Our mission is to solve the Housing Crisis in Northern NSW - FigTree Farm Collective soon to announce Social Enterprise certification
Our mission is to solve the Housing Crisis in Northern NSW - FigTree Farm Collective soon to announce Social Enterprise certification
FigTree Farm Collective has been working quietly since 2019 to establish a scalable model of delivering quality, affordable, Future Proof Homes in the Northern Rivers of NSW.
Our systems and processes for designing safe, affordable housing have evolved organically since we started. We have learned a lot. And now we are ready to scale our impact and set our sights on solving the Housing Crisis in Northern NSW. We have completed an exhaustive R&D process and achieved build times from as little as 12 weeks. All designs are engineer approved existing designs modified to use case and custom floor plans. Our vision is bold - Solve the Northern Rivers Housing crisis.
“At FigTree Farm Collective we place the wellbeing of the community at the heart of what we do. We know that if a young family or a single mother has housing security they can thrive as a tenant and make plans for the future that benefit themselves, their family and the whole community”
Our next chapter
In early 2025 FigTree Farm Collective will officially become a Social Enterprise.
What is a social enterprise?
“Social enterprise is business at its best. They are innovative businesses that work to create a fairer and more sustainable world. There are an estimated 12,000 social enterprises in Australia contributing to 206,000 jobs and $21.3 billion to our economy.”
A social enterprise:
Has a defined primary social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public or community benefit
Our purpose is to end the Housing Crisis in Northern NSW
Derives a substantial portion of income from trade
We have been trading since 2019 investing in the creation of safe, affordable, Future Proof Homes for residents in the Northern Rivers
Invests efforts and resources into purpose such that public/community benefit outweighs private benefit.
We are blessed to have many tenant success stories that demonstrate community impact time and time again. We believe that people need community connection and housing security as a basic human rights to thrive.
Once housing security is established, our tenants create circular social and economic outcomes for the greater good
Operate across various industry sectors
Our focus remains on superior design, building materials and the creation of beautiful, functional Future Proof Homes within the Northern Rivers.
Homes are designed to utilise renewables lowering cost of living expenses and blend natural interior palettes with highly functional design.
Advanced technology and integrated resource systems demonstrate affordability, more predictable build times (12 weeks on average) and resilience over traditional building process, materials and methods, meeting FigTree Farm Collective’s Social Ethos.
Harnessing the circular economy Future Proof Homes attain positive social, economic and environmental outcomes.
Through thoughtful engineering and design, Future Proof Homes are arguably more resilient to climate change and increasingly destructive weather events, simultaneously improving occupant comfort and security.
Future Proof Homes exhibit improved social ,financial and environmental outcomes that both enrich and support local community while re-investing profits into solving our Housing Crisis
Container Home Community in Germany
More natural disasters mean Government housing policies need to adapt - AHURI research paper highlights the need for ‘Future Proof Housing’ in Australia’s changing climate - FigTree Farm Collective
More natural disasters mean Government housing policies need to adapt - AHRI Research paper highlights the need for Future Proof Housing in Australia’s Changing climate - FigTree Farm Collective
Container Homes are an excellent example of ‘Future Proof Home Design’, superseding current home building methods and regulations. FigTree Farm Collective
In today’s research released by Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (UHURI) - More natural disasters mean Government housing policies need to adapt; The need for co-ordinated, rapid and systemic change in how we build the homes of the future is surprisingly clear.
In this excellent research, all levels of government are urged to make rapid changes to policy and act in unity to end the suffering and personal tragedy that results from the increase in adverse weather events that have ravaged Australia in recent years.
Natural disasters like floods, fires and cyclones already destroy many Australian homes, and climate change will make this worse. Two new AHURI research reports examine how government housing policies can better prepare for natural disasters, and how governments can share housing data to lower disaster risks.
Private renters are most vulnerable to natural disasters
Temporary housing helps families return to normal life. Support might be needed for years while permanent homes are rebuilt. ‘The quality, cultural fit and location of temporary housing matter greatly for recovery’, says Dr Kroen.
“‘Our research found private renters are most vulnerable to disasters’, says Dr Annette Kroen from RMIT University, who led one research project. ‘They often live in lower-quality housing, earn less money and lack insurance. Many renters struggle to find temporary homes because most support programs don’t include them.’”
Proper Planning is crucial for reducing disaster risks
Good planning can stop building in dangerous areas, guide house design and help emergency responses. However, it's hard to balance lowering risks while meeting economic and social needs..
“‘Take “managed retreat” policies, where households or whole communities are moved from high-risk to safer areas’, says Dr Kroen. ‘It’s often politically difficult and rarely popular because of its emotional impact on families.’”
Housing and planning agencies need better awareness of disaster risks, and risk reduction needs to be a bigger focus in planning rules.
Fragmented data increases disaster risks
The second research project, led by Dr Francesca Perugia from Curtin University, highlights that disaster-related data is very fragmented, making it even more difficult to manage disaster risks.
The research found significant gaps in how flood, bushfire and cyclone data is recorded across states and sectors, because there is no standardised approach to recording the information.
“‘The lack of coordinated data is a barrier to designing policies to reduce risks. Government agencies often operate in silos, creating a dangerous disconnect between disaster planning and housing policy. As a result, planning systems can’t keep up with new risk data. This holds back the development of housing that is more disaster resilient,’ says Dr Perugia.”
“This collection of great research pinpointed on the structural challenges of Housing Policy re-affirms FigTree Farm Collective’s (FTFC) Social Enterprise ‘Ethos’, ‘Theory of Change’ and R&D pilot; Future Proof Homes. Tenants and Homeowners already feel the effects of changing weather and instinctively know that design changes in housing policy must take place now to ensure that they are not left paying the price for poor planning. By working collaboratively, I believe we can record and report the correct data to support greater resilience within our community and contribute to a seismic shift in the National Housing Policy”
Collaboration for impact
FigTree Farm Collective & Sonic Steel R&D collaboration on the Mark Twins project in the Northern Rivers is an excellent example of a pilot housing project that demonstrates the clear shift needed in housing strategy and policy.
‘Future Proof’ Container Homes are:
Constructed from recycled steel containers that withstand high wind ratings, while remaining relocatable
Prevent moisture accumulation and mould through pur-insulation, attaching directly to the wavy steel wall construction (this is administered in a climate controlled space, offsite), thus preventing ‘air gaps’ that produce condensation. Research has shown the superiority of pur-insulation over other foams including its environmental break down at end of life.
Substitute standard plaster board cladding for cement sheeting on internal walls to inhibit mould growth.
Include internal fire proof doors to reduce any fire damage while creating an essential sound barrier between bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas
Utilise light weight, double-sided laminated ceiling panels to decrease moisture damage and prevent mould growth
Comprise double glazed doors and windows creating a near air tight structure to maximum internal climate control;
Utilise awning windows to maximise updraft for ventilation and abate heavy rain from entering the interior space
Have Zehnder H-vac systems installed to enhance clean air ventilation and improve internal climate control
Exceed current building code ratings set for fire and water proofing
Include Pan Fan systems to exceed current hygiene expectations within bathrooms
Surpass minimum ceiling height requirements, increasing ventilation and internal spatial comfort and storage capacity
Are built inside to lock up stage, thus minimising environmental and external factors which delay/interfere with the quality, cost and time of a build
Are simply positioned onto a prepared site by crane preventing damage to the natural surroundings and reducing negative environmental impact that occur with traditional construction methods
Decrease reliance aging public unfastened and promote use of renewables by inclusion of an over arching roof, allowing for rain water capture, solar panel installation. Thus this ‘green build’ continues to capitalise on renewables, increasing the health and wellbeing of occupants, the natural environment and surrounding community
Circumvent flood risk by many adaptions i.e smaller homes can be tethered and employ floatation devices, be stacked with lower levels built to pressure clean (garage + open plan living space with internal living higher still), or placed on stilts where flood risk is mild
Builds are constructed offsite within a six week time frame, and fitted out within one to two weeks onsite. This provides occupants with a swift build option, reducing building waste, time and labour costs sitting nicely within a circular economy model
Include order to meet aesthetic and regional housing style, exterior sections exposed to ‘high traffic areas’ allow the additional of aesthetically pleasing features, such as recycled wood cladding, vertical and landscaped gardens, repurposed wood/glass/stone fixtures.
“Housing adaptation is essential given global warming, increasing damage from unpredictable and more severe weather events and natural disasters. Traditional builds are wasteful, expensive, slow and inherently fail to meet scientific predictions of what we are already facing.
Without inherent change Australians will continue to face housing insecurity and environmental risk until building methods and policy adapt.
Not only is the Australian dream of home ownership increasingly out of reach but we are flirting with serious repercussions to our society’s social, emotional, economic and environmental demise. ”
FigTree Farm Collective is committed to social, financial and environmental impact. Our continued investment in R&D, building strong partnerships with industry leaders, research partners and government departments seeks to work collaboratively on producing science backed data to inform best practice building methods for Future Proof Housing.