IF you think the average size of new inner-city apartments has shrunk, you’re right.

And what some are calling a stroke of sustainable genius, others are calling an opportunity to capitalise on supercharged demand by cultures, which have come from environments where relative micro-sized apartments, are the norm.

Australian Institute of Architects president-elect Karl Fender told the AFR two-bedroom apartments of about 50 squares will become the norm.

Until recently – and through building booms in the 1960s, and 2000s - an average one-bedroom apartment would measure between 50 and 60 square metres.