1. BUILDING IN HIGH RISK FIRE AREAS More attention is being given to construction methods that are least prone to fire. The objective being not to allow burning ambers to get inside the house. New building technology such as ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) and heavy timber construction are becoming popular alternatives to traditional 2x6 wood framing. The fire codes are requiring double pain safety glass and roof vents that limit the possibility of fire. 2. AUXILIARY DWELLING

There are a few tricks that architects use to make spaces appear bigger – and you can use them too. | Image: shutterstock.com Research shows humans don’t like being caged in, preferring to be in larger, more open spaces. And different factors – such as the shape of rooms, the colour of surfaces and the positioning and brightness of lighting – all influence how we perceive space. These are the elements designers and architects consider when creating spaces. And there are sever