Queensland man's bid to turn a tree house into a permanent home
In the last few years, Anthony Aitken is has been working towards his dream of living in a tree house. He says, “The building certification is the hardest part. With the recent bushfires, too, that’ll make it harder with fire risk, but also getting people to understand it as a realistic way to live”. The sustainability of alternative housing like this has proved positive though it required multitudes of town planning approvals, “Height restrictions, bushfire zones, plumbing, drainage, stair and balustrade compliance”.
Houses are cracking in the dry, hot weather, but when should you start to worry?
ABC News states, ‘It starts innocently enough — a hairline crack on the lounge room wall. But, before too long, that annoying little line creeps further down the wall and widens.’ These cracks are most often caused when soil beneath the house dries out and contracts, this shifts the house footing which leads to cracks in walls.
Brisbane needs 'breathing' buildings to adapt to climate change
Brisbane City Council has been urged to change planning legislation to ensure buildings in Brisbane are constructed with climate change in mind. Urban planners need to ensure new buildings could adapt in the most efficient way. New developments are encourages to incorporate natural ventilation, porches, basements and tree shading, among other measures. These “passive” design elements reduce the reliance on air conditioning, using natural measures to cool buildings and spaces.