Housing The Future

The housing crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand, has been caused by a range of factors, including an increase in population and the use of housing as an investment asset. In response, the government has implemented several housing policy changes over the past ten years, with many aiming to allow intensification. While these policy changes have seen many new higher-density developments built, these often fail to consider the needs of children and families. In particular, many new housing developments lack adequate play spaces, outdoor spaces, and larger units. This research aims to explore how housing can be more suited to families with children, providing an alternative to existing intensification models. A selected site in Taita, Lower Hutt is the focus of this research, as Taita is a densifying suburb with a large demographic of families and children. Information from literature, case studies, fieldwork, site analysis, and design experimentation has been used. An iterative design process was conducted based on the collected data. These results and design ideas can be applied in other intensifying areas in Aotearoa New Zealand, enabling a wider demographic to have their needs met in higher-density housing.