What Can We Learn From 2019? What Can We Learn From 2019?

At Archiblox, we try to stay abreast of industry knowledge and pass this information on to you, our loyal ‘Bloxers’. A lot happened in 2019 – so we have put together a selection of the best bits of information we discovered about what people want in their homes now, & in the future.

Talk to us about Your Home Vision for 2020 < < here.

After a year of increasing climate rallies & protests nationwide, the hard scientific facts and a more frequent number of natural disasters occurring. It’s become increasingly clear that climate change needs to be addressed, and people want homes that reflect positive action.

In Australia, 13 percent of our greenhouse emissions come from our homes*. With our population growing to an estimated 31 million people by 2030, reducing our carbon footprint in housing is imperative to the wider cause.

People Want Sustainable Homes
A recent study by the CSIRO found that 2 thirds of home buyers prefer energy-efficient homes when given a choice and found an 8.6 percent higher purchase preference over homes that include sustainable features*.

Sustainable Features Increase Your Homes Value
The CSIRO also confirmed that homes with solar panels and high environmental ratings now attract a price premium when reselling*.

Did You Know? Bank Australia is also now investing in sustainable houses by providing discounted home loans for homes that have higher energy efficient rating (under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) than the minimum standards of the National Construction Code.

Read how Sustainable Homes Make Us Healthy, Wealthy & Green < < here. 

Sustainable Homes Cost Less to Run
Who doesn’t want to pay less for their homes utility bills as the costs of living continue to rise? Sustainable homes result in long term savings in both carbon emissions and financial impact.

People Want Sustainable Homes that Look Good & Feel Great
When people say they want a sustainable homes – they refer to having a home that is comfortable, affordable, and a healthy place for their family to live*. But they don’t want it to look like a science experiment – home buyers still want a home that is well designed and stylish.  Enter Archiblox. We help our clients achieve sustainable homes within their budgets that tick all of the above.

Find out How to Create a Planet Friendly Home < < here. 

Due to the rising cost of living and interest in sustainable, healthy living, growing, we saw a peak in small to medium-sized home floor plans. There was also an increase in housing for the whole family under one roof with multi-generational layouts and for plans that provide defined zones for rest & entertainment, that are buffered by a ‘knuckle’.

Smaller Spaces, Big Living
Australia’s newly built homes are the smallest they have been in 17 years & 1.3 percent smaller than they were a year ago*. Millennials want to live closer to the city for their work and lifestyle, and they are willing to sacrifice size to get it. Baby boomers are turning into Downsizers, looking to shift to low-maintenance, smaller footprints. While people are happier with smaller spaces, they don’t want to sacrifice on quality – they still want the fancy kitchen with walk-in pantry, highly finished floors & a luxe bathroom to retreat into.

Multigenerational Homes Are Back in Fashion
With an aging population and Australia’s increasing multicultural population, more families are choosing to stick together*. Due to housing affordability, children are also staying at home longer. Multi-generational homes & layouts are solving a lot of these issues by housing everyone under one roof. There is a push to create homes that integrate the household better, with communal living areas shared between young & old, to maximize social benefits and separate wings for private spaces.

Defined Spaces for Rest, Relaxation & Entertainment
At Archiblox, we found that people were loving the ‘T’ shape & ‘H’ shape layouts in 2019. According to Ikea’s Life at Home Report, 85% of us believe we have a right to privacy at home, yet 1 in 4 are concerned that our privacy needs are not being met*.

‘T’ shape & ‘H’ floor plans offer central airlock spaces – such as a defined formal entry, mudroom or bag drop zone to mediate family life. These areas allow owners to shut off the chaos & lively living areas from more private zones for sleeping, relaxation & bathing. Offering seclusion, separation, and a chance to recharge when necessary. It also grants more control over the heating, cooling, and acoustics in the house.

Check out Best Small to Medium Home Designs < < here. 

Home is more than just a space you exist in – it’s about how it feels. In 2020, we see a rise in people wanting to find balance in the home & improve wellbeing. The design of your home is so important to achieve this.  Multiple studies have been conducted and the answer is clear – connection to nature in our homes is so good for us, and so too is creating spaces to help us nurture relationships, and getting to know ourselves better & grow.

A Vision of Green
A professor of architecture in Sweden, Roger Ulrich, has found that hospital patients with views of nature were discharged earlier than those surrounded by walls*. Whether it’s filling your home with amazing house plants, landscaping your home into a native paradise, or going off-grid amongst the bush – living with greenery provides many benefits. By Incorporating plants & green spaces in your home you can improve air quality, sustain wildlife & bee populations, improve mental & physical health, reduce carbon emissions and provide beautiful outlooks to gaze out at.

The Power of Blue
Before humans lived in buildings, we lived in natural settings. Our need for connection to nature is innate. Being close to the water – especially the sea – is associated with many benefits to physical & mental wellbeing, from higher levels of vitamin D to better social relations*. People who live by the water are typically exposed to less polluted air, more sunlight, and they are generally more active too. A ‘blue space’ can be the sea or coastline, rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, pools, and even fountains – they all can improve our health & happiness.

Create A Mindful Space or Nook
According to Ikea’s global living study, 76% agree that privacy is important to our wellbeing*. Having a special space where you can have some private time to put down that phone & relax, unwind or let loose and dance like no one is watching is a great way to have that ‘me time’ – and it doesn’t have to be behind closed doors. This space could be a separate retreat in the backyard, a study nook, meditation corner, or even a window seat, so long as you can relax, recover, focus or play – these zones can help us thrive in life.

Read more about Architecture & Happiness < < here. 

Globally, buildings and construction play a major role in our current Climate & Biodiversity Emergency, accounting for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, whilst also having a significant on our natural habitats*. Back in September 2019, Archiblox joined the Architects Declare movement, and pledge to continue to use & improve on clever design, sustainable practices & raise awareness in designing & constructing better-built solutions for the environment and our communities.

Along with our friends at Breathe Architects and many other firms in the industry, we have also made a commitment as a business to go carbon neutral in 2020. We aim to achieve this through 3 steps;

1. 100% Green Power by 30 January 2020
2. Carbon Audit by 30 June 2020
3. Carbon Neutral by 30 December 2020

Join us, together we can create positive change. Stay tuned for more information on our journey to becoming carbon neutral in 2020.

We are also on the hunt for like-minded suppliers to join us in creating sustainable homes for the future. So, if this sounds like you please get in touch HERE.

After the recent & ongoing catastrophic bushfire season in Australia – created by long-term climate warming and years of drought combined with a set of particular weather patterns – we have been served up a severe warning of our future. So, it’s no surprise people are wanting homes that are bushfire resistant. While nothing is completely bushfire proof apart from an underground bunker, you can design smarter homes that are more resistant, safer and reduce the potential risk of property damage.

At Archiblox, we are able to work with most sites, with a range of different bush fire attack levels. Our standard homes are built to a BAL rating of 12.5, but we can build homes all the way through to a ‘Flame Zone’ (FZ) – which is the highest rating you can get. The extent of the changes to the design, materials, and engineering will vary according to the site’s rating*.

For more information on BAL ratings & bushfire resistant design read our blog >>

Designing & Building a Home in Bushfire Prone Areas

Have a home project in mind for 2020 or beyond?

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*
Source: Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council + the CRC for Low Carbon Living
Source: CRC for Low Carbon Living
Source: domain.com.au
Source: realestate.com.au
Source: Houzz
Source: The Guardian
Source: Ikea – Life At Home Report
Source: Architects Declare