gradation and global warming [15,16,17].
Most people make careful decisions before committing large sums of money to housing. However, understanding why consumers make decisions requires research and the collection of qualitative data. Major demographic shifts are underway, specifically a growth in smaller households and an ageing population, leading to particular housing needs. As a consequence, there are significant changes happening in the way we will live, and imagine ourselves living. For instance, the Grattan Institute’s recent report The Housing We Would Choose (2011)  found that the importance of living with a garden and backyard has recently slipped from second to 23rd place, while living close to work and access to public transport are now most important for Australians. Other recent research by the Grattan Institute on Australians’ housing preferences has shown that a desirable inner-city location has now the most influence on residential choices, while experiencing a sense of community has grown in importance.
Thus urban densification and infill housing have become established features of modern urban design policy in Australia . Furthermore, the Grattan Institute report (2011)  reveals that Australians would like to be able to choose between a much more varied mixes of housing types than currently provided. The lack of affordable inner-city housing in buildings higher than 4 storeys was frequently mentioned as an issue.
Maliene and Malys  have proposed a model to aid sustainable housing developments in the UK based on characteristics of availability, accessibility, quality, economy, ecology, comfort and security. To be viable, an affordable and sustainable housing model must also be socially acceptable to both consumers and surrounding communities . The shortage of affordable housing in Australian cities has emerged as a major concern. Housing has environmental impacts as well as economic implications and social dimensions. Sustainable housing tends to be unaffordable because of the dual costs of making such housing environmentally sound and the high price of inner-city land. Building more storeys on the lot (e.g. 6 storeys instead of 2 storeys) will help reduce land costs per unit.
The most recent National Housing Supply Council annual report reveals that the gap between demand and supply in Australian cities in 2011 increased by over 28,000 units, to almost 200,000 units [22,23]. This report also notes an acute undersupply of inner-city housing within existing urban (brownfield) areas for low-income earners. What is missing is choice of an urban lifestyle where residents can walk to work or restaurants, which systematically restores health through walking or cycling, while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.
To achieve the required industry and market transformation we need to develop low carbon systems with elements and components for rapid assembly of buildings, while ensuring user acceptance. This is the topic of the ongoing research project introduced in this article.
1.2. An Ongoing Research Project that Studies Two Main Issues
The aim of the ongoing research, stemming from the described practical gap in infill housing, is to study two problems: firstly, to develop better models of urban infill housing. Then to focus on how the use of cross-laminated timber systems could play an important role in achieving a more livable city through facilitating better models of infill. Results will also be obtained from the in-depth analysis of eight built cases that have recently been constructed using CLT systems.
Modular cross-laminated timber (CLT, also called cross-lam) panels form the basis of low-carbon, engineered construction systems using solid wood panels that can be used to build residential infill developments of 10 storeys or higher. These prefabricated engineered solid wood panel construction systems sequester and store CO2 (timber acts as a carbon sink through conversion of CO2 to biomass in the process of bio-sequestration via photosynthesis). A part of the research project will explore the