By Sarah Macklin | 19 Jan 2017

Making sustainable architectural and planning decisions with flexibility and diversity of offering at the heart are key to successfully living in a higher density society.

According to the recent MTalks event, held at the MPavilion in Melbourne, amidst increasing property prices and congested links to the outer suburbs, long-term apartment living is becoming a new reality for future generations of Australians.

Part of the evocative High Density Happiness series of talks presented by Open Journal, In Defence of the Three-Bedroom Apartment centred around re-imagining how Australian families currently live, and whether long-term apartment living was the way of the future.

An audience gathered to hear industry experts including Planning Director Sarah Macklin discuss higher density apartment living. Credit: Open Journal.

There is an opportunity for the market be further developed and proved with a combination of niche, demonstration projects for families, higher standards for three-bedroom apartments, and gradually increasing requirements for a greater diversity of apartment mix.

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Urbis Planning Director Sarah Macklin, along with urban designer Amanda Roberts, Assemble’s Quino Holland and Neometro’s Jeff Provan shared their insights, focusing on the role planning and strong design-led solutions.

Sarah Macklin says that three-bedroom apartments play an important role in diversifying our communities.

“There is the beginnings of market interest for families and downsizers, with recognised benefits of living in high employment and high amenity locations.

“There is an opportunity for the market to be further developed and proved with a combination of niche demonstration projects for families, higher standards for three-bedroom apartments, and gradually increasing requirements for a greater diversity of apartment mix.”

Much of new housing stock available in Melbourne currently consists of 75sqm, two-bedroom apartments, with three-bedroom apartments typically only making up between three per cent to six per cent of apartment projects.

The panel focused on how to increase housing diversity and provide for long-term family living in the inner city. 

The MTalks series explores the role of architecture and design in contemporary city life with special guests and collaborators from Melbourne and beyond.

 A recording will be made available shortly, and attracts one informal continuing professional development (CPD) point for practicing architects.

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