Designing Smarter: Solving the Missing Middle Housing Crisis
From Made To Build by HIA by Housing Industry Association (HIA)
April 7, 2026 · 34 min · Season 1 · Episode 24
About this episode
AJ Bala discusses the challenges and solutions related to the missing middle housing crisis.
Housing policy, planning constraints and industry ego are stalling the homes we actually need. Architect AJ Bala, Director of DNA Architects, unpacks why the “missing middle” — duplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartments — remains critically undersupplied, and what needs to change to fix it. With over 20 years across residential and commercial projects, AJ brings a grounded, real-world perspective to medium-density done properly — beyond glossy renders and into what actually gets built. He also chats on how builders can drive real industry change through committees. In this episode, we cover: Designing smarter to reduce build costs The ‘Missing Middle’ explained Multi-generational living and medium density done properly Why approvals drag out for months Getting community on board with gentrification How policy affects what actually gets built How builders can drive real change through committees AI in architectural practice Connect with AJ: 👉 Insta: @dna_architects 👉 FB: @DNAArchitectsCanberra 👉 LinkedIn: Ajanthan Bala
People in this episode
Guest: AJ Bala
Topics covered
- housing policy
- planning constraints
- missing middle
- medium-density housing
- community engagement
- gentrification
- AI in architecture
Keywords
- duplexes
- townhouses
- low-rise apartments
- build costs
- multi-generational living
- approvals
- policy impact
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