Shop top living could evolve as a great way of providing affordable housing as well as additional income for un-used commercial spaces. This style of housing has been more common overseas than in Australia, but the trend is changing, with commercial property owners interested in maximising the potential of their properties.

With many upper levels of commercial strip shops being empty or just used for storage or administration areas, there is a real opportunity for a WIN-WIN with property owners and people looking for accommodation..

Ipswich council have issued and EOI to commercial property owners to encourage re-activation of these shop top spaces into residential accommodation. Council can see the benefits to the community by renovating theses spaces and wants to start the conversation with owners to understand what might be stopping them from redeveloping their shop top spaces. See the link to the EOI below.

https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/ipswich-central/shop-top-living

Commercial buildings have different thermal and acoustic requirements to commercial spaces, so modifications will likely be required to transform the spaces and we suggest that owners seek professional advice from designers to understand the Building Code requirements.

CM Architects, based in the Ipswich Central CBD have design experience with heritage and residential buildings and we would love to help owners transform their spaces to create exciting and different shop top living accommodation.

#affordablehousing

#rehabiliatationofbuildings

#shoptopliving

#sustainabledesign

#adaptivereuse

#ipswicharchitects