Here’s why Australia should build more smaller houses rather than fewer big ones

‘At the last census, more than 1.2m Australian households had three or more bedrooms beyond what was necessary for “typical sleeping arrangements”,’ writes Peter Mares. Photograph: Brendan Esposito/AAP

Walking past a building site in Sydney recently, I was struck by the pitch for the new homes under construction. “Outrageously spacious”, proclaimed a hoarding spruiking apartments with “2 living areas, 2 dining areas, 3 car parks, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms”.

I’m not sure what you do with half a bathroom, or why anyone needs dual dining rooms and lounge rooms – though some multigenerational households could use all that space. With one of the apartments reportedly “snapped up” for $24m though, I reckon it will be rich-list empty nesters – not growing families – who eventually move in.