Future homes need flexible spaces for work, research finds
A three-year Monash University study of 49 Australians found homes need flexible spaces for work, but income divides limit energy adoption.
Researchers found half of surveyed households had someone working from home at least weekly. Design experts recommend flexible rooms with visual and acoustic separation.
Rather than dedicated offices, homes should have flexible spaces. Future homes could use movable screens, curtains and better storage.
This blends living and working spaces. The research also found energy inequality.
One EV sells every 100 seconds in Australia. Only 4 per cent of people earning under $40,000 a year own or plan to buy one.
This compares to 22 per cent earning more than $241,000. Similarly, rooftop solar now appears in one in three homes.
But it drops sharply among lower-income households. Those earning under $80,000 are least likely to install it.
Why it mattersHome design is shifting to reflect how Australians actually work and live. The income gap in energy adoption risks leaving poorer households behind in the energy transition.
AustraliaAustralian builders and developers will need to rethink home layouts to include flexible work zones. Lower-income Australians risk being excluded from cheaper energy options like solar and EVs.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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