such as multi-organizational living.

A recent study found One of five Victorian would like to live in an apartment, but only Do one in 10,

In Australia, apartments suitable for families are rare. Students, young couples or young families see as apartments Transient location And not as home forever, unlike how families see apartments in many cities of Europe.

As our size decreases and our new homes increase in size, the place of garden is compromised. Biodiversity, cinematography from trees and stormy water runoff,

Low and middle densing living with backyards and apartments for small homes and units allow large shared places close to large shared places, such as parks and playgrounds, can fulfill the desire for privacy, peace, peace, peace And can improve physical and mental health through contact with nature. , Reducing the risk of hot urban environment.

Change the priorities

Infections in the largest smallest houses, and from homes to apartments, a culture means shifting from where we have abundance of private places like pools, home theaters and hobbies room, for shared social infrastructure.

We need to look at the increased investment in social infrastructure-especially Greenfield suburb with new development.

This means investing in movable community facilities where people can go to carry forward their interests and hobbies and connect with others. Instead of a private hobby room, these activities can be brought to a public place. Instead of many living areas, families can share a living space or use out of shared places like Men’s shed,

Changes in construction laws can help the protection of consumers and help the family to gain confidence in the monetary value of multi-unit life, such as cladding, safety, and provides solutions for issues in apartments such as cladding, safety and insurance.

Another important step can be New South Wales Housing Pattern BookThe book to be released this year will include the winning design of an international competition for Terrace House and Mid-Rease Apartment buildings that provide compact-shaped accommodation with flexible room size, private and public outdoor locations and adequate natural lighting Are. Design will be able to obtain licenses for use by developers and home builders, and will enjoy rapid approval procedures.

Availability of high quality designs for small locations in relation to attractive neighborhood locations can help Australians live in small, high density, good home.

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