Heat, cold, pollution, noise and insects: too many apartment blocks aren't up to the challenge

• These include air and noise pollution, temperature and weather extremes, bushfire smoke and insects.
• Our newly published research shows how apartment residents struggle with the impacts of unhealthy homes.
• It’s a result of decades of urban planning based on fossil fuel use and high-rise building standards poorly adapted to the Australian environment.
• However, our interviews revealed apartments were hot in summer, cold in winter and prone to mould, condensation, noise and air pollution.

Buildings that are bad for health and sleep

• Ayasha’s experience in a two-bedroom apartment, built in 2017, highlighted the health costs of flawed design and a lack of insulation.
• Read more:
  Mould and damp health costs are about 3 times those of sugary drinks.
• We did open the doors a couple of times, the mosquitoes would get in and they would attack the baby.
• Read more:
  Why Western Sydney is feeling the heat from climate change more than the rest of the city

Wanted: better regulations and development models

• Recent research on how to deliver sustainable apartment housing underscores the limitations of the National Construction Code, building materials and minimum regulations.
• This 2023 study called for better regulations targeting project design, compliance with standards, property valuation and transparent information about properties’ sustainability features.
• Costly subsidies and incentives would be needed to move it to areas where better, affordable housing is most needed.

Low-cost, low-tech solutions

• Residents’ experiences reveal a range of low-cost, low-tech solutions that could easily be mandated for all apartment housing.
• These solutions include flyscreens, ceiling fans, external shading and adequate insulation.
• Reminiscent of pre-air-conditioning building design, these solutions allow for flexibility in building facades, enabling both airflow and screening.

Time to champion an Australian high-rise architecture

• Australian governments, including the NSW government, have committed to delivering more affordable housing.
• They get clustered around freeways and other busy roads to avoid political backlash from residents opposed to such developments.
• Planning that optimises building orientation – to best access sunlight and ventilation – and apartment design standards adapted to the Australian environment are urgently needed.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.