Leveraging the past to shape the future of housing
I recently had the distinct pleasure of addressing a group of NSW architecture students. The session was an exploration of how their future work in the residential housing space will shape the very fabric of our society. As architects, they won’t merely design structures; they will influence the lives and futures of countless individuals.
Housing is an intensely personal and emotive subject. Everyone has a relationship with it, whether they own a home, rent one, or aspire to own one. This relationship breeds opinions—strong ones—about what housing should be.
We live in a moment of time where external forces are coming thick and fast and solutions to the way we live are required at an ever-increasing rate. We must remember that we are not just building for today, but for generations to come. The houses we create are likely to outlive us, serving future families long after we are gone. This sense of permanence is a powerful reminder of the responsibility that comes with navigating the multitude of proposed solutions to the housing crisis.
One way to move forwards is to look at evidence from the past. A key tool is that of the Australian Census. Over the years, the Census has done more than just count heads; it has provided a mirror reflecting important social and cultural priorities. We can use it to pinpoint what has mattered to most Australians over time.
When we look over Australia’s history, we can identify patterns and repetition. At the time of the Spanish Flu pandemic there was a preoccupation in the 1911 Census with death and disease, reflecting health concerns shared globally. Following WWII, the focus shifted to materials and housing shortages, with the census asking Australians to identify what their homes were made of. Reflected in the results was a fascination with fibro. In 1948 cost of living pressures in Australia had become so extreme that there was a national question posed in a referendum about the role of the Federal Government in regulating rents. There is a strong sense of history repeating as we again see the issue of rental reforms back on the front pages of our newspapers.
Today, as some of us eagerly await the 2026 census, there’s an ongoing debate about whether to include questions on sexuality, a topic that reflects current societal discussions around identity and equality. New questions included in the next census will mark another milestone in how we track and respond to social issues in our time. A record that captures a snapshot of who we are, what we care about, and how we live.
As individuals involved in the way we shape our cities we have a responsibility to understand the trends. The homes we design today must be informed by the past, meet the needs of the present and be sensitive to the changes that future generations will face.
Jo McClellan, Founder Two Things.