Social Accessibility and Environmental Sustainability as the Key Pillars in Achieving More Resilient Affordable Housing Outcomes: WSBE 2026

Dominika Richards recently spoke at the World Sustainable Built Environment (WSBE) Conference in Melbourne.

The conference explores innovative solutions for a sustainable future, pushing beyond existing frameworks to consider future challenges and opportunities and contribute to the next iteration of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It was an honour for Dom to be chosen as a speaker, contributing her innovative thinking to address critical issues around sustainability in the built environment.

Please see some key extracts from Dom’s presentation below.

The cost of shelter

As built environment professionals we each hold agency. In a landscape shaped by competing priorities, evolving information, and fragmented decision-making, sustainable choices can remain inconsistent, even when the ambition is shared. This surely is the case when it comes to affordable housing projects where budgets are stretched and there is little scope to implement costly sustainable certifications.

However, this does not mean that we should not actively pursue other avenues to establish strong sustainability ambitions that promote durability, low maintenance, circularity, and overall carbon reduction across all projects.

A building that is cheap to construct but costly to run, uncomfortable to occupy, or difficult to maintain is simply not affordable. It merely redistributes the operational costs onto the providers and residents. As designers we are often confronted with the tension between design quality, cost, and long-term value. So, what are some of the strategies we can implement to achieve more sustainable and therefore more resilient housing outcomes?

Rooted in place, shaped by purpose

Design principles and responses should always be grounded in place and Country, considering First Nations peoples and the site’s social and/or cultural significance. Making use of the site’s climatic conditions and considering the building orientation, connection to external spaces, and natural ventilation is critical to lowering reliance on mechanical heating and cooling and increasing occupant comfort. Long term cost benefits include water and energy savings, which can then be passed onto residents and contribute to easing cost-of-living pressures.

Less is More

The negative impacts of building and construction resulting in depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity can be reduced by using resources responsibly. This can be achieved through rigorous application of design process to establish what is needed in terms of space and materials. When it comes to sustainability, less really is more. In fact, the most environmental impact can be achieved with the least cost.

Carbon Lifecycle

Considering whole of life carbon during material, structural and services selections as well as placing focus on circularity through using materials with high recycled content and opportunities for end-of-life cycle reuse and recycle is critical in lowering the energy related carbon dioxide, minimising waste, and conserving natural resources. Recognising those elements as integral to the journey towards more regenerative built environment aids in delivering an improved ecological, social, and economic asset for clients and the communities we work with.

Materials Matter

Material stewardship is one of the most immediate and influential aspects of design. Every material decision carries environmental, social, and economic consequences and should be driven by considerations to sustainability, robustness and future de-fit and recyclability opportunities. On affordable housing projects it is especially important that ongoing maintenance is minimized to reduce cost pressures imposed onto the housing providers. Material selections should be made with regards to their contribution to the local economy, planetaries boundaries and the indoor environment. These decisions should be made ideally at the start of the project: typically, when just 1% of a project’s capital cost has been expended (schematic design fee), more than 80% of its life cycle costs and impacts have been committed.

Collective Stewardship

We must recognise that sustainability doesn’t exist without accessibility. It is critical to get consultants aboard with the shared vision and engage in a collaborative setting in lieu of traditional linear structure. 

Conclusion

In summary, I want to reinforce the importance and even the necessity of socially and environmentally sustainable practices in affordable housing design, including building orientation, size, cross ventilation, and carbon and materials considerations. Whilst not at all exhaustive, these elements highlight some of the best principles behind robust sustainable housing, helping to achieve a safe environment for its occupants, foster an enduring sense of place, and allow providers to build more resilient housing outcomes for our most vulnerable communities.