BDA SEES NEED FOR BETTER HOMES, NOT BIGGER HOMES

The Building Designers Association of NSW agrees with Access Economics' forecast of a decline in the popularity of large houses.

"We have been saying for some time that size is no substitute for quality." said BDA NSW President Dick Clarke, "What we need is better houses, not bigger ones."

The BDA believes the whole housing industry has a responsibility to future generations to get things right now so we do not squander their inheritance. This means not building white elephants in the suburbs no one will live in, it means making smaller more efficient houses that do not consume such vast amounts of energy.

"A well designed house will adapt to its occupants' changing needs, not just keep getting bigger for the sake of it - I mean, how often do we use formal dining rooms? A well designed house will sit easily on the site, and use the microclimate instead of fighting it, thus eliminating the need for energy hungry add-ons like air conditioning, which only bad houses need." said Clarke.

The BDA has been endeavouring to work with governments at local and state level to plan for a mix of housing in the suburbs, to allow different age groups and cultural groups to remain where they feel comfortable and where their social networks are.

The BDA has long had a policy of encouraging its members to design more appropriate and efficient buildings, through such programs as SEDA's Energy Smart Homes Policy, and its Design Awards program, which requires an ecologically sustainable development (ESD) appraisal of every entry.

For more information, visit www.bdansw.com.au, or phone Dick Clarke, President BDA NSW, direct line 9944 7446. SEDA
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