Electrolux has developed a new Compact Urban Living environment in the form of a 35 square metre hybrid micro apartment within its Experience Centre at Mascot, Sydney.
In partnership with designer, Nicholas Gurney, the Electrolux space aims to inspire designers to discover the design possibilities and ingenuity of compact living, which may be the answer to Australia’s urban housing crisis.
Appliances featured in the space include an AEG 60cm Integrated Dishwasher QuickSelect FSE92000PO, Electrolux 60cm Fully Integrated Dishwasher ESL69200RO, Westinghouse 30cm Two-Zone Induction Cooktop WHI323BC and Vintec 20-Bottle Single Zone Wine Cabinet VWS020SBB.
The trend toward apartment living is not new, however, the number of Australians living in apartments has increased by 78% over the last 25 years.
While small living quarters have historically gone hand in hand with student-style living, the micro trend is about all-inclusive elevated comfort, according to Electrolux global design director, Scott King.
“Designing smaller and smarter allows Australians to reduce their footprint and size down for a simpler more flexible life, while maintaining all the necessary comforts. This isn’t student living, but proof compact urban living can be luxurious and premium,” King said.
Electrolux chose 35 square metres as it is the same space trade shows often allocate to kitchens. The challenge for Gurney was to allow for social, work, private and storage zones within this large-kitchen equivalent space.
The industrial designer who has contributed to upwards of 100 micro projects across Australia and internationally over the past decade said the micro living trend appeals to a specific market.
“Living at a small scale is often for those at a somewhat transient life stage, such as young people on the way up where the city is their playground, or those who are older and looking to downsize without compromising amenity. What the space highlights is that you don’t have to forego comfort,” Gurney said.
“My conceptual focus for the project was to imbue a sense of beautility; creating something equal parts useful and beautiful. Its unconventional design affords a purposeful indication that the possibilities for compact urban living are limited only to one’s imagination.”