Flat living is the future for city dwellers and ALBA, a new state of the art development in the heart of Sydney, is a project that appeals to the expectations of the next generation.

The development is ideally located in the affluent Green Square precinct, but it is the innovative features and stunning craftsmanship of the project that are the real highlights.

Zetland is located 3km south of Sydney's CBD, an up-and-coming suburb, and ALBA is situated in a prime location, within the upscale community of Green Square.

It is a lively city centre offering plenty of choice in terms of open spaces, cafes, patisseries, shopping, bars and restaurants.

It is also a convenient location for transport, centred on the Green Square train station. Active residents also have the option of walking or cycling to the city.

Anne Flaherty, an economist at Realestate.com.au, says it's not surprising that the suburb is getting a lot of attention as people rekindle their enthusiasm for the city after the pandemic.

"Demand for an inner-city Sydney suburb like this will never go away," she explains.

"Sydney is the centre of Australia's industrial and commercial sector, so Zetland's proximity to the CBD is always attractive to buyers."

Units in the area are also performing much better in the current market than in other areas across Australia.

 "Over the past 12 months to the end of March, median prices have fallen by 2.5 per cent, which is less than the broader decline we have seen in the greater Sydney area. This is a sign that there is still strong demand in the area," she explained.

"Another sign of popular demand in the area is unit rents. Over the same period, these rents have increased by 23 per cent, which is quite good."

While the city centre location is key, buyers also want an imaginative and comfortable living space and ALBA is a project that leaves nothing to the imagination in terms of style and liveability.

Managing director Yibin Xu said Bridgehill worked with Sissons and McNally Architects to create an artful design that includes a stunning terracotta facade and a vaulted lobby space lined with engineered timber and glass.

"People really appreciate aesthetics and for us that was very important," says Mr Xu.

"It's about craftsmanship. It's about creating a masterpiece, not just building some bricks and mortar."

ALBA has one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, as well as a collection of penthouses, each with a superb mix of materials and fittings that show character and personality.

There are a variety of layouts to choose from, with some flats divided into two levels like townhouses for buyers interested in dynamic living spaces.

These unique choices result in unusual layouts, but also have their advantages.

Corridors on each level fill the interiors with light and fresh air, and flats are grouped together in threes to form intimate communities.

This approach also allows some units to have no adjacent walls, appealing to buyers who value peace and quiet as well as privacy.

This is also a building with a large number of amenities.

On the ground floor, there is a mix of retail, a business lounge and a community lounge.

On the roof, there is a private sky terrace where residents can escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy excellent views across the community.

In addition to the visual appeal, buyers will find a range of innovative concepts and technical features at ALBA designed to enhance everyday life.

For starters, some flats have been specifically designed as convertible living spaces.

"This means that you can borrow the space you use at night to expand your living area during the day," explains Mr Xu.

This is achieved by installing solid walls that can be walked on, enabling residents to adapt the space.

These walls can be moved to extend the lounge when residents have guests, or to create a separate space such as a home office, a child's playroom or a guest room.

The ability to adapt the space is definitely a game changer, says Flaherty.

"Buyers really value flexibility, and maximising every square metre of space is valuable," she says.

"Buyers can change the property to suit their changing needs and that will be really attractive."

Another attractive feature is the lobby's facial recognition intercom system, which adds an extra level of security.

The good news is that even with these extra thoughtful details, ALBA is still affordable, with one-bedroom flats starting at $790,000, says Mr Xu.

"We know that when someone buys a condo, they focus on location, quality and price, but at ALBA we're trying to do something different and innovative, and we think buyers will respect that."

All images courtesy of ALBA Green Plaza.