James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 and Design Handbook Series

Words by Sophia Fawdry
In Partnership with James Hardie

The James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 explores four lifestyle shifts shaping Australian home design, with eight Design Handbooks offering practical guidance across modern architectural styles.

Inspiring both homeowners and trade professionals, the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 offers a clear look at the key lifestyle shifts influencing residential home design in Australia. The forecast highlights four core themes – including building efficiencies, wellbeing, flexibility and resilience – and explores how these are expressed across a range of enduring and emerging architectural styles.

James Hardie has released eight new Design Handbooks, each offering a practical, style-specific guide for homeowners, architects and builders to help bring these modern architectural visions to life.

To complement the research-led forecast, James Hardie has released eight new Design Handbooks, each offering a practical, style-specific guide for homeowners, architects and builders to help bring these modern architectural visions to life. From curated palettes and floor plans to Hardie exterior cladding solutions, the handbooks provide expert advice on creating homes that are as functional as they are beautiful.

Proudly Australian made for Australian conditions, James Hardie has been delivering trusted building products for more than 100 years. In 2025, the focus is on smarter, more adaptable homes and spaces that are designed to perform in a changing world. The forecast and accompanying resources aim to inspire creative direction and offer practical tools for bringing those ideas to life.

James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 And Design Handbook Series News Feature The Local Project Image (19)

Drawing on the symmetry of neoclassical design, Modern Classical softens these elements through updated materials, gentle curves and more relaxed detailing.

James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 And Design Handbook Series News Feature The Local Project Image (24)

As global and local factors continue to reshape the way people live, homes are evolving to meet new priorities. Increasingly, Australians are looking for homes that are energy-efficient, climate-ready, flexible in layout, and supportive of health and wellbeing. These needs have been distilled into the four lifestyle themes that underpin the forecast and guide the design of each style showcased.

Among the eight modern home styles featured in the forecast is  , an emerging look that blends traditional architectural references with contemporary function. Drawing on the symmetry and elegance of neoclassical design, Modern Classical softens these elements through updated materials, gentle curves and more relaxed detailing.

James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 And Design Handbook Series News Feature The Local Project Image (7)

The Design Handbooks serve as practical guides for anyone looking to explore or build in a specific modern style.

Modern Classical speaks to the increasing demand for homes that offer both grandeur and comfort. With an emphasis on durability, passive design principles and multi-generational flexibility, the style is well suited to Australia’s diverse climate and lifestyle needs. The Modern Classical style also offers a way to combine character and comfort, responding to current values around sustainability and adaptability, without sacrificing visual appeal.

Each of the eight featured styles – and Modern Classical – have been brought to life through close collaboration with designers and architects. The Design Handbooks serve as practical guides for anyone looking to explore or build in a specific modern style.

James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2025 And Design Handbook Series News Feature The Local Project Image (25)

More than just a style guide, the James Hardie is a resource for building better, smarter, more sustainable homes that reflect the aspirations of contemporary Australian living.