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Your location: Home > Smart Housing > News > Smart Housing update - October 2002

Smart Housing Updates - October 2002

Download the October 2002 Smart Housing Update (99Kb) for printing.

In this update…

• 2002 Smart Housing Award Winners
• Smart Win for Research House
• New Definition for Smart Housing
• Accessible Housing Service Launched in the ACT
• Invitation to a Sustainability Showcase
• Accessible Housing National Network
• Forum: No Place Like...
• Home for the Ages

2002 Smart Housing Award Winners

With an innovative environmentally, socially and economically sustainable home design, Glenwood Homes have won the 2002 Smart Housing Design, Construct and Display Award, announced at the Queensland Master Builders Association (QMBA) State Awards night on 20 September.

Minister for Public Works and Housing, Robert Schwarten said the winning design was attractive, not only for its architecture, but its cost efficient features that have the potential to save its owners thousands of dollars over the life of the home.

"Glenwood Homes' versatile design could be easily adapted to suit any residents from young families through to elderly people or people with disabilities," he said.

"Safety and security features including surveillance of the garden and street from living areas will give residents greater peace of mind. Passive solar design features, louvre windows and generous shading will cool the home during warm summer months."

The winning design will be constructed within a QMBA display village in south east Queensland, giving people the opportunity to see the difference that a Smart House makes for themselves.

Other competition winners included:

• Iezzi Constructions (Highly Commended)
• Shane Smith Builder (Commended)
• Dixon Homes (Commended)
• Capricorn 151 Project Management (Encouragement Award)

Mr Schwarten said he was encouraged by the increased interest in the competition from project builders. "Consumers could easily approach any of these winners and have their own Smart House constructed. I look forward to a time when many project builders offer a Smart House as part of their standard home range", he said.

Smart Win for Research House

Smart Housing has also been a recipient of a major national housing award. The Rockhampton Research House won a special judges' award at this year's HIA Green Smart Awards.

Minister for Public Works and Housing and Member for Rockhampton, Robert Schwarten said the Smart House was built last year as a research centre to trial innovative building design, technologies and products.

"This is very exciting for the housing industry," Mr Schwarten said.

"The Research House challenges contemporary design and explores construction detailing that is simple, cost effective and has a universal application.

"Such simple, commonsense design features can make homes flexible, efficient, safe, secure and affordable for years to come."

For more information, visit the Research House section.

New Definition for Smart Housing

Smart Housing has always sought to promote good practice in the design and construction of residential dwellings. Traditionally, good practice has been defined as being housing that is universally designed, safe, secure, energy efficient and affordable.

In order to remain relevant to industry and in touch with other government agencies, the Smart Housing is revisiting this definition. A new definition has been proposed that attempts to encompass the messages of each Queensland Government agency engaged in promoting better practice in housing design and construction and recognises the current industry trend towards more sustainable practices.

Currently the new proposed definition is:

Smart Housing is good practice in residential design and construction. It is more sustainable in terms of:

1. social - universally designed, safe and secure;
2. environment - resource efficient in waste, water and energy; and
3. economics - cost-efficient initially and over time.

Smart Housing applies to new housing and significant renovations; to the individual dwelling and the wider community; and in practice and policy.

We value your input into the process. Can you please forward your feedback either by return email or call Dyan Eastman, Smart Housing Coordinator on Tel: (07) 3238 3684 / Fax: (07) 3238 3687.

Accessible Housing Service Launched in the ACT

A new adaptable and accessible housing design service has been launched by the ACT Department of Urban Services. The service, known as accessADAPT, is operated by AGS Group Pty Limited on behalf of the ACT department.

The service will develop a series of design protocols and fact sheets to be made available to homeowners, architects and designers, builders and developers, industry and government.

For more information or to contact visit the accessADAPT website.

Invitation to a Sustainability Showcase

The Urban Development Industry Association (Queensland) (UDIA) in conjunction with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has been responsible for a landmark program aimed at encouraging and promoting sustainable development.

Expressions of Interest for examples of sustainable developments were called for and the selected demonstration projects are going to be presented by the Honourable Dean Wells, Minister for the Environment at a special event hosted by the UDIA on Wednesday, 9 October from 3:00pm - 5:00pm with drinks afterwards. For more information, contact the Events Coordinator on 3229 1589 or visit the Urban Development Institute of Australia website.

Accessible Housing National Network

Across Australia, there has been a growing interest in the adoption of an accessible housing code in the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

On 30 May 2002, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) discussed accessible housing at length. The Melbourne Times states that the Executive Director of the Australian Building Codes Board indicated that "a 12-month research project as the first step in developing residential standards [would start] later this year" (Wednesday, June 19, 2002).

It is thus timely for those who are interested in this project from a user's perspective to network and offer advice and direction to this project and any other ABCB activities on housing access.

A National Network is proposed and those who are interested in more information or joining the Network are invited to contact:

Kevin Cocks
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI)
kevin@qai.org.au

Rob Lake
People with Disabilities (NSW)
robl@pwd.org.au

Bernd Bartl
Member, Disability Support and Housing Alliance (Vic)
bernd.bartl@rmit.edu.au

Forum: There's no place like...

The QUT Cultural Precinct and the British Council in association with Mirvac present a forum investigating the concepts of home, contemporary objects and the spaces we live in. Featuring national and international speakers, professional makers, designers, architects and the curators of the home sweet home and the calling home exhibitions.

The forum is for interior designers, architects, artists, craft workers, design and architecture students, industry suppliers, local state and national government housing agencies, manufacturers, object designer/makers, social planners, cultural commentators and anyone with an interest in investigating the 'home'.

The forum will be held Saturday, 12 October 2002 at the QUT Cultural Precinct. Cost is $77 for full paying attendees, $44 concession and $33 for QUT students. To register, phone (07) 3864 4455.

Home for the Ages

A new development in the United States is being hailed as a test case for "the future of multi-generational home building."

"Cambridge at Heatherstone, one of the largest new residential projects in Lake County, is being built in Beach Park, immediately northwest of Waukegan. Not just another cornfield subdivision, it offers a variety of homes designed to cater to all age groups, from 20-somethings to retirees.

Three types of homes are offered at the 214-acre development -multifamily units, a mix of townhouses and duplexes that are especially targeted toward younger buyers; single-family homes for families with children; and single-level homes restricted to those 55 and older.

"Not only does the housing mix appeal to all markets, it also means buyers can start in a multifamily unit, move up to a single-family home and eventually retire in the age-restricted section," said Richard J. Brown, CEO of Libertyville-based Cambridge Homes, owned by Texas-based D.R. Horton."

Stay in touch!

Your involvement is important!

Smart Housing depends on your feedback, comments and suggestions. We also welcome contributions to this newsletter.

For more information on Smart Housing, please contact us on (07) 3224 4961, email smarthousing@publicworks.qld.gov.au

Last updated March 2007