<ul>
	<li>Clarke Hopkins Clarke&#39;s brilliant vision and design approach.</li>
	<li>Dedication to green spaces, communal spaces and sustainability.</li>
	<li>Thoughtfully designed residences to maximise comfort and space.</li>
</ul>

Brunswick East welcomes the most sustainable housing project on the block with Lt.Miller and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/nightingale">Nightingale</a>&nbsp;by Breathe Architecture comprising of 77 residences across 6 floors in two buildings on Nicholson Street.

Collaboratively designed by the acclaimed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/clarkehopkinsclarke">Clarke Hopkins Clarke</a>, Lt.Miller is special in that every aspect of the exterior and interior has been carefully thought out to the residents comfort and quality of life and aims for a positive environmental impact.

The boutique one, two and three bedroom apartments offer a <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/5-new-sustainable-apartment-developments-in-australia-2019">strong focus on sustainability</a> and quality space whilst also create a community feel amongst residents.

There will be no gas in the apartments, instead each kitchen will feature induction cooktops, which are 40% more efficient than typical ceramic cooktops and provides improved safety by reducing indoor pollutants and enables zero-emission cooking.

Electricity will be supplied via an embedded network which will use a variety of renewable energy sources to power all apartments as well as common areas, lowering prices overall and ensuring the supply of green power.

Lobbies and corridors will be naturally ventilated with large floor-to-ceiling windows and voids keeping hallways fresh and light filled. Cross ventilation and ceiling fans in bedrooms will keep these homes cool in the summer months, even while air conditioning is provided.

Plants on all levels will fill communal spaces with a 20,000 litre water talk collecting rainwater which will assist in irrigating the landscape providing a healthy and low maintenance living.

Each apartment is designed like a family home with intimate and personal spaces filled with warm and tactile materials. The living area and large island benches in the kitchen to create a range of settings for social and private moments. The greenery that spills across balconies and throughout the lobby area creating a constant connection with the leafy character of Brunswick East.

Recycled flooring, natural wool carpets, durable and biodegradable materials such as paint, energy efficient appliances by Fisher and Paykel, reconstituted natural timber veneer will be used for joinery and the integrity of natural brass will give you a home you can be proud of.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/brunswick-east-vic">Located in the leafy suburb of Brunswick East</a>, find yourself amongst an exciting and vibrant community full of quirky cafes, eclectic bars and restaurants, vintage and local clothing boutiques, fresh food markets and supermarkets and vast parkland spaces only 15 minutes from the CBD.

The development has&nbsp;a communal laundry and rooftop with organic gardens, open communal space to mingle with neighbours and share home-grown food all with panoramic views across the city.

<ul><li>Clarke Hopkins Clarke's brilliant vision and design approach.</li>
	<li>Dedication to green spaces, communal spaces and sustainability.</li>
	<li>Thoughtfully designed residences to maximise comfort and space.</li>
</ul>Brunswick East welcomes the most sustainable housing project on the block with Lt.Miller and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/nightingale">Nightingale</a> by Breathe Architecture comprising of 77 residences across 6 floors in two buildings on Nicholson Street.

Collaboratively designed by the acclaimed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/clarkehopkinsclarke">Clarke Hopkins Clarke</a>, Lt.Miller is special in that every aspect of the exterior and interior has been carefully thought out to the residents comfort and quality of life and aims for a positive environmental impact.

The boutique one, two and three bedroom apartments offer a <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/5-new-sustainable-apartment-developments-in-australia-2019">strong focus on sustainability</a> and quality space whilst also create a community feel amongst residents.

There will be no gas in the apartments, instead each kitchen will feature induction cooktops, which are 40% more efficient than typical ceramic cooktops and provides improved safety by reducing indoor pollutants and enables zero-emission cooking.

Electricity will be supplied via an embedded network which will use a variety of renewable energy sources to power all apartments as well as common areas, lowering prices overall and ensuring the supply of green power.

Lobbies and corridors will be naturally ventilated with large floor-to-ceiling windows and voids keeping hallways fresh and light filled. Cross ventilation and ceiling fans in bedrooms will keep these homes cool in the summer months, even while air conditioning is provided.

Plants on all levels will fill communal spaces with a 20,000 litre water talk collecting rainwater which will assist in irrigating the landscape providing a healthy and low maintenance living.

Each apartment is designed like a family home with intimate and personal spaces filled with warm and tactile materials. The living area and large island benches in the kitchen to create a range of settings for social and private moments. The greenery that spills across balconies and throughout the lobby area creating a constant connection with the leafy character of Brunswick East.

Recycled flooring, natural wool carpets, durable and biodegradable materials such as paint, energy efficient appliances by Fisher and Paykel, reconstituted natural timber veneer will be used for joinery and the integrity of natural brass will give you a home you can be proud of.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/brunswick-east-vic">Located in the leafy suburb of Brunswick East</a>, find yourself amongst an exciting and vibrant community full of quirky cafes, eclectic bars and restaurants, vintage and local clothing boutiques, fresh food markets and supermarkets and vast parkland spaces only 15 minutes from the CBD.

The development has a communal laundry and rooftop with organic gardens, open communal space to mingle with neighbours and share home-grown food all with panoramic views across the city.

Lt. Miller & Nightingale - 55 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East

Nightingale 2.0 is a low energy mixed-use apartment and retail building located directly adjacent to a suburban railway platform in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fairfield. Designed by Six Degrees Architects, and delivered as a collaboration between HIP V. HYPE and Six Degrees, in accordance with the principles of Nightingale Housing.&nbsp; 
 
 
Located on a small 500sqM slither of land previously owned by the State rail authority, the project demonstrates the potential for unutilised yet well-located state land to be responsibly re- purposed.&nbsp; 
 
 
The project is an all-electric, very low energy building containing 20 apartments, 3 retail spaces, shared communal amenity and no car parking. The project is an alternative model for development which seeks to provide high quality, environmentally sustainable housing at prices more accessible to people who are increasingly priced out of the housing market in locations close to jobs and essential amenity.&nbsp; 
 
 
The project demonstrates that a deeply collaborative approach to the procurement of a multi-residential building can enable the formation of a more cohesive community within the building. It also shows that the building itself can exists more cohesively within the local neighbourhood.

Nightingale 2.0 is a low energy mixed-use apartment and retail building located directly adjacent to a suburban railway platform in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fairfield. Designed by Six Degrees Architects, and delivered as a collaboration between HIP V. HYPE and Six Degrees, in accordance with the principles of Nightingale Housing. 


Located on a small 500sqM slither of land previously owned by the State rail authority, the project demonstrates the potential for unutilised yet well-located state land to be responsibly re- purposed. 


The project is an all-electric, very low energy building containing 20 apartments, 3 retail spaces, shared communal amenity and no car parking. The project is an alternative model for development which seeks to provide high quality, environmentally sustainable housing at prices more accessible to people who are increasingly priced out of the housing market in locations close to jobs and essential amenity. 


The project demonstrates that a deeply collaborative approach to the procurement of a multi-residential building can enable the formation of a more cohesive community within the building. It also shows that the building itself can exists more cohesively within the local neighbourhood.

Nightingale 2.0 - 30 Railway Place, Fairfield

<ul>
	<li>The project involves demolishing existing buildings and constructing 5 x 8 storey with mezzanine level buildings</li>
	<li>The development will consist of 282 apartments and 2 commercial tenancies</li>
	<li>Building A will have 2 commercial tenancies, 22 x 1 bedroom and 31 x 2 bedroom&nbsp;apartments</li>
	<li>Building B will have 3 teilhaus, 20 x 1 bedroom, 29 x 2 bedroom and 4 x 3 bedroom&nbsp;apartments</li>
	<li>Building C will have 7 teilhaus, 19 x 1 bedroom, 27 x 2 bedroom and 5 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building D will have 13 teilhaus, 13 x 1 bedroom, 29 x 2 bedroom and 3 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building E will have 13 teilhaus, 14 x 1 bedroom, 28 x 2 bedroom and 2 x 3 bedroom&nbsp;apartments</li>
	<li>The buildings will have lifts and stairs, with various design features such as aluminium frames, steel and concrete balustrades, brickwork, clear glass, concrete painted wall, steel trellis, screen hoods, awning and rope mesh, timber gate, handrail, frames and screen, and corrugated metal cladding</li>
	<li>The development will include basement car parking for 16 vehicles, including 1 accessible bay, and 464 bicycle spaces</li>
	<li>Associated landscaping will be included in the project.</li>
	<li>The estimated cost of the project is $85 million</li>
</ul>

<ul><li>The project involves demolishing existing buildings and constructing 5 x 8 storey with mezzanine level buildings</li>
	<li>The development will consist of 282 apartments and 2 commercial tenancies</li>
	<li>Building A will have 2 commercial tenancies, 22 x 1 bedroom and 31 x 2 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building B will have 3 teilhaus, 20 x 1 bedroom, 29 x 2 bedroom and 4 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building C will have 7 teilhaus, 19 x 1 bedroom, 27 x 2 bedroom and 5 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building D will have 13 teilhaus, 13 x 1 bedroom, 29 x 2 bedroom and 3 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building E will have 13 teilhaus, 14 x 1 bedroom, 28 x 2 bedroom and 2 x 3 bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>The buildings will have lifts and stairs, with various design features such as aluminium frames, steel and concrete balustrades, brickwork, clear glass, concrete painted wall, steel trellis, screen hoods, awning and rope mesh, timber gate, handrail, frames and screen, and corrugated metal cladding</li>
	<li>The development will include basement car parking for 16 vehicles, including 1 accessible bay, and 464 bicycle spaces</li>
	<li>Associated landscaping will be included in the project.</li>
	<li>The estimated cost of the project is $85 million</li>
</ul>

17-19 Hope Street, Brunswick

Socially conscious developer Nightingale is set to create nearly 300 apartments in the heart of Brunswick, another project in which the affordability-first developer won't be seeking to make a profit.

Nightingale's latest project is across a massive 6,437 sqm site at 17-19 Hope Street, down the road from their successful Nightingale Village.

They're seeking to create five distinguishable buildings, with five different architects tasked with the designs of each.

Hayball,&nbsp;Neeson, Murcutt + Neille,&nbsp;Kennedy Nolan, WOWOWA, and LIAN are the architecture and design studios have put together plans for a building each. They will each have eight levels and between 53 and 58 apartments in each.

Across the project will be 36 studio apartments, 88 one-bed units, 144 two-bedroom apartments, and 14 three-bedders, as well as 219 sqm of street-level retail.

<img alt="Nightingale Building A" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="404a2227-b0be-4bc1-acce-3e9e63f56d51" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-12%20at%2011.35.40%20am.png?VersionId=YlcBkvBS7mZKPoAIhKXCBP3UNRzRLcqt" />Building A by&nbsp;Neeson Murcutt + Neille

Nightingale will be developing the apartments at cost,&nbsp;meaning it that the apartments will be sold for what it costs to procure, design, manage and construct.

Between 10 to 20 per cent of the project will be either affordable or social housing, with a further 20 per cent of the apartments only offered to key worker groups, such as carers, individuals who work in or support the arts and culture industry, or vulnerable members of the community.

Urban planner Hansen Partnership created the Planning Report which was submitted to the Merri-bek Council.

They said the plan aspires to the idea of the 20 Minute Neighbourhood,&nbsp;where most journeys people make, whether to the shops, work or development, do not exceed 20 minutes.

"To reach this aim, development is encouraged in well-serviced areas close to public transport options," the report stated.

<img alt="Nightingale Building C" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19adb024-a85d-4c1a-8944-c84c62772294" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-12%20at%2011.37.07%20am.png?VersionId=_rl1UhwhdN4w2leO7tzTGenyGdoZ.kI3" />Building C by WOWOWA

"Given the subject site is located on the edge of an activity centre, within walking distance of Anstey Station, it is an ideal location to accommodate medium density residential development."

There will be 15 car share pods to encourage a lifestyle without a car, and 464 bike spaces.

Each building will have an indoor community room for residents, as well as a rooftop garden and communal terrace with generous landscaping.

Nightingale will also create&nbsp;2,750 sqm of open space, which will include Linear Park.&nbsp;The northern entry to the park will be marked by a pavilion surrounded by indigenous species that are a calendar of sorts to the seven seasons of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung.

In addition to the park, the precinct also proposes a large open space in between the east and the west side of the buildings “the Courtyard” and another open space to the east of the buildings “the Backyard”.

<img alt="Nightingale 17-19 Hope Street Brunswick" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1a5996f7-8a40-4b32-8020-30b7985fa87f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-12%20at%201.31.00%20pm.png?VersionId=WngJI9BqwQ0_av_Gr8zxuxtkhx61Mj.." />All of the buildings proposed

&nbsp;

Hansen noted in the planning report that the&nbsp;character of the area has changed over the last few years, the largely industrial precinct giving way to a more mid-rise, residential form.

"The cul-de-sacs created by the Upfield Train line and the large industrial lots together have provided the ideal context for this transformation of Brunswick into a beacon of architecturally-conceived, pedestrian-focused mid-rise development," Hansen said.

"The success of not only single building mixed use developments, but also entire precincts, has shown that there is a significant desirability within the Brunswick, Merri-Bek and Melbourne communities to live in accessible, sustainable and communal developments."

Nightingale has had success in Brunswick before with the recently completed Nightingale Village. Banco Group's East Brunswick Village precinct is under construction, as is&nbsp; Assemble's 4 Ballarat Street.

Mirvac and Milieu will also be creating over 500 build-to-rent apartments at their Albert Fields project on the nearby Albert Street.

<h2>Fast Facts 17-19 Hope Street, Brunswick</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Address: 17-19 Hope Street, Brunswick, VIC</li>
	<li>Site area: 6,437 sqm</li>
	<li>282 dwellings</li>
	<li>36 studio apartments</li>
	<li>88 one bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>144 two bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>14 three-bedroom apartments</li>
	<li>Building A -&nbsp;Neeson Murcutt + Neille - 53 apartments</li>
	<li>Building B - Kennedy Nolan - 56 apartments</li>
	<li>Building C - WOWOWA - 58 apartments</li>
	<li>Bulding D - Hayball - 58 apartments</li>
	<li>Building E - LIAN - 57 apartments</li>
	<li>219 sqm of retail</li>
	<li>15 car share pods</li>
	<li>464 bike spaces</li>
	<li>2,750 sqm of open space</li>
</ul>

Nightingale's latest project is across a massive 6,437 sqm site at 17-19 Hope Street, down the road from their successful Nightingale Village

Joel Robinson

First look: Nightingale plan not-for-profit Brunswick apartment development

<html><body>
When it comes to purchasing your first home, one of the main concerns is affordability. With the cost per square meter starting at <a href="https://hipages.com.au/article/calculate_your_building_costs">$1000 upwards</a>, many Australian first-home-buyers are opting for modern, ergonomically designed apartments with smaller square footage. 

As with houses, apartments provide flexibility to accommodate people with varying needs, offering a range of different sizes, configurations and amenities. In Melbourne alone, <a href="http://secretagent.com.au/inner-melbournes-smallest-largest-apartments/">Secret Agent Property Research</a> found that the standard apartment sizes range from student accommodation at 34 sqm through to warehouse conversions at around 97 sqm. However, the majority of pre-existing apartments built between 1960-1990 are around 59 - 79 sqm, which is considerably smaller than the <a href="https://buildsearch.com.au/house-size">average Melbourne 3 bedroom home at 175 sqm</a>. 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/dan-freeman-399586-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dan-freeman-399586-unsplash.jpg?itok=6ATSEmci" width="580"></a></figure>One of the key aspects to consider when buying a small scale apartment or studio is the location. Laing+Simmons property agent Sylvia Vitale explains that Potts Point studios are among some of the smallest properties in Sydney at around 17-30 square meters, but the incredible location compensates for the lack of floor space at home. 

<blockquote>
“Often people living in studios are out and about. They’re visiting cafes, restaurants and galleries, or they’re out walking along the harbour.”
</blockquote>

- Sylvia Vitale, Laing+Simmons Potts Point agent via <a href="https://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/is-a-studio-apartment-a-good-or-bad-investment-20190328-p518bp">Financial Review</a>

ERGONOMIC DESIGN

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/grovemade-239354-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/grovemade-239354-unsplash.jpg?itok=dqJliTQj" width="580"></a></figure>Another factor is how the design will affect day to day living – including the occupant's health and wellbeing. Victoria's Planning Minister Richard Wynne identified a problem with poorly constructed housing in Melbourne and addressed the need to produce higher-quality apartment complexes.

<blockquote>
"Melbourne has some great examples of architecture which make the most of compact spaces but we must avoid unliveable dog boxes cropping up across the city."
</blockquote>

- Victoria Planning Minister Richard Wynne told The Age

As <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/why-i-will-never-buy-a-new-apartment-in-sydney-20170209-gu9i4n">veteran building consultant Robert Hart</a> bluntly puts it, "[Poorly designed apartments] are an abomination. We now have tens of thousands of apartments affected by shoddy workmanship, rubbish materials, bad waterproofing."

However, there are plenty of great designs to look to – Sydney business owner Sarah O’Neill was one of the lucky ones who managed to score her dream apartment. Her decision to downsize to a 29sqm Sydney studio was to attain a more sustainable and less stressful lifestyle. O'Neill explains that living in a small space definitely does not compromise her quality of living either.

<blockquote>
"...the increasing availability of quality multi-functional furniture is helping to get around the limitations and having less possessions does not mean you can’t be surrounded by beautiful things. Needing less possessions means you can afford better quality."
</blockquote>

- Sarah O'Neill, small apartment owner via <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/why-people-are-choosing-to-live-in-smaller-spaces-and-are-happier-for-it/news-story/e682095ed7344a47f0d372d183663471">News.com.au</a>

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/c8da9a28-254f-47b8-bd86-3bcc98ce0e0c.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/c8da9a28-254f-47b8-bd86-3bcc98ce0e0c.jpg?itok=OsZiWTq6" width="580"></a></figure>As Australia shifts from the 'suburban sprawl' to higher density housing, mid-rise developments such as <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/the-commons-7-florence-street-brunswick">The Commons</a> by Nightingale Housing are leading the way with impressive environmentally conscious designs. Nightingale's next collaborative design project '<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nightingale-housing-plans-seven-buildings-across-brunswicks-duckett-street">Nightingale Village</a>' is set to become 100% fossil fuel free and carbon neutral in operation, and each development will offer shared amenities for resident use including large outdoor spaces, communal dining areas, as well as solar energy and rainwater harvesting, which collectively lowers resident costs and their carbon footprint. 

"Melbourne (and by extension, all of Australia) will experience massive growth over the next decades – but where will these people live? And perhaps more importantly, how will they live?"

- Jeremy McLeod, founder and director of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/breathe-architecture">Breathe Architecture</a> via <a href="http://theconversation.com/affordable-sustainable-high-quality-urban-housing-its-not-an-impossible-dream-57958">The Conversation</a>

<hr>
Urban.com.au sought the advice of two experts in the field of space-saving design, who shared their thoughts on small footprint living and how to design effectively for small spaces.

<a href="https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/">NICHOLAS GURNEY</a>

BIO: "I prefer to design compact spaces. My work is highly functional and considered. I produce dynamic and clever solutions with a focus on the organisation of space. I employ a strong conceptual focus and the needs of my clients are heavily embedded in the outcomes."  Nicholas Gurney was shortlisted in Zenith’s Emerging Designer category at the 2017 IDEA Awards. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/t04.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Before..."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/t04.jpg?itok=HCTVdFB1" title="Before..." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Tara apartment v1</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/t02.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One of Nicholas Gurney's incredible designs features a pull out bed in the living area."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/t02.jpg?itok=jQVARlxx" title="One of Nicholas Gurney's incredible designs features a pull out bed in the living area." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Tara apartment v2</figcaption></figure><hr>
<a href="https://www.tsaidesign.com.au/about/">JACK CHEN</a> (TSAI DESIGN)

BIO: Since Tsai Design’s first architectural commission in 2013, director Jack Chen has made it his mission to pursue innovative solutions that drive architectural progress. Type Street Apartment, Chen’s minimalist take on small footprint living, is his latest exploration into architecture’s invigorating potential. The renovation won three categories at the 2018 ArchiTeam Awards and received a shortlisting in the 2018 Houses Awards.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.27_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Type Street Apartment"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.27_pm.png?itok=5B6QR-md" title="Type Street Apartment" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Type Street Apartment v1</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.17_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Type Street Apartment 2"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="382" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.17_pm.png?itok=chzgJAMf" title="Type Street Apartment 2" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Type Street Apartment v2</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.07_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Type Street Apartment 3"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-05-03_at_1.48.07_pm.png?itok=JfsuDVfv" title="Type Street Apartment 3" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Type Street Apartment v3</figcaption></figure><hr>
DEMAND FOR SMALLER-SCALE HOUSING

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3236.0">The Australian Bureau of Statistics</a> revealed that one-person households are likely to rise between 3 million and 3.6 million by 2031, which is a significant increase since 2006 where only 1.9 million people lived alone.

Urban.com.au: With the growing population, do you think there has been more demand for designing smaller apartments in recent years?

Nicholas Gurney: “There is certainly a strengthening demand for smaller apartments, but I think there are many factors beyond the growing population. At present, small space habitation is considered by many to be a phase of transition i.e. a place of habitation for a finite period either on the way up or on the way down, so to speak. With comparison to five years ago, there is certainly improved demand for the development of existing building stock and I think this arises from issues surrounding affordability and locality. There are more single-person households than ever before, and this will make an ongoing contribution to the demand for smaller apartments.”

Jack Chen: "I'm not sure, to be honest, I think both scenarios are on the rise, they offer very different ways of living so it’s good that people have the options to either live in a house with a backyard further out, or to embrace the convenience of city living, with shops and gyms right outside your door.”

<hr>
DESIGN TRICKS FOR SMALL SPACES

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/s13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title='"Lightwell staircase" features a mirrored wall to give the illusion of more space. Credit: NIcholas Gurney'><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/s13.jpg?itok=yK0AmMt0" title='"Lightwell staircase" features a mirrored wall to give the illusion of more space. Credit: NIcholas Gurney' width="580"></a>

<figcaption>"Lightwell staircase" features a mirrored wall to give the illusion of more space. Credit: Nicholas Gurney</figcaption></figure>U: What's your favourite space-saving design trick?

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/fl09.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Flinders Lane apartment bedroom features mirrored cupboards to create the illusion of more space. Credit: Nicholas Gurney"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fl09.jpg?itok=PixLnafN" title="Flinders Lane apartment bedroom features mirrored cupboards to create the illusion of more space. Credit: Nicholas Gurney" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Flinders Lane apartment bedroom features mirrored cupboards to create the illusion of more space. Credit: Nicholas Gurney</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/tsaidesign_type-st_11-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Credit: Jack Chen"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="829" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tsaidesign_type-st_11-1.jpg?itok=vq3s5kHl" title="Credit: Jack Chen" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Multi-purpose bespoke cabinetry. Credit: Jack Chen</figcaption></figure>JC: “I like to think each problem is unique and not one trick will work for all scenarios, but I think generally the less is more philosophy is quite an important one that flows behind the scenes in all of my projects. I am not a pure minimalist, but I think it is important to have less visually, to visually declutter goes a long way to provide a calmness most people desire in their home. What this means is there needs to be plenty of hidden storage space for the user.”

DOWNSIZING THE TRADITIONAL "AUSTRALIAN HOME"

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/2_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="'Atop a Shop' by Jack Chen. Credit: Tsai Design"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="341" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/2_6.jpg?itok=V16aGVF7" title="'Atop a Shop' by Jack Chen. Credit: Tsai Design" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>'Atop a Shop' by Jack Chen. Credit: Tsai Design</figcaption></figure>U: In your opinion, which areas of a home/apartment can be downsized, and which cannot?

NG: “Everything can be reduced from what we’re accustomed to, however, it is conventional fittings and fixtures that administer the spatial organisation and provide the constraint on reduction. A sleeping area can be reduced to the proportions of a mattress or the space required for a murphy bed but a utility space such as bathroom or kitchen cannot be reduced to the size of its parts. Instead, the pockets of space in and around these utility areas is managed to enable a downsize. A living space is a luxury space and can be downsized simply.”

JC: “Again, I think each person’s requirement is different, there could be general patterns of living comfort, but I try not to start with generalization. Small space living is very tailored to each person’s priority in living, in order not to waste any cm of valuable space. Some are ok with sleeping with 60cm height space in order to give space for daytime activities, others define a home as a place that you can sleep in comfort, hence more priority and space needs to be provided for the bedroom in the second scenario.”

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GLOBAL INSPIRATION

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nakagin-capsule-tower-by-kisho-kurokawa-shimbashi-in-tokyo-yellowtrace-21.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa Shimbashi in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: YellowTrace"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="464" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nakagin-capsule-tower-by-kisho-kurokawa-shimbashi-in-tokyo-yellowtrace-21.jpg?itok=w5F4_N3u" title="Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa Shimbashi in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: YellowTrace" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa Shimbashi in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: YellowTrace</figcaption></figure>U: On a global scale, which space-saving designs are you most inspired by?

NG: “I tend to take inspiration from more conventionally sized architecture which permeates in how I design compact spaces. The Nakagin capsule tower in Tokyo, Japan is an interesting space-saving proposal imagined in the Japanese Metabolist style. Nearby to the famous tower is a more recent micro-unit example called the CT7165. Measuring just 8.5sqm, the units in CT7165 are even smaller than the 10sqm capsule units.”

JC: “I think the idea of layering a room vertically to take advantage of the high ceiling is a really smart approach. Usually, space above our reach of around 2m is not utilized much, because there’s a perception of inconvenience, but in a house with a small footprint, they are really valuable opportunities to take up.”

ARE YOU READY FOR SMALL-FOOTPRINT LIVING?

NG: “A reduction is positive. There is something very satisfying about inhabiting spaces without surplus or excess and this can only be experienced through positive change. The obvious benefits of more quality time and less financial burden are obvious advantages.”
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