The Way We Live Has Changed – And So Has the Way Our Apartments Are Designed

It’s official: working from home is no longer a passing 2020s trend, it’s just normal. For many of us, it means better work-life balance, less playing Tetris with our calendars, and trying to make the most of our time outside work.

It also means we’re considering different factors now when choosing where to live. Architect Philip Vivian, managing director of architecture firm Bates Smart, has plenty of experience designing apartments, and has observed plenty of changes over the last few years. Renters’ needs and preferences are leading architects to design spaces differently.

Multi-functional spaces

Lockdowns and restrictions meant many of our living spaces were forced to become multi-use – bedrooms turned into offices, living rooms became workout spaces, balconies were also urban gardens. Now, residential spaces are starting to be designed with greater flexibility in mind, decreasing the commute time between work and home, while easily shifting between productivity and relaxation.

An example is Indi Sydney, a newly opened apartment complex in the CBD designed by Vivian and his team. It’s conveniently located on top of Gadigal Station, a new Metro station that opened this year beneath Pitt, Park and Bathurst streets.

The build-to-rent complex – where the apartments are solely for rent – is the first of its kind in central Sydney and offers residents three levels of amenities focused on wellness, socialising and co-working. There’s an on-site gym, sauna, yoga studio, 20-metre lap pool, and rooftop for hosting private parties. All these spaces also create opportunities to meet your neighbours, with special residents-only events in the communal kitchen and co-working spaces.

“Especially for younger generations – people in their twenties and thirties – [their residential address] isn’t just somewhere to sleep at night during the week and have as a living space on the weekends,” says Vivian. “It’s a place to [balance both aspects of] your life and your work in a more integrated way.”

Customisation and flexibility

Sydney renters typically wouldn’t be allowed to hang up their art or paint their walls, but it’s encouraged at places like Indi Sydney. A residential services team helps organise everything people need to customise their apartment when they first move in. The living space is also returned to its original state when they move out.

Plus, there’s custom-made abstract art by Seoul-born, Sydney-based visual artist Vicki Lee in the lobby.

A focus on community

While professionals, entrepreneurs, and students might make up the bulk of apartment renters, Indi Sydney was designed to have cross-generation appeal.

Research shows older people are cashing in their nest eggs – trading the family home for a rented apartment to accommodate more spending, and tend to have higher lifestyle expectations for their age group. “People … in their fifties and sixties are moving out of the houses they raised families in. They’re also looking for community in lively locations near cafes that can turn into their new local, connected to public transport, and have all the services they need,” says Vivian.

The shared spaces are also designed to help facilitate some of this community-building, through the communal kitchen and lounges. “We haven’t designed the space to be a series of individual apartments that are separately rented. There’s a reason to feel a true sense of togetherness.”

Sustainable design

Sustainability was a key consideration of the building design, too. Inspired by the brick and sandstone heritage buildings on Pitt Street, Bates Smart created solid frames using masonry elements that offer cover from direct sunlight, while solar shading fins help maintain privacy and temperature control.

“When you design a building in the middle of the city that’s quite tall, you’ll have fantastic views. But when it’s a residential building, you also want privacy. You also want residents to feel free to be themselves in their apartment,” says Vivian.

A convenient location

Vivian believes people who rent in the Sydney CBD expect services and amenities on their doorstep.

“Increasingly, people are looking for places with access to nature and public transport links.” Indi Sydney’s design and location encourage people to navigate the city on foot and using bike lanes, cycle paths, and public transport. Residents are also within walking distance of local landmarks and open spaces such as Sydney Harbour, Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Garden.

Visually, Indi Sydney’s towering red-brick facade also pays homage to the neighbourhood’s past, while the needs of modern-day city dwellers shape its stylish, sleek interiors. “The building itself is a unique response to its place in the city,” says Vivian. “It’s not a building you would ever find anywhere else in the world.”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Indi Sydney by Investa. For more information visit indi.com.au.