There’s a fresh approach to sustainable and affordable housing coming from Solution Street. With 28 Homestar homes completed and more on the way, this modular housing company is making waves. Their compact, functional, and well-designed homes make smart use of space without compromising on the quality in a city where space is at a premium
We visited a recent development in Glenfield to see their innovative homes in person. Each of these terraced homes achieved a 7-star rating and are an excellent example of the efficiencies gained through modular building techniques. The shorter construction times achieved and lower cost of materials through bulk purchasing produces affordable homes where they’re sorely needed.
The construction and fit out of each dwelling takes place off site in two sections, bottom floor and top floor, before being trucked in, installed on piles, and connected to services. This off-site prefabrication significantly reduces waste sent to landfill, a key feature of the Homestar ratings, as extra materials can be recycled in-house.
Building homes in a controlled factory environment can improve the quality and energy efficiency of the homes as the construction team becomes well practiced at difficult details through repetition of the same build. Transporting completed dwellings to site as opposed to construction in situ reduces opportunity for environmental degradation as there is less time spent on site.
Each house is 72m2 and includes an open plan living dining area, a laundry, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. Efficient planning gives these compact homes a spacious feel.
Project Summary
Location: 83 Marlborough Avenue, Glenfield
Number of units: 3 Terraces, 1 Typology
Project owner: Solution Street
Ratings: 7 Homestar Built rating
Tool: Homestar V4
Homestar assessor: Sam Dallimore, BXG