Perth exhibition highlights housing diversity

A new exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, explores alternative models of "the great (West) Australian dream."

Titled "WA Homes - S, M, L," the exhibition covers a range of housing types in Western Australia, from small houses, medium-density developments, and multi-unit apartment blocks.

Australian houses are the largest in the world, with a median size of 256.3 square metres. Western Australia has the greatest promotion of four-bedroom homes in the country at 36 percent. While at the same time, household sizes are decreasing and the proportion of single-person households are increasing.

"We need to change the way we plan for more housing. We can't keep building out we need to create capacity for more infill, with more diverse types of homes," said Perth Design Week co-creators Sandy Anghie and David Smith.

The exhibition will feature a range of award-winning, small-footprint homes by Perth architects, showcasing how the state can increase the supply, and quality, of homes while also reducing costs and the impact on the environment.

"Small homes include award winning Celilo Springs House by architect Andrew Boyne. At just 120 square metres, this beautiful hand crafted home is half the size of the average Australian home," the co-creators said.

"The exhibition will also focus on medium density developments, the missing middle. With the start date for the state government's new Medium Density Code announced just a few weeks ago, this exhibition shows the diversity of housing - and choice ‐ medium density provides.

"Apartments featured in the exhibition challenge the norm. Architects have led the way in innovative apartment design across Perth for decades - from setting precedents in urban density, through to adaptive reuse of existing buildings and build to rent."

WA Homes - S, M, L is on exhibition at the Hub, Old Gaol, WA Museum Boola Bardip until 29 March 2024 and will be a key part of Perth Design Week.