Are these the homes of the future?

Where will we be living in 2030

Low-energy houses built using timber and locally sourced materials, and set in car-free neighbourhoods, are a common feature of the schemes that have made it to the finals of a competition to find low-carbon and age-friendly homes.

The Home of 2030 competition encourages the design of environmentally friendly homes that support people in leading independent, fulfilling lives as society ages.

The finalists

• The Positive Collective (changebuilding Perpendicular Architecture & humblebee) with ECOSystems Technologies, COCIS and Arup: Homes that seek to reduce carbon emissions and encourage social interaction, including through food grown in communal spaces and areas such as ponds to promote biodiversity.
• HLM Architects with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Green Build: Homes built using interchangeable parts with other homes, creating a circular economy in which little is wasted.
  
• Igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr Architects: Homes with simple frame structures and standardised components set amidst walkable, vibrant neighbourhoods.
  
• Openstudio Architects: Three building elements (a standardised housing module, an open ‘Loft’ and a circulation, storage and shared module) are used in combination with three landscape elements (communal green space, small private gardens or upper level balconies and terraces, and front gardens) to create combinations of sustainable, age-friendly spaces.
  
• Outpost Architects and team: Janus, a home constructed from 98% organic biomass material (primarily timber and straw).
  Studio OPEN: Promoting community and caring for others through a central garden shared between four homes that are built with locally sourced materials and timber construction methods to reduce environmental impact.

The six finalists have each received £40,000 of funding to help them develop detailed plans.

The winning Home of 2030 entry will be announced this autumn. The winner will be chosen and other selected finalists will be introduced to Homes England development partners to explore the possibility of developing bids for a series of homes on Homes England land.

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said: “This competition demonstrates the best of British design being brought to bear on a key issue for today, and future generations: delivering homes that are good for the planet and that promote healthy, independent living for older generations

“The winner of this competition will set the standard for the homes of the future and all six finalists have already made an exciting contribution to the designs we will need in the UK and around the world.”

The announcement followed the launch of the Government’s Planning for the future, which proposes an overhaul of the planning system. The reforms include a commitment to making tree-lined streets the norm and an ambition that new ‘zero carbon ready’ homes delivered under the new system will not require any future retrofitting.

Minister for Clean Growth and Energy, Kwasi Kwarteng MP said: “Cutting homeowners’ heating bills and making buildings greener is the next step in our plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and pioneering low-carbon initiatives like these will futureproof our housing stock for years to come. Alongside our nationwide £320m heat network investment and our upcoming £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme, these projects will pave the way for the UK’s green homes revolution.”

As part of the Industrial Strategy, the government wants people to enjoy at least five extra years of healthy independent living by 2035. More than 10 million people in the UK today can expect to see their 100th birthday, compared to 15,000 current centenarians.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said: “We want everyone, regardless of their age, to lead healthy, active lives in communities that work for them. As the population of the UK ages, our housing and infrastructure must be adaptable to our changing needs. The innovation and talent shown by the finalists in designing solutions to meet the needs of our future population has been very exciting and I look forward to seeing what comes next.”

Home of 2030 competition

Home of 2030 applicants had to submit an outline design for homes that are:

• Age-friendly and inclusive – appealing to a variety of age groups and adaptable to how needs will change as people become older.
• Have low environmental impact – applying technology and construction techniques to deliver net zero carbon emissions.
• Promote healthy living – promoting better health and wellbeing, such as through access to green spaces and communal areas.
• Deliverable and scalable – homes that can be rolled-out across the country.

Alan Jones, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), said: “The UK urgently needs a broad mix of affordable, age-friendly and sustainable housing – and these shortlisted proposals provide exactly that. Through the clever configuration of private and public space, natural light and ventilation, intelligent use of materials and technologies – these cost-effective, low carbon homes show what’s possible when architects collaborate.”

Home of 2030 finalists

The Positive Collective (changebuilding Perpendicular Architecture & humblebee) with ECOSystems Technologies, COCIS and Arup:
Positive+ House seeks to maximise our positive contribution to society and the environment, not just to minimise construction’s negative impacts. The scheme attempts to balance inclusivity, health and environmental benefits with economic value through the use of adaptable solid timber panels made off-site from home-grown timber, and the use of very low energy systems.

HLM Architects with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Green Build:
An ambition to develop a design standard that enables any Modern Methods of Construction system to deliver the same high quality, sustainable design, with parts that are interchangeable.

Igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr Architects:
+Home helps communities to build green, walkable, vibrant neighbourhoods themselves, bypassing traditional housebuilders. Instead of standard house designs, it proposes community-led and self-build homes that people can design themselves. The homes are simple to build with affordable frames and components, and are climate friendly to build and run.

Openstudio Architects:
Homes are proposed to build a sense of identity and place from a simple kit of parts. Flexible and adaptable houses, apartments, external terraces and gardens can be combined at different scales and densities to develop multi-generational communities which provide a sustainable environment in which people can thrive.

Outpost Architects with Milk structures, EcoCocon, Barbara Jones, Gaia Group Ltd, Propagating Dan and Atelier Replica:
Janus is a modular housing system inspired by traditional biomass materials and construction. Janus House uses these materials in modern ways to create a house that is zero waste, sequesters carbon, and enables a healthy lifestyle for its occupants.

Studio OPEN:
By simplifying and standardising a characteristic ‘kit of parts’ of both internal and external spaces, each site is intended to be adapted to the scale and needs of the community, generating connected, sustainable, age-friendly and inclusive neighbourhoods.