Beyond the Apartment Door: Designing for Community, Wellness, and Flexibility

A Shifting Market in Canberra

Reflecting the changing demographics, apartments and townhouses are no longer just for singles or young couples. Families, downsizers, and pet owners are increasingly turning to compact housing as a long-term choice, especially as land costs continue to rise.

Designs that respond to these needs, with practical layouts, good storage, and shared spaces that people use with their friends and neighbours, are already sought after by buyers. And as the market evolves further, livability will become a key driver of both demand and long-term value.

What Buyers Want and Developers Can Deliver

Today’s residents want homes that support how they live, work, and connect.

This presents a significant opportunity for developers to design projects that not only achieve commercial success, but also foster a profound sense of community and satisfaction among residents.

In our work at Mather Architecture, we’ve seen how the right communal elements, even modest ones, can dramatically improve resident experience and project appeal.

Lessons from Lived Experience

I have lived in a range of compact apartments and townhouses, each shaped by the presence or absence of shared space.
One of the most successful was a small studio in Lewisham, a former manor that the the owners had divided into around 20 units. My 35m² space was efficient and light-filled, with smart storage and a courtyard that opened to the shade of mature trees.
But what made it truly livable was what was offered beyond the studio itself: a shared media room, a communal kitchen and dining space, rooftop washing lines, individual bike lockers, and a front garden that connected us to the street and to each other.
These shared amenities were not extravagant. But they created breathing room around the modest studio. Places to converse with neighbors and dine with friends comfortably.
They made small-space living feel dignified.

What We Hear From Residents

Our friends who are raising families in compact townhouses and apartments keep telling us the same things:
“The bedrooms are fine — but we’re living on top of each other.”
“There’s nowhere to make a mess.”
“I just want a space to fix a bike or store a stroller.”
These are simple needs, but they’re often overlooked in pursuit of yield. We see three-bedroom apartments designed with the heart of a studio; they might appear good on paper, but they are frustrating in daily life.

What We Do Differently

In every feasibility study we undertake, we ask:
How can we add layers of usability and joy — even within a compact footprint?
• Sometimes it’s via a co-working space that doubles as a community hub.
• Sometimes it’s a better-than-basic bike store or shared laundry.
• Sometimes it’s just a thoughtfully designed landing or stairwell corner where people might pause and chat with their neighbours in passing.

Done well, shared amenities become functional extensions of the homes. They support families, singles, shared houses, and ageing in place.

Canberra Needs Its Own Version of Amenities

Canberra provides a unique setting for medium-density living. We enjoy brilliant winter sun, long shoulder seasons, and a growing population of young families, downsizers, and professionals seeking more sustainable, flexible housing choices.

But our climate also presents challenges. Outdoor areas should be designed for practical use, with shelters, appropriate lighting, and planting that make shared spaces feel comfortable and safe all year round.

Internal layouts should adapt to various stages, from single living and shared households of young adults, to working from home, raising children, and ageing in place.

Considerations such as climate adaptability and flexible living spaces are key design elements that we think about every day in our practice. They don’t just shape our design responses – they shape our values.