The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has called on all political parties to commit themselves to taking "three simple steps to revolutionise the quality and choice of housing in Ireland".
Mr Toal Ó Muiré, the institute's president, said most of the debate on housing in Ireland had focused on supply.
"It is now essential to direct the attention of the incoming government to the issue of quality and choice."
The RIAI's "three simple steps" are to streamline existing residential guidelines to facilitate better design quality; adopt a new national standard for the design of roads and open spaces in residential areas; and to open up access to new building methods.
Mr Ó Muiré explained that some local authorities imposed rigid traffic and road standards, which were drafted 40 years ago.
"This means that in many new housing developments the roads are designed first and the houses are built around them.
"As a result, too many of our housing estates, meant for living, have fallen victim to the ravages of the car. Rat-running and illegal parking are two very unattractive modern phenomena which have been, in part, facilitated by these outdated road standards."
Mr Ó Muiré said there was an urgent need for a Department of the Environment-published housing design standards manual, and for a "thorough quality audit" to promote more innovative design and the creation of sustainable communities.
He complained that there were delays of up to 18 months in securing certification for new building methods and materials which could reduce the cost of new housing, speed up construction and make homes more energy-efficient.