Home Truth – How Much Do We Really Need?

Written by FTMA’s Kat Welsh

At the National Gallery of Victoria, in Melbourne is the NGV Architecture Commission 2024 exhibit, Home Truth.

Designed by Breathe, Australia’s most awarded sustainable architecture and design firm, Home Truth is at first glance a sight, or perhaps a site, that would be familiar to FTMA News readers. But walk a bit closer and the exhibit has a pointed message.

Home Truth is exciting for a number of reasons, but predominantly its design is questioning the housing market’s trend in Australia to build bigger and bigger houses. Current statistics are that typical suburban Aussie homes are sitting on a footprint of 236 square metres. Looking at worldwide statistics of house size, we’re leading the way, surpassing the United States and Canada. It begs the question, what are we doing with all that space?

Home Truth is the skeleton footprint of what is being normalised as Australian modern living. It is a maze of corridors through overbearing heights-of-walls – representing how the trend of villa living is pulling us apart as families and indeed communities. It examines the impact environmentally when we supersize everything. More heating, more cooling, more electricity, more resources… but yet, less connection.

Accompanying the overbearing frame is a more modest structure sitting on 50 square metres, that visitors eventually find their way to. It shows that we could live in smaller, more intimate and less impacting spaces, yet not give up designer creations.

Home Truth is a catalyst in examining why we think we need more, and more, and more – when we’re an increasing global population, and reaching a stage of critical mass with our available resources. Why does the family home need to splinter families off into a maze of studies, theatre rooms, and ensuites? Home should be something that brings us together, not the vehicle that drives us apart.

Framing the future: The growth of Australian houses is an essay written by Dr. Timothy Moore, and explores the theory and the practicality behind Breathe’s philosophies on house building. It elaborates with insight into the history and progression of housing construction in Australia, its cultural impacts, as well as its environmental impacts.

What is pleasing to see – whichever part of the exhibit you find your way into – is that it is timber framed throughout, and displays an incredible board made out of Tetra Paks.

What’s even more exciting for FTMA, is that 2 members, were part of putting Home Truth together. McCormacks Australia, and Drouin West Timber & Truss, and have both been contributors to the project.

FTMA put a few questions to Julia Hall Chief Executive Officer from McCormacks Australia, and Nick Ward Business Analyst from DWTT, to find out what it was like to be part of something so unique, thought provoking, and why it was important.

• Q1. What made you keen to be involved with Breathe’s project?

JH – “I loved the concept around building simply. We have complicated building to the point where many people see it as out of reach financially and it shouldn’t be this way. We can definitely build simpler and smaller which would result in more people being able to afford a home. As a basic need (shelter) I really believe everyone should be able to expect this.”

NW – “Our initial discussions with Breathe focused on a potential collaboration for a mid-density development using our FutureFit Panelised system. When Jeremy invited us to contribute to this high-profile NGV project, we saw it as a great opportunity to showcase the innovation and efficiency of prefabricated construction in a prominent setting.

Being part of a project that highlights sustainable, well-designed building solutions aligns with our commitment to pushing the industry forward. Throughout the process, I joked especially after every redesign that this might be our one and only chance to be artists, though I think I found it funnier than Andrew and Brian, our Designers.”

• Q2. Can you tell me more about what you supplied for the project, and the process behind creating this?

JH – “saveBOARD is made from recycled Tetra Paks, soft Plastics (yes Red Cycle) here in Australia. They started out in Hamilton NZ and opened Warragamba in November 2022. The boards can be used for wall lining, ceiling tile, and hoarding material. The product has no end of life, it can be recycled back at Warragamba over and over.”

NW – “All the wall frames for this three-storey art exhibition were prefabricated at our Drouin plant using 100% locally sourced Australian Radiata Pine from our key suppliers OneFortyOne, AKD, and Timberlink. Prefabrication ensured precision, efficiency, and minimal onsite waste, aligning with sustainable construction practices. This project was a true testament to our team’s skill & care in their work to ensure we maintain our great reputation for high quality wall frames, starting from the designers right through to the machine operators. Using Pryda Build software, we calculated that the wall frames and beams contained 19.64 cubic meters of timber and stored approximately 4,260 kg of carbon, with plans to be utilised in other projects after the exhibition, reinforcing the environmental benefits of using responsibly sourced timber in modern construction.”

• Q3. Why do you think it’s important for this to be on display at the NGV?

JH – “NGV gives the exhibit a wider coverage, from children to adults, creatives, to business people. We hope that it acts as a way to educate and inspire.”

NW – “With Australia having the largest average house sizes in the world, coupled with a housing shortage and rising cost of living, it’s more important than ever to challenge the “bigger is better” mindset. Showcasing this at the NGV offers a platform to inspire a cultural shift toward smarter, more efficient living. By promoting well-designed, compact homes that prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency, we can help ease long-term cost-of-living pressures while fostering a sense of pride in high-quality, thoughtful design.

With predictions suggesting that many younger Australians may never be able to afford their own homes, it’s crucial to explore alternative approaches. Encouraging a more European-inspired focus on intelligent, space-efficient design could make homeownership a more attainable reality for future generations.”

• Q.4 Why would you encourage specifically Frame and Truss Industry manufacturers to visit the exhibit, and what key message would you like for people to come away with – highlighting what our sector could be doing as future investments?

JH – “Frame & Truss manufacturers are already in the innovation space and this is a way to inspire them to think outside of their squares and triangles at the possibilities. Drouin West F&T were responsible for the timber frames of the exhibit, working with tight deadlines and tight spaces to make it possible. The advertising opportunity for our industry in being part of this type of exhibit is huge. The whole industry has a responsibility to promote and support projects to encourage home building and affordable housing. Frame & Truss is the first line of defence in this.”

NW – “This exhibit offers a rare opportunity to see prefabricated wall frames presented in a high-art setting and believe it or not, not look out of place. Timber construction remains the dominant choice for residential homes. By combining our expertise with that of other trades and industry professionals as well as a cultural shift, we can help drive change that makes homeownership more attainable. Through smarter design and efficient use of space, eliminating unnecessary “dead space”, we can help future generations afford homes they can truly be proud of, while also addressing the housing affordability crisis.”

If we all just took what we needed to survive and be moderately comfortable, there would be enough for everyone – whilst promoting balance for our environment. But if we all live in excess with an ensuite in every room, we’re fast going to run out of space, resources, and we’ll see the impacts of this on the family unit. Besides being financially unachievable for the average homebuyer. One thing’s for sure, we’re past critical mass for a planet to supply luxurious villas if everyone built one.

The exhibit, Home Truth, will be on display at the NGV until 20th July… we would encourage everyone to get down there and enjoy the creation, the message, and the inspiration.

Thank you to Julia Hall and Nick Ward for their time in contributing for this article.