Unlocking affordable housing: lessons from Western Australia

Australia’s housing crisis is complex, but its impacts are being felt acutely in the social and affordable housing sector. 

In Western Australia alone, one in five households required some form of housing assistance in 2020 — and by 2030, an additional 45,000 households are expected to need support. This pressure on the system is creating real challenges for governments, community housing providers and the many people waiting for secure, appropriate accommodation.

While housing supply has not kept pace with need, it’s clear that accelerating delivery won’t be enough. A renewed focus on quality, longevity and community wellbeing is essential. Good design unlocks land potential, supports mixed-tenure models, strengthens financial viability, and creates environments where people can live with dignity. It also enables new forms of housing that are well-located, sustainable and connected to transport, education, health and employment, ensuring residents have the foundations they need to thrive.

Hassell’s design for 195 Pier Street in Perth is an example of what a design-led, collaborative and strategic response can look like in practice. One of the WA Government’s Housing Diversity Pipeline Priority Projects, delivered in partnership with DevelopmentWA and Icon Construction, the development is one of the first mixed-tenure build-to-rent models for social and affordable housing in Australia.

Set to welcome residents in 2027, the 29-storey project delivers 219 high-rise apartments across social (30%), affordable (20%) and market-rate tenures (50%), including 10 specialist disability accommodation dwellings. Crucially, every home is designed to the same specifications under a ​“tenure-blind” approach. This means no visible distinction between social, affordable or market apartments — a step towards eliminating stigma while building cohesive communities. The building features active ground-floor spaces for a commercial tenancy, café, office areas and community facilities, along with a suite of resident amenities on the podium level, including a wellness area, study and quiet room, communal dining and lounge spaces, and shared laundry facilities.

“This project shows what’s possible when homes are designed for people — where thoughtful architecture and a tenure-blind model give residents the stability to create long-term spaces and build real community.” 

– Ange Rosato, Senior Architect, Hassell 

The model also supports long-term financial and social resilience. Residents can move between different tenancy types as their income shifts, without physically having to move to a different home during these periods of change. This stability improves wellbeing, reduces barriers to employment and strengthens pathways to independence. Meanwhile, market-rate rentals help cross-subsidise social and affordable dwellings, creating an economically sustainable and replicable model.

With generous community spaces, shared amenities, and a prime inner-city location — adjacent to Perth Train Station, the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the Northbridge Entertainment Precinct and Yagan Square — 195 Pier Street shows that social and affordable housing can be integrated, high-quality and future-ready. More importantly, it demonstrates how thoughtful design, paired with the right partnerships and delivery models, can meaningfully expand housing choice and build long-term value for people and cities.

Australia’s housing challenge demands more than volume. It requires design-led solutions that balance urgency with longevity, and affordability with dignity because when we design with intention, collaboration and community at the centre, we can deliver housing that works for everyone.