Home is an essential part of us all. The houses, flats, tower blocks and estates that we live in are extensions of our everyday lives. They are practical places - buildings for us to eat or sleep in - yet for most, home is the most expensive thing that we ever buy, a complex thing offering a lifetime of investment and preoccupation.

This hugely popular touring RIBA exhibition, guest curated by Sarah Beeny, charts the story of the design and appeal of everyday homes in the UK.

It explores the advent of mass building from the late 18th century, through to the present day via suburban expansion and post-war experiment- revealing the characteristics of a British obsession and the experiments that have shaped how and where we live.

The exhibition forms part of The Homebuilding & Renovating Show 2013| at the NEC in Birmingham from 21 - 24 March 2013.

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Dreaming of a self-build? Planning major home improvements or extension? Stop dreaming and start creating with The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Claim your free ticket|.