The Benefits of Terraced Housing in a City Like Auckland
Auckland is currently going through a rapid period of growth. Amid a housing crisis, new developments are popping up left, right and centre in efforts to combat it. Some architects believe the key to providing adequate housing is to build outwards through urban sprawl projects such as Hobsonville and Dairy Flat, expanding suburbia right to the edges of Auckland’s territory.
The alternative? Compact housing developments right in the heart of the city, erected in unsuspecting plots of land throughout the central suburbs and making the most out of prime locations across Auckland. But what makes these houses, otherwise known as terraced housing, the right choice for buyers?
Affordability
Let’s start off with the most important thing any Aucklander is thinking about when they buy a house: affordability. Is their Kiwisaver balance going to be able to push them over the deposit line? With terraced housing, the answer is far more likely to be yes than is the case with any urban development.
This is because many of the newer urban developments are driven by the profit opportunities that come from splitting and selling large plots of land. In these places, land price is driving house cost, which doesn’t benefit the socio-economic position that most Aucklanders are in. In a terraced house, however, the land price is significantly diminished by the compactness of the houses.
Eliminate Your Commute
It’s all about location with terraced housing. In many of the biggest cities in the world, terraced houses have long been a logical way for families to be able to own a reasonably sized house that comfortably fits them all, in a prime location in the city centre. This is the same in Auckland, and when the only other option is an unrealistically priced Herne Bay villa or a ridiculously long commute from the furthest point possible, terraced houses are the perfect solution for Aucklanders whose lives are based in the city.
Terraced houses can be built in plenty, taking up only a small plot of land. This allows architects the opportunity to get creative with where and how they build these houses. Ultimately, the goal is to build as many spacious, family-sized homes in all the nooks and crannies around the city that are being underutilised. We are currently seeing a lot of old industrial complexes, parking lots, abandoned lots, and negative areas being transformed into a practical piece of design that can house many.
Secure and Safe
A strong benefit of many terraced houses is the safety and security that compact living offers. Many terraced housing options available to Kiwis are situated in a secure, estate-style block of land. They will often offer private security options as part of the package. This means that you have one less thing to worry about when it comes to organising security for your home.
Even if private security isn’t an option at your terraced housing, you can still rest assured that the sense of community offered by close-knit living will come in handy should anything ever happen to you or your neighbours!
Environmental Perks
Yep, believe it or not, there are even environmental perks to living in terraced housing, as opposed to stand-alone housing options. Terraced houses built close to the city centre helps to heavily reduce the effects of urban sprawl, an environmental adversity that happens when cities continue to build outwards, instead of utilising all the accessible land inside the city.
When you help to reduce urban sprawl, you help to contain the spread of urban pollution. That means that rural land can stay cleaner, for longer. Additionally, because terraced housing projects are being built with the mindset to serve this purpose, they are likely to implement other environmental elements to combat pollution in tangent with this ethos. You’ll often find terraced housing with solar power, LED lighting to save energy, and good terraced house architect will even try to include other innovative eco-friendly elements. Look out for these when you visit show homes, and you may be surprised!
Gubb Design Looks at Terraced Housing Design Options
We understand that Auckland is moving towards a medium-density city, and it is in our best interest to look into designing secure, contemporary terraced housing options for modern families. If you’re interested in having this discussion with experienced architectural designers, get in touch today!
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