Industry leaders to explore homes of tomorrow at HIA Future Homes Forum

Australia’s residential building industry will gather in Melbourne for the HIA Future Homes Forum, a landmark event bringing together leading thinkers, builders, designers and innovators to explore the technologies, materials and consumer trends shaping the next generation of housing.

Hosted by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, the forum will examine how homes will be designed, built and lived in over the coming decade, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, health and wellbeing, and emerging construction methods.

HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said the event provides a unique opportunity for industry professionals to look beyond current challenges and focus on future opportunities.

“Australia’s housing needs are evolving rapidly, and builders are increasingly being asked to deliver homes that are sustainable, energy efficient, technology enabled, adaptable and healthy for occupants,” Ms Martin said.

“The Future Homes Forum brings together some of the country’s most innovative thinkers and practitioners to explore the ideas, technologies and materials that are likely to influence the homes Australians will want and expect in the years ahead.”

The forum’s keynote session will feature renowned architect Frank Burridge, who is part of the team developing what the HIA describes as the world’s most resilient prefab construction system, GreenhouseByJoost. Burridge is currently collaborating with sustainability pioneer Joost Bakker on an innovative off-grid home near Byron Bay, New South Wales.

Beyond the keynote, delegates will hear from a range of experts covering passive home design, modern methods of construction, moisture management, medium-density sustainability, consumer trends and innovative building products — a program designed to deliver practical, forward-looking intelligence for builders preparing for the decade ahead.

Attendees will include builders, designers, trades, suppliers, sustainability professionals and others with a stake in the future of residential construction.

Ms Martin said the breadth of topics reflects the scale of change already underway in the sector.

“Whether it’s new building materials, modern methods of construction, healthy homes, consumer expectations or sustainability innovations, tomorrow’s forum will provide practical insights for builders preparing for the future,” she said.

The event will conclude with the presentation of the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards, which celebrate excellence in environmentally responsible housing, sustainable design, construction and innovation across the country. The awards represent one of the industry’s most recognised acknowledgements of leadership in green building practice.

The timing of the forum comes as Australia’s residential construction sector faces mounting pressure to deliver housing that meets increasingly complex consumer and regulatory expectations. Rising energy costs, tightening climate risk disclosure requirements and a growing body of research linking building design to occupant health have all accelerated demand for homes that perform well beyond minimum compliance standards.

Ms Martin said events of this nature are becoming essential infrastructure for an industry navigating significant structural change.

“As the industry continues to respond to changing consumer expectations, climate considerations and technological advancements, events like the Future Homes Forum play an important role in helping builders remain informed, competitive and ready for the future,” she said.

Modern methods of construction — including prefabrication, modular building and mass timber — have gained considerable traction in Australia in recent years, with industry bodies pointing to their potential to address both productivity shortfalls and sustainability targets in residential building. Burridge’s work on GreenhouseByJoost is expected to draw significant interest from delegates looking to understand how prefab systems can be applied at scale without compromising design quality or performance.

The HIA Future Homes Forum and Australian GreenSmart Awards will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.