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City Apartments (Otherwise Known as City Flats)
City apartments are today highly debated building structures in Australia. High cost of land necessitates more clustered dwellings. City apartments offer clustering vertically and horizontally. These homes are great for planning and comfortable for city council services. Some even argue that Australian dream of having a home with a garden is over. But are the city apartments without challenges?
Green Home Design Also Applies to City Apartments
Developers and builders in high urban dwelling (Melbourne, Sydney and Perth) do not have a free hand in designing city apartments. There are still strict rules in the Building Code of Australia which apply to city flats and apartments.
The interconnecting walls of city apartments require both thermal and sound insulation. Social aspects are more stringent here than in the case of single dwellings.
There are rules about sustainable landscape.
City apartments are encouraged to have:
- Vegetation which requires little water
- Community gardens
- Roof gardens
- Water tanks
- Solar panels
- Thermal insulation
- Glazing
- Shading
City councils and estates (willingly or not) do enforce that developers follow optimal house orientation. Builders will not risk to have city apartments/flats without sunlight throughout the day.
City Apartments and Social Issues
City apartments allow for high density dwellings. This often implies that people with various cultures and backgrounds must live in a close vicinity.
City apartments and flats require that social development and security is adequately ensured. Ugly buildings with urinated halls and enclosed out of view areas will be social burdens.
Open plan, architecturally advanced building with play courts and neat vegetation may cost the same as the "Industrial Revolution Factory" of the same size.
Access to transport, children security and safety can be achieved with smart city apartments planning. Before renting or buying the flat you may rate its value with software tools like AccuRate.
Remember city council has obligation to listen to residents about the new city apartments. Do not be fooled with plastic models and high tech graphic design - get facts!
City Apartments and Fire Issues
Fire hazard in city flats is higher than in case of separate houses. This is further complicated by the fact that flats cannot be all ideally orientated.
There is often a trade off between the cost and the safety. Fire regulations are more strict than in the past but economics still needs to be considered.
Recently, it is argued that mechanical ventilations should be included in apartments. However, this may increase the renting price further (leaving many low income families without a home).
City Apartments And The Noise
Noise is the ongoing problem in high density areas such as city apartments. There are two types of noise:
- Airborne noise: from cars, airplanes, radios, television etc.)
- Structure-borne noise: from the impact on the building structure (walking on timber, closing doors, closing windows etc).)
Modern design of city apartments in Melbourne, Sydney apartments and Perth apartments employs clever architecture to reduce airborne noise. In those buildings windows are placed far from each other, while balcony dividers are made of solid material.
Usually city apartments' bedrooms face away from busy streets.
Only laundry, bathroom and kitchen are placed closer to the noisy areas.
Home builders in Australia have to follow strict rules to reduce airborne noise.
The Sound Transmission Class (STC) classifies the isolation of the noise.
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