Today’s uber-luxury developments are tailor-made to feel like permanent escapes from ordinary life. With features like lagoon-style pools, concierge services and wellness pavilions, there’s no need for residents at these upscale addresses to leave the building to feel pampered, healthy and entertained.
The sheer quality and scale of shared spaces are ushering in a new chapter of luxury development, and it all comes down to enabling and enhancing lifestyle options, says Tim Price, executive director at developer Time & Place.
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“The developments that define the next era will be the ones where architecture, wellness and place work together, rather than resort features added at the end,” he says. “The luxury is having integrated offerings that you used to have to leave home to experience.”
Wellness consultant Sonja Sorich drew on her knowledge of the luxury spa market and advised designers on integrating amenities with the architecture and local parks.
At the Gold Coast development Burly Residences , developer DD Living has incorporated 2000 square meters of amenity space across two floors to appeal to well-travelled, wealthy buyers who have stayed at some of the world’s most beautiful hotels, says Total Property Group managing director Adrian Parsons.
“What we’ve been doing with some of our apartment developments in the last few years is crafting them to be a combination of where residential living meets five-star hospitality environments,” he explains.
“So while they’re not a hotel, these developments are set up in a way where you’ve essentially got this whole designated area that’s a health club, and then a separate part of the amenities is more relaxed – the executive lounge, residents’ lounge, the bar area.”
At Halcyon in Bondi , three and four-bedroom apartments are only part of what’s on offer. Buyers will also be enticed by a sauna, bookable bikes for rides to nearby beaches, and a dual pool with a 17-metre lap section and a shallow bathing lounge area.
“There is an array of high-priced memberships available to health clubs and so on,” he says. “More premium projects are seeking to include health, exercise, relaxation and general wellness for their residents, alleviating those subscription costs.
“It is a cost to the project, including the sacrifice of otherwise saleable floor space.”
The wellness facilities include a gym, hot spa, cold plunge, sauna and yoga garden, plus a barbecue and entertaining terrace, games room and children’s play area.
To top it all off, a rooftop private dining room with a chef’s kitchen, residents’ lounge and outdoor entertaining terraces offers spectacular views across the ocean, city and hinterland.
“When we started planning The Eveleigh, we wanted to create something that went beyond beautiful apartments and genuinely enhanced the way people live,” says Ben Hirsch of developer Hirsch & Faigen.
“We’ve seen a significant evolution in what purchasers expect from premium residential developments, particularly downsizers and owner-occupiers who aren’t necessarily looking to downsize their lifestyle, but rather improve it.
“We believe dedicated wellness facilities, recreational spaces and extensive entertaining options are now essential components of a premium residential offering.”
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