SMARTER • LIFESTYLE
Vertical living proving popular for families AN INCREASING NUMBER OF YOUNG FAMILIES ARE TURNING THEIR BACK ON TRADITION TO PIONEER A NEW STYLE OF VERTICAL LIVING The move to urban family living has
youth population (aged 15-24 years)
been determined by a motivation
resided in apartments. Similarly,
to live closer to work, ensuring long
nearly one in ten (9%) of all children
commutes are replaced by quality
aged 0-4 years had an apartment
family time.
home.
And given the average cost of a
When it comes to which states
house can be $400,000 more than
vertical living families were residing
the average apartment in large capital
in, 17% lived in Victoria, 13% lived in
cities, financial considerations are
apartment blocks in Queensland and
also believed to be a key factor for
3% in South Australia. The Northern
families seeking a more affordable lifestyle option. Research tells us the number of families seeking the lock-up-and-leave
Territory, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory between them housed 8% of apartment dwellers. But the vast majority of families in Australia living in apartments resided in NSW (59%). And the proof is in the pudding. Or apartment.
increasingly willing to trade-off a larger
Take Waverley in Sydney’s East for example
In acknowledging the issue,
Waverley has the second highest population density in NSW with 66% of residents living in flats, units or apartments.
growing trend towards family living
Waverley Council reported that
The Urban Taskforce says the
According to 2016 census data, more
families are choosing to live in smaller
apartment market is responding
than one in ten (11%) of Australia's
dwellings. Couples with children are
to this trend by providing onsite
lifestyle around the country is on the rise. It’s convenient. Why wouldn’t you want to permanently park the old lawn mower and use that time previously spent doing household chores out and about with friends and family instead? And kids, bet you’re happy to never again be asked to clean the pool before your friends come over. Or after a storm. Or after the Labrador takes a dip.
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SMARTER COMMUNITIES
home in a more suburban location for a smaller dwelling in a more accessible location. property development advocacy group The Urban Taskforce has recently undertaken research on the in apartments, and claims to have found many examples of successful lifestyles.