Jamie Durie is expressing his frustration with the bureaucratic obstacles surrounding home construction in Australia. After spending a year navigating planning restrictions and delays while building a multi-tier, waterfront eco-home at Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches, Durie is eager for change. “Australia is the home of red tape,” he declared during his upcoming series, Jamie Durie’s Future House. He emphasizes the need to “throw out the rule book” and design homes better suited to Australian conditions.
For his next venture, Durie is not working alone. He is undertaking the construction of Australia’s second-ever 3D-printed concrete home on his farm in Bangalow, northern New South Wales. This project is part of a larger initiative that includes two other innovative home builds, all set to meet a three-month deadline. The initiative aims to address the significant housing crisis in Australia and has garnered attention from influential figures, including Clare O’Neil, the Federal Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Cities. She has shown a proactive interest in streamlining the approval processes necessary to facilitate quicker construction.
“This is a new mission,” Durie stated, highlighting the urgency of the housing crisis. O’Neil is reportedly working behind the scenes to enhance the efficiency of development approvals, allowing for fewer delays in the housing sector. Durie believes that by experimenting with new construction methods, his show can offer insights towards actionable solutions during these challenging times.
As Durie, along with his partner, singer-songwriter Ameka Jane, and their two small children, Beau and Nash, oversee the progress of their innovative farmhouse, the series will also feature families replacing their outdated homes with prefabricated concrete structures. In the picturesque Blue Mountains, another segment will follow a couple navigating life changes as they build twin modular houses on the same plot of land.
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Despite the ambitious nature of constructing three homes for three families in a mere three months, Durie is optimistic about the project. “It makes great TV,” he quipped, mentioning that his Avalon home has recently hit the market with a staggering price tag of $33 million. He aims for the series to be both educational and inspiring, empowering viewers with practical knowledge about responsible building practices that prioritize sustainability and off-grid technologies.
The show features cutting-edge building concepts and clean energy solutions, with industry experts presenting their products and services. However, there has been some controversy regarding the show’s major sponsor, the Commonwealth Bank. Recently named in consumer advocate Choice’s Shonky awards for unethical practices, the bank is showcased in the series for its prefabricated construction loans, which have reportedly been instrumental in helping a family in Bondi realize their dream of moving to a greener lifestyle.
Durie, who identifies as a horticulturalist rather than a financial expert, acknowledges the discomfort associated with the sponsorship but emphasizes the transformative potential of the new prefab loan, calling it a “game changer for Australian families.” His focus remains on the broader narrative of sustainable building and innovative solutions to the ongoing housing crisis.
