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Apartment buildings are mufti-story buildings where three or more residences are
contained within one structure. Such a building may be called an apartment building,
apartment complex, flat complex, block of flats, tower block, high-rise, occasionally,
mansion block, especially if it consists of many apartments for rent. A high-rise apartment
building is commonly referred to as residential tower, apartment tower.
Apartments are an increasingly popular housing choice in the world more significantly.
There is no doubt that good apartment design helps to create healthy, safe and livable
communities. Apartments also provide housing choice for those with a range of incomes
and lifestyle preferences. We need more and different types of homes as our State’s needs
change over time. Good apartment design is a key factor in delivering quality homes for
communities that are light, well ventilated and flexible to suit the many needs of our
modern lifestyle.
Building types can be adapted to fit specific urban contexts. A particular site configuration
may be suited to accommodate a mix of types or uses. In larger developments multiple
building types may apply and provide more housing choice and design variety.
TYPES OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS
a) Narrow infill apartments
b) Row apartments
c) Shop top apartments
d) Courtyard apartments
e) Perimeter block apartments
f) Tower apartments
g) Hybrid developments
b. Row apartments
Row apartments are generally well suited to both urban and
suburban contexts. They are characterized by a limited number
of units arranged around an access core and can be single
buildings or a series of building modules. This building type is
best used when:
Smaller building footprints are desirable
Live and work apartments or commercial/retail uses are encouraged at the ground
floor level
Continuation of the street edge is desirable
A vertical rhythm reinforcing existing subdivision or building patterns is desirable
Rear landscape areas are desired including keeping existing significant trees
Built form needs to step down the street to respond to a slope.
d. Courtyard apartments
Courtyard apartments provide a centralized open space
area, generally range between three and six stories in
height and are suitable in both urban and suburban
settings. Their configuration depends on the context and
site orientation. Courtyard apartments are a highly
adaptable building type and are best used when:
Located on corner sites or sites with two or more
public frontages.
Located on sloping sites.
A landscaped street character is desired (by
orienting the courtyard to the street).
An urban character to the street is desired (by creating a street wall edge and
orienting the courtyard to the rear).
There is a predominant aspect or outlook.
f. Towers
Towers are suited to central business districts, major centers and
urban renewal areas. This building type can be freestanding or
combined with block developments (podiums).The location and siting
needs to reflect environmental considerations such as wind,
overshadowing and visual impacts on surrounding properties and the
public domain. Tower apartments are typically more than nine stories
and best used when:
Located in dense urban areas
Other towers exist in the surrounding context
An area requires greater density than can be delivered by
perimeter block buildings
A strong vertical form or landmark is desired.
g. Hybrid
Hybrid developments combine different uses or building types
in one development. They can incorporate community
facilities and larger commercial or retail components, such as
offices or a supermarket.
Hybrid developments are particularly relevant for larger sites that need to respond to a
change in building form and scale within the adjacent context. This approach is best used
when:
Located on large and/or irregular shaped sites
A combination of uses is desired to support active urban areas or centers
Greater diversity of apartment types is desired
A development needs to address two or more streets with different scales and/or
characters.
DESIGNNING APARTMENT
To optimize the direct sunlight to habitable rooms and balconies a number of the
following design features are used:
dual aspect apartments
shallow apartment layouts
two story level apartments
bay windows
2. Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is the movement of
sufficient volumes of fresh air through
an apartment to create a comfortable
indoor environment. Sustainable design
practice incorporates natural ventilation
by responding to the local climate and
reduces the need for mechanical
ventilation and air conditioning. To
achieve adequate natural ventilation,
apartment design must address the
orientation of the building, the configuration of apartments and the external building
envelope.
Natural cross ventilation is achieved by apartments having more than one aspect with direct
exposure to the prevailing winds, or windows located in significantly different pressure
regions, rather than relying on purely wind driven air. Apartment layout and building depth
have a close relationship with the ability of an apartment to be naturally ventilated.
Generally as the building gets deeper, effective airflow reduces.
Doors and open able windows maximize natural ventilation opportunities by using the
following design solutions:
Adjustable windows with large effective open able areas
A variety of window types that provide safety and flexibility such as awnings and
louvers
Windows which the occupants can reconfigure to funnel breezes into the apartment
such as vertical louvers, casement windows and externally opening doors
Greater than minimum ceiling heights for retail and commercial floors of mixed use
developments are encouraged to promote flexibility of use. Cafe and restaurant uses need
greater minimum ceiling heights of 4m to allow for additional servicing needs.
Ceiling heights of minimum 2.7m help to achieve good daylight access and natural
ventilation to residential apartments.
Minimum ceiling height for apartment Measured from finished floor level to finished
ceiling level, minimum ceiling heights are:
Minimum ceiling height for apartment
Habitable rooms 2.7m
For two story apartment 2.7m for main living area floor
2.4 For 2nd floor where its area doesn’t exceed 50% of the
apartment area.
Attic spaces 1.8m at edge of room with a 30 degree minimum ceiling
slope.
If isolated in mixed used areas 3.3 For ground and 1st floor to promote future flexibility of
use.
The layout of rooms within an apartment is functional, well organized and provides a high
standard of amenity.
Apartments are required to have the following minimum internal areas:
Apartment type Minimum internal area
Studio 35m2
1 bedroom 50m2
2 bedroom 70m2
3 bedroom 90m2
The minimum internal areas include only one bathroom. Additional bathrooms increase the
minimum internal area by 5m2 each. A fourth bedroom and further additional bedrooms
increase the minimum internal area by 12m2 each.
Every habitable room must have a window in an external wall with a total minimum glass
area of not less than 10% of the floor area of the room. Daylight and air may not be
borrowed from other rooms.
INDICATIVE LAYOUTS
Studio
1 Bedroom
2 bedrooms “L” dual aspect 2 bedroom mid floor plate single aspect 2 bedroom mid floor plate cross over
The minimum balcony depth to be counted as contributing to the balcony area is 1m. For
apartments at ground level or on a podium or similar structure, a private open space is provided
instead of a balcony. It must have a minimum area of 15m2 and a minimum depth of 3m .
7. Storage
Adequate storage is an important component of apartment design. It is calculated by volume as
opposed to floor area and should be provided proportionally to the size of the apartment.
Adequate, well designed storage is provided in each apartment.
In addition to storage in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, the following storage is provided:
Dwelling type Storage size volume
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Apartment
Apartment design guide, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, July 2015