Just weeks after the NSW Government dictated new studios be 35 square metres-plus, a tiny flat in Sydney about as small as they come has been named 'Best Apartment' in Australia. 
Coming in at just 27 square metres, the compact home in an art deco building in Darlinghurst on Friday night received the national 2015 Houses Award for Apartment or Unit.
Designed by young architect Brad Swartz for him and his partner, the recently renovated space beat an impressive field of new or re-designed apartments from across the country.
Only one of 10 shortlisted apartments was smaller - a 22 square metre home in Alexandria by architect Nicholas Gurney, featuring an elevated timber platform and designer kitchen concealing a queen-sized bed.

 Presenting the awards in Melbourne, the awards jury described Swartz's apartment as "an excellent example of what a thoughtful designer can achieve within a very small space and with a very tight budget".
"The Darlinghurst Apartment reconfigures a 27-square-metre inner city studio apartment into a fully functional home for a couple. The design cleverly incorporates a small bedroom, a laundry and ample storage into the incredibly tight floor space."
The design intent, Swartz said, was to create the very real sense of "living in a one-bedroom unit" while addressing issues of housing affordability and the need for urban sprawl.

 "With property prices rising throughout Australia, and a lack of affordable housing close to major cities, the aim of this project was to demonstrate that inner city living can be affordable," he said.  

 Swartz carefully selected an apartment with inherent potential - purchasing a top-floor unit facing north-east, with windows on both sides and distant views.

 He then cleverly divided it into two simple discrete areas by inserting one continuous wall of floor-to-ceiling joinery. One side was used to house public spaces (living, dining and cooking) and the other private (bathroom and separate bedroom). All three spaces had windows.

 Every element of the joinery was designed to serve at least two purposes - as room divider, TV and book cabinet, wine cellar, small desk, guest seating, and more.

 "Storage requirements were carefully considered and the bedroom stripped back to basics, primarily just accommodating the bed. The storage and bed were then stacked and inserted over each other like Tetris pieces to make the most of the minimal space. This area is carefully hidden a white joinery unit." 
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