Compact Living: Maximising Space Without Compromising Comfort

With housing costs continuing to rise, compact inner-city living has emerged as a practical and sustainable response to housing affordability pressures in Sydney. Small footprint houses, efficient apartment renovations, and considered design approaches are redefining how we perceive and utilise our living spaces.

Rethinking Compact Living

Compact living isn't merely about downsizing; it's about thoughtful design solutions that improve functionality, enhance comfort, and promote sustainability. With the increasing demand for affordable housing and the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility, compact living offers a viable alternative to traditional housing models. Two recent renovation projects, including one led by our Senior Associate Benjamin Chan, demonstrate how thoughtful architectural intervention can unlock space, light, and flexibility within highly constrained footprints.

Benjamin Chan's 42 sq.m Apartment Renovation

A strong example of compact living is the renovation of a 42-square-metre apartment in Stanmore, Sydney, by Sam Crawford Architects Senior Associate Benjamin Chan. Featured on the popular channel Never Too Small, this project transformed a modest one-bedroom apartment into a light-filled and functional home for Ben and his partner. The apartment sits within a two-storey red brick 1970s walk-up and originally featured an enclosed kitchen, a south-facing living space, and low ceilings, all of which limited light and spatial flow.

A series of simple yet considered design moves transformed the apartment, making it far more suitable for contemporary living. Some of the design changes were:

• Open-plan living: Removing the kitchen wall allowed the kitchen, dining and living areas to flow as one. To support the kitchen wall in the apartment above, a ceiling beam had to be installed, resulting in a lowered ceiling in the kitchen. This ceiling was curved to conceal the beam while delineating zones for eating and cooking, keeping the spaces feeling open and generous.

• Maximising the sense of space: When challenged by a low ceiling, extending doors, joinery and curtains from floor to ceiling enhanced the perception of height.
• Simple materials: Careful consideration was given to the scale, colour and reflectivity of materials within the compact footprint. A darker Blackbutt timber floor introduced warmth and grounded the space. Consistency of materials between rooms ensured the apartment felt unified and cohesive.

Beyond spatial ingenuity, apartment renovations in NSW also require regulatory expertise. Recent legislative changes affecting apartments (Class 2 buildings) mean that only a select number of architects are legally registered to design and assist in the delivery of this work. This also includes internal renovations like Ben’s apartment, which required changes to the apartment’s structural design and layout of wet areas. At Sam Crawford Architects, we’re proud to be registered under the DBP Act as Design Practitioners, offering legal compliance and design excellence on Class 2 apartment renovations and new buildings.

This renovation demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a compact space into a comfortable and stylish home without the need for extensive square metreage.

A Terrace Less Than 4m Wide: Darlinghurst Project

Compact living challenges are not limited to apartments. In Sydney’s inner-city terraces, where narrow sites and heritage constraints demand inventive, sensitive design solutions, a standout example is our Darlinghurst Terrace renovation, which transformed a narrow, dark terrace into a contemporary home with generous garden connections and expansive living spaces.

At less than four metres wide at the rear, the site presented a familiar but complex challenge: how to bring in more light, openness, and flexibility.

Our response included:

• A carefully designed open-plan rear extension that draws light deep into the home.
• Internal sliding doors between the kitchen and dining space that allow the clients to open and close off spaces to suit their daily requirements.
• A large tilt-up glass door that creates a seamless connection to the private rear garden.
• Thoughtful detailing and materials that celebrate both old and new.

By focusing on light, material richness, and spatial flow, the design turns a modest inner-city terrace into a home that feels expansive and connected, despite its compact footprint.

Benefits of Compact Living

Opting for a compact living space doesn't mean sacrificing comfort or amenity. In fact, it often results in spaces that are better planned, more efficient, and more purposeful.

The advantages include:

• Cost Savings: In Sydney, new homes or substantial renovations can exceed $10,000 per square metre. A carefully considered apartment renovation, however, may cost significantly less while delivering meaningful spatial improvement.
• Environmental Impact: Smaller homes consume fewer resources, produce less waste, and have a smaller carbon footprint. 
• Easy Maintenance: Compact living typically involves less maintenance and upkeep, as smaller homes require fewer repairs, lower cleaning demands, and reduced running costs.

Design Strategies for Small Spaces

Designing for compact living requires creativity and a nuanced understanding of each client’s brief. Here are some strategies to enhance small living spaces:

• Delineating zones: Whilst it may be tempting to remove walls in favour of open-plan living, in doing so we can sacrifice intimate spaces. Balancing open-plan living and separation of different activities is essential in smaller homes, which can be achieved by varying ceiling levels, incorporating sliding panels, and using materials to delineate areas.
• Effective and functional joinery: Joinery that maximises storage and is thoughtfully designed to ensure the home can be kept clutter-free.
• Distilling the client’s brief: We listen carefully to understand the key requirements of each client’s brief. This is particularly important in small spaces, ensuring that every design move is both functional and purposeful. 

Why Compact Living Is Here to Stay

Compact living is more than a passing trend; it is a practical response to rising housing costs and increasing urban density. As urban populations continue to grow and space becomes more limited, the principles of compact living will play an increasingly vital role in shaping our built environment.