The Construction Source Australia

48 | Business World Australia | April 2014 he adds. “But going through this process does really confirm that the work that you’ve done is good.” “And it does mean a lot,” he reiterates. “It is great recognition from our peers in the in- dustry that the work we’ve done is innova- tive, and it will encourage us to keep inno- vating in the field of affordable housing.” He says that continued innovation is vi- tal, because after all – “who doesn’t want to have an affordable lifestyle or an affordable home?” “It’s not just a concern for people with low or moderate incomes, it’s a concern for peo- ple with all incomes,” he says. “Living within your means is very important – it means you can maximise your lifestyle. If you have an affordable home, it means you’re not spend- ing all your hard earned money just to have a place to live.” Currently, Stockland is up to the fourth iteration of the Bower series. Ben says that with each new version, they are improving aspects of the design and ensuring that the product remains affordable for those with lower budgets.” “What we’re doing with the Bower series is a bit similar to what companies like Ikea and Apple do with their products,” Ben says. “They try and make them compact but also affordable, and they put a real focus on de- sign excellence so they become aspirational. That’s what I think we’ve achieved here.”