Future of Sydney living: Couple live, work and play in unit block

Burwood couple Tony and Margaret are the family of the future. They live with their two young children on the 24th floor of a unit block, Tony works on the 10th floor and there’s a gym and childcare in the same complex. Welcome to the future of Sydney living.

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They are the family that never has to leave their home — not for work, the gym, their childrens’ daycare or even dinner.

What Tony and Margret forgo in wide open space they make up with precious family time and convenience.

Their Burwood apartment is on the 24th floor, Tony’s office on level 10, the kids’ childcare on level three and their gym at street level.

Add two of Tony’s favourite restaurants being on the ground floor alongside their regular cafe, and they’ve got their very own vertical suburb.

Tony and Margaret with their children Jasmine, 2, and Charlize, 11 months, at their Burwood apartment. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

And while those in detached homes might think this is abnormal, the Urban Taskforce predicts that by 2024 Sydney’s detached houses will be outnumbered by apartments, terraces and townhouses.

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“My trip home from the office takes me between 20 seconds to one minute,” Tony, who asked for his surname not to be used, told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Working 14 floors down also means I can spend more time with the kids in the mornings while Margaret hits the gym.

“If I’m behind on work I can duck into the office in between dinner and dessert.”

The pair moved to the three-bedroom apartment on Mary St to be close to amenities.

The $68 million GM Tower has 131 apartments, 10,478sq m of commercial floor space and 3573sq m of retail space.

The 26-storey tower was completed in 2016 and is the tallest building in Burwood.

If Tony has a city meeting, he’s two minutes walk from Burwood Station.

The view from the couple’s Burwood apartment block. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

If he’s doing the family shop, the local Westfield supermarket is 300m away — close enough to walk carrying the shopping bags.

“If I’m at work I’ll buy two coffees on the ground floor, get in the lift and press buttons for levels 10 and 24,” he said.

“If Margaret calls sometimes I don’t answer the call because I’m home in 30 seconds anyway.”