Take a Pattern Book and Replicate . . .
I am very interested in what is happening in New South Wales with regard pattern books. Affordability often requires a degree of replication. Villas are variations on a theme but essentially the same, so are Georgian terraces, and both forms are also adaptable and many people love them. It would be great to develop modern housing that is as popular. This would mean ensuring that the design is good for the wellbeing of inhabitants, works well with the climate, captures energy and water, incorporates green space, and gives people decent outlooks while using space efficiently and being low cost to build.
Once a design has been approved, it can be used by anyone at low cost or free (they haven't decided yet). Users of the NSW Housing Pattern Book’s designs will have access to an accelerated approval pathway. "This will allow builders to get on site faster, build more efficiently and move people into homes sooner. The pre-endorsed designs will be a valuable resource for developers, architects, planners, builders, councils and the community". This seems a very smart and safe approach to deliver more affordable housing. NZ simply cannot afford another Leaky Homes crisis.
Eva Zombori made the point that “Pattern books are suited best when using form-based codes (also referred to as zone-based codes or design codes) instead of zoning that enables to focus on the a particular area and the desired and suitable built form to be achieved in that location.They can, of course, be extended to larger or multiple similar areas too. It is one of the biggest advantages of design codes that is generally not well-understood in countries where zoning is the main planning tool to guide development. Design codes have been used through centuries in many cities and countries. Our Auckland examples are few but the best ones: Vinegar Lane in Ponsonby and Hobsonville. It requires more work at the beginning of the process but much less at the end.”
She is quite right.
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/government-architect-nsw/housing-design/good-design-for-housing