Building a sense of connection

Shared amenities are helping to create communities in apartment developments.

With spacious designs and luxury amenities, apartment buildings across Australia have evolved from offering affordable living to aspirational multi-residential lifestyles that echo places like New York, London and Singapore.

With land in short supply, multiresidential complexes are popping up throughout urban centres. Yet, this move to apartment living has done little to detract from the notion of community that is synonymous with neighbourhoods comprised mainly of stand-alone homes.

“Apartments are no longer just a cheaper alternative to house living,” says Jason Fraser, principal and residential sector leader of architecture studio Woods Bagot.

“When done right, they can provide amenities and community beyond what most of us could ever achieve or afford in single homes, such as large-scale dining spaces, music rooms, study and flexible workspaces, among others.”

A sense of community organically emerges from thoughtfully designed communal zones – such as wellness spaces, business centres and rooftop gardens – and connectivity to mixed-use retail and dining.

By their very purpose, these spaces spark a feeling of community that apartments traditionally designed for investors 10 to 20 years ago struggled to instigate. Shared experiences foster a sense of community and old-school neighbourhood values. This, in part, is why communal amenities within apartment complexes are becoming more valued.

“Apartment living is adapting and, in my opinion, improving to include consideration of what apartment living can contribute to the quality of life at a living and social level,” Fraser says.

“We are highly focused on creating environments that have been considered with all aspects of the user experience: physical, mental and social.”

Brenton Smith, director of architecture firm Bates Smart, says new apartment developments are becoming more creative, offering owners “the opportunity to become connected to their neighbours in a way that is relaxed and informal, whether it is the communal library, dining rooms or wellness spaces.

“These spaces instigate opportunities for community conversation without knocking on a neighbour’s door and asking for a cup of sugar.”

From entry-level to luxury markets, developers are working alongside architects and designers to meet the rising expectations of buyers.

“[Downsizers] are looking for a lifestyle that enables them to have access to all the great things about a particular area, but also a lifestyle that is connected to a community where they can create relationships and friendships that are borne out of this communal living,” Smith explains.

Developers are responding by building complexes that offer amenities like communal gyms, pools, barbecue zones, co-working spaces, playground areas and dog-friendly facilities that encourage occupants to live beyond the confines of their own apartments.

Some developments have apps so you can book into gym and yoga sessions, join social events and more.

“Our approach is to promote active, passive and outdoor amenity zones that are diverse and adaptable to accommodate the varied people that will use them,” Fraser says.

“We try to locate these zones to make them visible and encourage use. And importantly, as shared amenities, these spaces encourage increased social interaction within a building.”

The concept of neighbourhood and community is increasingly at the forefront of developers’ minds.

“You’re almost intentionally creating environments that activate communication and socialisation by virtue of the amenity that you put in there,” Smith says. “It can happen at the communal letter box area, by sitting in the library one Sunday afternoon having a glass of wine, and ... in your gym.”