The space of dwelling: an investigation into the potential for spatial flexibility to improve volume housing in Australia

This PhD explores architectural contributions in the design and delivery of volume housing, which provides the most affordable housing option in the Australian market. The study develops different design strategies for incorporating spatial flexibility in four housing projects: The Dividable House, The Adaptable House, The Adaptable Apartment and The Flexible Townhouse, stemming from the Sustainable Affordable Home initiative (SAHI) and Designing Affordable Sustainable Housing (DASH). These projects, commissioned by Victorian State Government authorities, aim to provide design improvements that can be adopted at negligible increase in cost to the dwelling. In addition to the housing design projects, the design research has been developed through case-study analysis and the development of hypothetical occupancy scenarios. The design projects, developed between 2006 and 2011 as demonstration projects aimed at volume housing providers in Melbourne, were conceptualised to offer flexible spatial designs in response to the social, economic and environmental issues that current models of volume housing struggle to address. The Adaptable House, stemming from the SAHI project, was built in 2010 by the volume builder Burbank. These projects, as well as the design research that accompanied them, were developed through the collaborative efforts of research teams. The SAHI projects were completed in collaboration with Professor Shane Murray and Graham Crist. The DASH projects were conducted under the auspices of the Monash Architecture Studio in collaboration with Professor Shane Murray, Lee-Anne Khor, Ross Brewin, Tom Morgan, Barend Meyer, Professor Nigel Bertram, Louise Wright and Studio m-b.