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What we are doing and why
We are supporting research by the University of Melbourne, through the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), to investigate how digital innovation and regulatory reform can transform the delivery of affordable, compliant and rapidly deployable walk‑up housing in Australia.
Walk‑up housing is generally described as multi‑storey residential buildings (typically 2 to 4 storeys) with no lift. Residents access upper floors via external or internal staircases.
This research responds to Australia’s persistent and widening affordable housing gap and the systemic challenges that currently see many multi-residential developments take extended periods of time to complete. These timeframes are driven by complex planning frameworks, fragmented certification pathways and limited integration of prefabricated and digital delivery systems.
To address these barriers, the project will map existing planning, certification and approval pathways, assess digital feasibility and compliance tools, and benchmark international best practice in modular and prefabricated construction. Building on this foundation, the research will explore how digital innovation and regulatory reform could unlock the rapid deployment of affordable, net‑zero, prefabricated walk‑up housing across Australia.
Using a concept for a prefabricated 3 storey timber walk‑up apartment system designed for small urban infill lots and accommodating up to 8 dwellings with shared facilities, the project will create a roadmap linking performance‑based compliance, planning reform and digital approval tools. The aim is to enable delivery of compliant, high‑quality, affordable housing in under 12 months.
The University of Melbourne’s Professor Tuan Ngo and Alireza A. Chiniforush are leading the research.
The project is jointly funded by Building 4.0 CRC, the BPC and Breathe Architecture.
What we have achieved so far
This research project commenced in February 2026 and is due for completion in 2027.