2 October 2008

Daylight Saving a Boost to the Outside Room Trend

Daylight saving in Australia, which starts again on Sunday, has been a major boost to the developing trend in Australian housing to open up the house to the garden creating indoor outdoor living areas.

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said the added hour of daylight extends the use of the home for entertainment and relaxation.

Angus Kell, State Manager NSW & ACT of Archicentre said a recent national poll of over 800 Archicentre architects revealed the outdoor room had become increasingly popular with home owners undertaking Archicentre renovation design reports.

"It's all about making sitting inside feel like sitting outside," he says. "This is done using rolling doors, retractable roofing or light wells and an energy-efficient design. A complimentary style of flooring creates the illusion of seamlessness."

Decking
"A lot of people still love the hardwood deck and it's often the most practical solution," says Mr. Kell. "However, our architects have been having great success with natural stone products and polished concrete."

"Where a deck is not feasible, a courtyard fills the void," Mr. Kell says. "Courtyards also create northern aspects and privacy. They seem to be most common on renovations of old properties like semi-detached or terrace houses".

Pergolas
Leafy pergolas provide sun protection and garden character, but a lot of outdoor extensions have been defined by even more elaborate conservatory constructions with integrated lighting, fans, speakers and kitchenettes.

Pools and water features are also popular including lap pools, splash pools, plunge pools and the occasional Olympian pool.

What's next?
Mr. Kell suspects the next big trend will be outdoor kitchens. He says they are already a growing demand among Archicentre customers. "They will no doubt become an even bigger deal in the next few years, as it's another excuse to spend more time in the great outdoors."

Archicentre Poll facts:
•  South Australians lead the country in drought-tolerant landscaping (85.7%) and architecturally designed barbeques (78.6%).
•  New South Wales construct the most pergolas (76.7%) and are barely edged out by Victoria's impressive decking coverage (88% to 89%).
•  Over 50% of Archicentre's Queensland clients want more paving than lawn (56.3%). More than a third of Queensland renovators ask for water features (37.5%).
•  More than any other state, Queenslanders like to set their parties to music (31.3%). Acoustically treated environments with surround sound and low-cost MP3 players are popular.
•  At 64%, West Australia is the swimming pool capital of Australia.

Grass Evolution of the Low-Maintenance Garden

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Angus Kell State Manager NSW & ACT Archicentre (02) 9555 5111 Mobile: 0412 565 023
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201