Purpose: The First Element of a Dream Home
The first of the Six Elements is Purpose — understanding why you want to build a dream home. Purpose covers your goals, your ideal location, the activities you want your home to support, your life stage and your values.
Goals
Designing and building your own home is a huge project, demanding significant amounts of time, attention, energy and money. Before committing to a dream home project, you need to be clear on what you want to achieve and why. It's easy to assume these things are obvious, but getting them down on paper will help you identify priorities and brief your design team effectively.
Location
Where you live determines your lifestyle. Think about the amenities and facilities that are important to you — schools, medical services, shops, entertainment, community and cultural activities. Consider the commute to your workplace, safety and the neighbourhood's character.
Activities
Think about the activities you want your home to support. Do you need a home office? A workshop? Space for yoga? A music room? Your home should enable and enhance the activities that matter most to you and your family.
Your Life Stage
Your needs will change over time. A couple starting a family has different requirements than empty nesters. Consider how long you plan to live in this home and what changes you might need to accommodate.
Exercise: Define Your Purpose
Distil your purpose down to a few dot points that answer: "Why do you want to build a dream home?"
- "I want to make a supportive home for my kids in their teenage years"
- "I want to build a home I can live in for the next fifty years"
- "I want to get away from the rat race and live closer to nature"
- "I want to build a home that will be healthy for my family and the planet"
About the Author
Luke Davies
Luke is the founder of Davies Design & Construction and author of Dream Home. He writes about home design philosophy, lean construction, and building businesses that put people first.
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