100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

How the pandemic and climate change are impacting the design of Sunshine Coast homes

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Your say: tree protections, flood centre and more

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and More

Hotel developer urges government to chip in

A developer says the state government will need to consider subsiding hotels if it wants more of that style of accommodation in South-East Queensland More

Year-round flights across the ditch have arrived

Flights have started on a new year-round service across the ditch. Jetstar passengers travelled between Auckland and the Sunshine Coast on Friday, to mark the More

Childcare centre with 130 places proposed for development area

A new childcare centre is on the cards for a Sunshine Coast growth belt. Nirimba ELC Property One Pty Limited proposes to build a childcare More

Property experts join board of regional business group

Two property development experts have been appointed to the board of the region's leading business advocacy group. Stockland Aura project director Josh Sondergeld and Scanlon More

Sami Muirhead: rolling in festive bliss

What would your last meal be if you had to decide today? I know mine is a fresh prawn roll. Nothing in this world beats More

Lifestyle as we used to know it has changed because of the pandemic and climate change concerns and it’s having an impact on housing choice on the Coast.

But BRD Group managing director Brad Read, who works on the design of multi-residential and commercial buildings, says the two key issues are having conflicting effects.

“The pandemic is driving people to have bigger units with bigger external areas as opposed to if you are talking cost of living that would generally drive unit sizes down and sustainability,” said Mr Read.

“So, from our perspective, we see the two in conflict. One is driving up sizes. One tends to drive sizes down.”

Design changes driven by the pandemic include less units, more frontage, internal courtyards, more natural light and ventilation and green walls.

“Common zones are being broken down into multiple zones rather than one big zone,” said Mr Read.

“The cost of living has seen the demand for solar integration and natural ventilation to reduce the need for air conditioning requirements”, he added.

Brad Read from BRD Group.

Overall Mr Read hasn’t seen a demand for wholesale changes to the design of residential and commercial complexes. It’s been more about subtle tweaks.

Some of BRD’s clients are now wanting units created with a minimum of 250 square metres and more.

“If you went back two, three years ago, we probably wouldn’t have been doing that. We were doing big units 10 years and then that decreased and now we are going way back up again.”

Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article. 

The most recently completed Botanica in Maroochydore reflects this change with 16 units of about 300 square metres and expansive outdoor areas.

The newest vertical retirement complex in Maroochydore, which is currently in the design phase and aimed at a younger entry age, will have increased indoor and outdoor areas for the units and flexibility in its larger open spaces and common areas.

On the commercial front, due to the challenges around availability of building products, more thought has gone into how buildings are being constructed.

BRD is also working into its new commercial designs larger workspaces.

“We are very aware of not having a call-centre type approach,” said Mr Read.

His design team is working on larger workspaces and incorporating balconies to improve the quality of staff areas.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share