New Trends in Creative House Extensions in the UK: Tips for Coping with Rising Costs of Living

New Trends in Creative House Extensions in the UK: Tips for Coping with Rising Costs of Living
As the cost of living continues to rise, British people are looking for innovative ways to extend their homes to ease financial pressure and improve living comfort. From shared homes to hidden extensions to liftable homes, the British wisdom is fully demonstrated on housing issues.
Bradley Van Der Straeten, an architectural studio based in Stoke Newton, London, recently completed a unique house extension project. Called "Two and a Half Storey House", the home cleverly adds a half-story without violating local planning restrictions. Using the ceiling of the existing bedroom as a platform, the designer created a new bedroom inside the bright plywood lining, equipped with built-in wardrobes, bookshelves and bed frames to maximize the use of space. "We think of this design as a kind of interlocking puzzle, creating two interlocking floors in a space of one and a half floors," said the studio. Through the central void and large internal windows, a visual connection is established between the new and old floors, making the entire family space more transparent.
In addition, facing the threat of frequent floods, designers in Lincolnshire, northeast England, developed the world's first liftable house. This three-bedroom house can be raised to a height of 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) above the ground in case of flooding, effectively ensuring the safety of residents. The design is not only practical, but also full of futuristic sense, providing a new idea for house expansion.
Shared housing is also becoming increasingly popular in the UK and has become one of the effective means to ease the pressure of living costs. According to the latest survey of the rental website SpareRoom, 90% of homeowners said they would consider looking for tenants again to share the rising living expenses. With the arrival of autumn and the rise in energy prices, more people choose to reduce the financial burden by accepting tenants. In July this year, the number of new user registrations on the SpareRoom website reached an all-time high, and the number of searches for "bill included" increased by 260% from March to August. A couple with a large house said they would like to invite their parents to live with them, which not only reduces energy consumption but also keeps warm in the cold season.
In Australia, underground house expansion has also become a unique phenomenon. In order to escape the hot climate, residents of the small town of Coober Pedy have dug holes underground to build houses. As time goes by, this underground town gradually grows and develops, with facilities such as libraries, churches, schools and supermarkets, and residents enjoy a comfortable life with warm winters and cool summers. What is even more surprising is that the living space here can be expanded infinitely, and residents can dig freely according to their needs to create their own ideal home.
Canada is facing the dilemma of skyrocketing housing prices and exhausted land, and independent houses have gradually become exclusive to the rich. Professionals point out that there is a serious imbalance between supply and demand in Canada's housing market, and buyers' demand for large houses cannot be met, resulting in rising housing prices. Robert Hogg, an economist at the Royal Bank of Canada, said: "In the future, Canada's housing market will move closer to Europe, and owning independent houses will become a privilege for the rich." With the increase in the number of immigrants and the intensification of housing shortages, Canadians may need to consider apartments and rentals more as living options.
In summary, from hidden extensions and elevating houses in the UK, to underground towns in Australia, to housing difficulties in Canada, countries face unique challenges and opportunities in housing expansion. Innovation and wisdom have become the key to meeting these challenges, providing unlimited possibilities for future housing development.