Boutique builder Humphrey Homes has created a new concept to tap into homeowners’ desire to remain in their homes for longer and accommodate generational change.
Boutique builder Humphrey Homes has created a new concept to tap into homeowners’ desire to remain in their homes for longer and accommodate generational change.
Humphrey Homes chief executive Dean Humphrey said his Lifecycle House concept differed from traditional house design in that the homes could be made larger or smaller depending on buyers’ needs.
That means no more downsizing to a smaller property when the kids move out, and no need to buy a bigger home when family circumstances change, Mr Humphrey told Business News.
“It just seems a really sensible, logical way of designing,” Mr Humphrey said.
“Kids are staying at home longer and what we’re finding is a lot of adults want to keep their kids closer.
“What we’re hearing from people’s design briefs is they want a lot of flexibility in a home.
“To have a home that’s flexible means you don’t have to sell every seven years.”
The Lifecycle House, a concept Mr Humphrey has been working on for the past 12 months, comprises a combination of pods and open pavilions, which can be customised to meet an individual buyer’s needs.
The pods are linked either by communal areas, landscaping or courtyards.
Living spaces can also be changed to suit different seasons, while areas of the home can also be closed or opened to accommodate guests or even to create a separate dwelling, which could then be rented out.
Mr Humphrey said the concept was not only a response to homeowners’ requirement for more flexible living spaces, but also to changing economic conditions.
He said while the houses might cost more to construct, eliminating the need to move when family circumstances changed created a value proposition for buyers.
“Value is the key,” Mr Humphrey said.
“It almost always is, but when times are tough, people really want value.
“I wouldn’t say we would do this to compete with the entry-level project builders, because they are a machine that churns out houses and they are very efficient at it.
“It’s probably a little bit above that, right through to a more high-level custom market.”
