Recipe for homefullness

In Australia, the majority of Australian housing stock is tied up in the private market, with most Australians owning their own home or renting someone else's house. Whilst there are many voices advocating for an increase in affordable housing, Australian government and developers commitment to extending options in social, cooperative and affordable housing is still somewhat negligible compared to the current supply and demand for the private sales and rental market. This situation will need to change as Australian cities grow into the 21st Century. It is estimated that Melbourne will reach of population of 8 million people by 2050 and need to house an extra 3-4 million people in the next 35 years. This important question needs addressing by a host of players from governments, developers, architects, urban designers, housing activists and artists. It seems that now more than ever it is crucial for Australians to imagine, develop and build a range of housing options to ensure that we have the housing stock we need to house Melbournians by the middle of this century. This chapter examines how creative practitioners can develop and influence innovative affordable housing projects. It explores the work of Australian, English and Swedish artists, architects and urban designers who have collaborated on activist projects to imagine and invent new models for housing and investigate what constitutes home and community