Is this Australia’s most liveable micro-apartment?

Electrolux has partnered with compact space designer Nicholas Gurney to unveil the possible sustainable answer to
Australia’s urban housing crisis – a 35sqm hybrid micro apartment

The rise of property prices and changing lifestyles has meant an increased number of Australians have chosen to live in multi-residential dwellings. This compact living trend has changed the role of the kitchen and laundry in the average Australian home, meaning spaces need to be tighter and more concise.

Collaborating with compact space designer, Nicholas Gurney, we have created a walkthrough ‘Compact Urban Living’ environment to inspire people on the design possibilities and ingenuity of micro-living.

“What the space highlights is that you don’t have to forego comfort. My conceptual focus 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,” says Nicholas.

Electrolux Global Design Director, Scott King, explains how the Compact Urban Living space proves micro-living can be luxurious and premium while still “allowing [for] Australians to reduce their footprint and size down for a simpler more flexible life, maintaining all the necessary comforts.”




But with this, comes key practical challenges for smaller living homeowners, designers and architects. Working with Nicholas, we’ve compiled some of the top considerations when it comes to designing a small space so you can maintain all-inclusive elevated comfort.

1. Integrate your surroundings

Integrated appliances can create a seamless kitchen that expands the usable living space of your apartment. This removes the challenges of limited physical space and reduces visual clutter by blending your cabinetry and appliances together without any bulkiness or obtrusions.

In the space, the 60cm Fully Integrated Dishwasher (ESL69200RO) was used as an ideal solution to a small kitchen space, fitting in seamlessly to kitchen cabinetry. If you’re looking to streamline your laundry, our 8.0kg/4.5kg UltimateCare 500 washer dryer with UltraMix (EWW8024Q5WB) is an efficient and compact combination that makes room for washing baskets in your space.

2. Measure your space

Floor area of new apartments over the past 15 years have shrunk 17.5% on average¹, which means carefully measuring your space prior to appliance selection is extremely important. You can save space by installing a larger integrated rangehood over a smaller cooktop or by mounting your washer and dryer on the wall.

3. Select the right storage and functionality

Often, poor ergonomics and difficulty navigating space is a common challenge in compact kitchens. Consider vertical storage solutions to utilise full floor-to-ceiling space before selecting an ergonomic placement of appliances.

When looking to streamline your kitchen, consider a built-in microwave that can be tailored into your cabinetry or in a tower with your oven to improve ergonomics, such our 44L Built-in Combination Microwave Oven (EVEM645DSE).

4. Remember sustainability when choosing style

In general, appliances can account for around 30% of home energy use². When looking at the style of the appliance and whether fits into the aesthetic of the rest of the space, it’s important to consider the costs of running the appliance.

While there are compact appliances that suit different styles, from modern to retro-vintage, the efficiency and quality of compact solutions should also factor into the equation. Luckily enough, the intuitive door design and energy rating of our fridges offer leading power efficiency without compromising on performance, giving you the ultimate balance of style and sustainability at home. 

¹Electrolux Compact Kitchens & Laundries, 2021

²Australian Government, 2021