A way of life around the world for many years now, apartment living offers lifestyle and location-plus in some of Auckland’s most in-demand destinations.
And despite many Kiwis still determined to secure their own patch of land, more and more are choosing to opt for apartment life for a myriad of reasons.
As our population grows and urban land becomes progressively scarce, apartment living is an increasingly smart choice for all stages of life. In Spain, 65% of the population live in apartments, with Switzerland, Germany, Greece and Italy close behind. Europeans have embraced vertical living for centuries and there are plenty of compelling arguments for Kiwis to do the same.
Just last month, Mayor Wayne Brown opened Ockham Residential’s 19th apartment building, 10-unit The Greenhouse on Williamson Avenue, which has been clad in 150,000 Italian-made bricks and is the development business’s flagship building. Set to be a landmark on the Ponsonby skyline, it’s an example of an ambitious apartment project available locally that has been done very, very well.
If you’re thinking about making the move to apartment living, read on for some great reasons why…
Apartments are low maintenance
Unlike a house and land, there is less upkeep involved with an apartment, which means less time spent on maintenance so your weekends are free to get out and enjoy life. Apartments are also, by design, easier to clean and often on a single level, while a body corporate maintains the building, giving you more time to relax and do things you enjoy.
An award-winning painter, Evan Woodruffe has been a convert to apartment living since 1999, mainly in the Greater Ponsonby area, from St Marys Bay to Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay and now Kingsland.
He says, “the best thing is that it frees up time to concentrate on my work and career. If you are not a DIY person and don't want to spend time maintaining a typical Kiwi wooden house, then apartments with their built in Long-Term Maintenance Plans and building managers are a great way to keep on top of work that needs to be done and get it done by others.”
A proportion of the body corporate fees go to this, “and with careful planning you can avoid nasty surprises and big bills.”
Suzie Paine works as an agent with Bayleys, and has project managed and sold many of Auckland´s prestigious inner city apartment buildings off the plans as one of the top project marketers in New Zealand. Having embraced apartment living for the past 13 years, she says:
“Don’t think for a second you won’t like it. You will have so much more time on your hands to do other things and you will honestly wonder why you didn’t do it sooner! You pay your body corporate fees and someone else does all the work, requiring a lot less hassle than owning a standalone home with gardens and the like.”
Apartments are often in top locations
When it comes to apartment living, location is crucial, but chances are the apartment you’re looking at will be located in a popular urban area with fabulous access to public transport, nearby amenities and schools.
So you can walk out of the apartment, drop the kids at school, and grab a coffee at your local cafe, all without venturing too far from your doorstep. Increasingly, people are even choosing to lose the car and instead grab an e-bike or Uber everywhere, a choice which can be easier on the wallet and kinder to the planet.
Evan advises that you “choose the location carefully, it's as important as the apartment. Don't worry about whether the furniture fits, get new furniture. And you don't need a bedroom for the adult children to stay ‘maybe one day’.
That will end up being a bedroom full of stuff you don't use. At $100k a bedroom, it's more economic for them to get an Airbnb when they visit.”
Apartments are tops when it comes to security
As a woman, this feature is hugely attractive to me and I’m guessing that I’m not alone.
Many appreciate the fact that premium apartment buildings come with security features such as secured entrances, intercoms and security cameras, which can provide added peace of mind. The body corporate also takes care of the maintenance and monitoring of these, so you don’t have to worry about fixing things yourself or whether it’s been done professionally.
Suzie agrees that it’s a top priority for her as well, saying, “Security is very important to me, so knowing I don’t ever have to worry about that is a non-negotiable. When I go away I can just lock the door! It’s also very private.”
Evan says that apartment living can also mean that someone is always looking out for you, “As depending on the size and demographic of the block, there can be a real community feel.
Our current apartment is one of four and we all get on, run a WhatsApp group and have catchups. This was a great help during the lockdowns of 2020. A community is what you make it, and some places have been better than others.”
A great apartment will have plenty of amenities
When assessing the pros and cons of apartment living, you can’t overlook the many fantastic amenities offered by many premium developments. Community amenities offered by many apartment buildings include residents' only gyms, indoor or outdoor swimming pools (sometimes both), rooftop grills, outdoor gardens and courtyards.
You’ll also find storage units, business centres, concierge services, bike sharing and recreational spaces in some, all of which make life easier for those lucky enough to live within their walls.
In conclusion, when asked if she would ever return to a standalone house, Suzie says, “That’s a good question. Let me think about it…No!” And although Evan acknowledges that “anything is possible,” he’s clearly a convert for all of the above reasons and more.
“Apartments are a sign of diversity and maturity in a culture,” says the artist. “All the most exciting cities in the world have them and Auckland is heading that way.
“When they have infrastructure to support them and transport options nearby, they really are a wonderful way to live.” (HELENE RAVLICH)
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Published: March 2024