So it’s not surprising the cost of housing is a perpetual topic for discourse, and of late, this conversation has ramped up as affordability has declined.

However, this may be set to change if local architect Tricia Helyar has her way.

Tricia has pulled together a team of experts to host a pop-up exhibition designed to look at ways to improve housing affordability.

“Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson, acknowledged that affordable housing was a human right,” Tricia said.

“Housing is a very important issue. This two-day event aims to have both the public and members of the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division consider this issue and discuss the current legislation and resulting works.

“We need to look at the affordable housing legislation, as well as considering the future. What will be the future housing needs, and what modes of housing can meet those needs?”

While Tricia concedes “there isn’t a one-size fits all solution” she believes the tenets of housing should revolve around developing accommodation that can deliver proximity, live-ability and affordability.

“I think there needs to be discussion about many aspects of housing in order to have the housing stock developed to meet future needs,” she said.

“It is predicted by 2050 that 25 percent of houses in NSW will have one occupant, but in our region single occupant households already account for more than 22 percent. The type, size and method of ownership all need to be considered when discussing future development options.”

Tricia said locals have much to gain from the pop-up exhibition, in particular the options available to make the most out of their current dwellings.

“The exhibition will have both the current entrants in the Country Division Awards as well as projects developed as a result of the Affordable Housing legislation,” she said.

“That legislation included secondary dwellings, boarding houses and multi-unit development. This is an exhibition of what is achievable, while creating interesting buildings fit for the user and the site.”

The Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division will run the two-day event in Bellingen with affordable housing as the focus.

Tomorrow at 6pm the public is invited to a two-day pop-up architecture exhibition at the Bellingen Brewery. The exhibition will showcase built and un-built work in response to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 as well as a display of the currant entrants in the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division Architect Awards for 2015.

On Friday, a full-day seminar “What is Affordable Housing?” will be held at the Bellingen Showground from 9.30am to 5pm with invited speakers from academia, practice and the community sector. They will discuss the models of housing that are being researched, built and currently operating, as well as what the future may hold.

Speakers include Community Housing’s Karine Shellshear, RAW Architecture’s Adam Russell, Happy Haus’ Lachlan Grant and University of Queensland’s Duncan Maxwell.

For more information visit www.architecture.com.au/events/state-territory/newcastle-country-division-events-awards