The launch of daylight savings this month in the eastern states is expected to provide a boost for the architecture and design industry.
Building advisory service Archicentre says the added hour of daylight extends the use of the home for entertainment and relaxation, bolstering the trend in Australian housing to open up the house to the garden creating indoor-outdoor living areas.
Tasmanian state manager of Archicentre, Michael Cooper, says the warmer weather of spring and summer encouraged the trend of creating versatile indoor outdoor dining areas under the roof line with the use of folding doors. This trend is increasingly popular with home owners undertaking Archicentre renovation design reports.
Mr Cooper says: "The thought of spending on average of $50,000 plus to move house, with costs mainly in government taxes and charges, has seen thousands of home owners go on a renovation strategy to improve their existing homes.
"One of the most cost effective ways of increasing the livable areas of the home is to extend out into the back garden through a deck with an indoor outdoor link by opening up the back wall of the home.
"The trend is seeing the Australian backyard receiving a major make over and a return to importance as people move to spend more time in the open and in their gardens."
Mr Cooper says this is also placing more emphasis on housing design fitting into the environment with the blending of landscaping and building becoming an important part of the original design brief.
"It's all about making sitting inside feel like sitting outside," he says.
"This is done using rolling doors, retractable roofing or light wells and an energy-efficient design. A complimentary style of flooring creates the illusion of seamlessness."
