Disruptive Domesticity: Housing Futures and the Sharing Economy

摘要

Emerging digital economies such as the sharing economy have flourished in the aftermath of the global financial crisis (GFC). These digital platforms are changing the way we use, understand and access space and are reorganizing the city. One disrupter, home-sharing platform Airbnb, has lowered the barriers to accessing space by developing a framework that enables a global pool of applicants to rent homes on demand, in shorter increments of time and at a premium. While there has been much coverage for and against Airbnb in the mainstream media, and there is an emerging body of scholarship examining the effects of Airbnb on housing, its urban implications are contingent on context, requiring critical spatial insight and holistic analysis. This speculative design research project explores the challenges and opportunities that Airbnb presents for the future of housing in Australian cities by examining Melbourne as a case study. It asks: through strategic design and planning, can we minimize the risks and maximize the potentials of home-sharing to develop better urban outcomes to benefit locals first and tourists second? And can we leverage the global success of Airbnb to help deliver better quality, more diverse housing choices locally?