Housing Futures — Designing heart and soul into affordable alternatives with Fiona Dunster and Jeremy Schluter

Hassell Talks

With a housing crisis affecting cities and people, we're taking a look at the close ties between design and innovation in the residential sector.

How are emerging housing models responding to community needs? What role is design playing in ensuring projects can still succeed despite cost, supply and climate challenges? And what makes larger scale residential alternatives appealing to investors seeking a long-term revenue line?

In this episode you'll hear from one such investor in residential innovation. With projects in the UK, the US - and Australia - AustralianSuper is also an enthusiastic partner of pioneering build-to-rent-to-own housing developer, Assemble Communities, and quarter owner of the Assemble Futures.

Fiona Dunster, Senior Investment Director within the property team at AustralianSuper joined Residential sector co-lead Jeremy Schluter to explore why investing in quality, sustainable housing for people just makes good financial sense, and why elements like tool libraries, communal laundries, kitchen facilities, spaces for yoga, dog walking and book clubs are designed in from the start, to bring people together and encourage connection.