Savills Portugal

The way we live is changing and we are demanding more from our apartments. A couple of decades ago an apartment meant a single floor. Now buyers have an array of options as the best new-build examples are designed to reflect and enhance our lifestyles.

When it comes to layout, a new generation of increasingly discerning buyers has flexibility as its top priority. And, as the market becomes more sophisticated, buyers are not content to settle for a carbon-copy apartment, rather they are looking for something unique and cleverly designed to make the most of the available space.

If you’re new to the market, you may not be familiar with the terminology that comes with it. Below is a simple guide to the most popular types of apartment and the individual benefits of each.

Penthouse

Often benefitting from the largest square footage within an apartment building, the penthouse has prime position on the top floor and tends to boast luxury features, such as a private roof terrace from which to enjoy the extensive views.

Duplex

Offering accommodation over two floors, joined by an inner staircase, duplexes are a popular option for buyers who want to enjoy the benefits of apartment living, such as low maintenance, but prefer the traditional set-up of a house.

Mezzanine

If your impression of a mezzanine is of an area of throw-away space, perhaps tucked away into a corner, you will be pleasantly surprised by the modern mezzanine. Now a contemporary architectural feature, often with light and airy glass finishes, the mezzanine can provide a dramatic statement alongside value-added space.

Lateral

Lateral apartments provide flexible, often open-plan, living across a single floor. They tend to be light with high ceilings creating an airy feel which is ideally suited to buyers who want to maximise usable floor space.

New developments provide a choice of accommodation types, alongside number of bedrooms, location and features such as private balconies and terraces, so you can pick and choose an apartment to suit your lifestyle. However, if you’re looking for a particular layout it’s worth shopping around, as not all buildings provide all types and what’s on offer can vary considerably by location.

Duplexes, for example, are still relatively rare in Cardiff. Bayscape, a new development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on Cardiff Marina is one of only a few offering duplex living. Designed to provide particularly generous proportions for versatile living, Bayscape offers five duplex apartments, all of which boast roof terraces with either waterfront or city panoramas.

Here are some of the best examples of apartment living currently on the market.