Australia is facing a pivotal moment in its housing conversation, with higher-density living increasingly part of the urban fabric. How apartments are designed, and how they support everyday life over time, remains a central question for architects, developers and residents alike.
Melbourne-based development group Neometro marks 40 years of practice with the release of City Living: Neometro Residents and Works, a new publication that reflects on apartment living through the lens of long-term occupation. Rather than focusing solely on buildings, the book centres the experiences of residents, exploring how design decisions shape daily life, comfort and wellbeing in compact urban homes.
Founded in the mid-1980s, Neometro has maintained a consistent focus on small-scale, design-led housing. Director Lochlan Sinclair notes that while expectations around housing have evolved, many fundamentals remain unchanged.
“We all deserve to live in a space that has amenity and a feeling of home,” Sinclair says. “Over time, we’ve become more considered about how people use space, particularly in smaller dwellings, but the core needs of light, privacy and connection are enduring.”
The book includes reflections from residents who have lived in Neometro developments for extended periods. Adrienne, an architect who has lived in her townhouse for a decade, describes the appeal of compact living when it is thoughtfully resolved.
“What I love about this place is that it’s a retreat for people with busy lives,” she says. “I reject the idea of excess space. Living here has reinforced for me that a home doesn’t need to be large to feel complete.”
Related: Integrating Japanese bathing rituals into bathroom design
An essay by author James Cameron situates Neometro’s work within Melbourne’s broader housing history, considering how design-led development can contribute to more liveable apartment environments.
“Homes are only successful if the people living there feel that they are,” Cameron writes. “Beyond drawings and marketing material, housing is ultimately about how people experience their lives within it.”
Published by URO Publications, City Living: Neometro Residents and Works brings together a selection of projects from across the group’s four decades of work. Recent and forthcoming developments referenced include projects at Walsh Street in South Yarra, Gore Street in Fitzroy and Alma Road in St Kilda East.
