Apartments Oz Style - they just don't tick the box

Apologies in advance, SMH article probably has a paywall:
Sydney housing crisis: Apartment developers missing ‘crucial’ room

With the push to densify our suburbs, due to affordability issues, it's painfully obvious that apartments aren't being built to satisfy the requirements of family life. The only boxes that they tick are that they're new, modern

It's not just size but also the layout affecting liveability.

"They are too small, don’t have enough bedrooms, and they lack the essential dumping ground for any family with school children, backpacks and sporting equipment: a hallway" according to the article (UNSW research).


Unfortunately, the nature of the beast dictates that cost is a function of size, whistles and bells cost money and don't make for affordable housing (not the point of the article).

Our developers have missed the mark for liveability by aiming to cram as many units as possible on a site to maximise profit, achieve speed of sale, reduce risk and satisfy financiers.

The few times that better design is achieved, it's at the higher end of the market and at prices similar to houses.

 

Bypass paywall: https://archive.md/d5qyt

I've read something about the need for dual fire escapes makes anything other than the standard two bedrooms layout difficult (in high rises).

Car parking I imagine is another impediment?

What's the answer?

Some sort of infrastructure contribution formula that is based on bedroom % of dwelling etc that skews design in the right direction?

 

They require a minimum separation (path of travel) of 20m & maximum travel of 40 m if there's two Part D1 Provision for escape

This is further complicated by needing an exit 6m from the unit door or choice of exit...

The requirements are much lower for buildings <6 storeys.

Design difficulties arise in providing natural light to the habitable rooms