Open-concept kitchen designs and Italian finishes are popular features in a new home, but many of today’s homebuyers are looking for a place to live that offers a holistic approach to wellness.
Access to nature, nearby recreation and fitness facilities, opportunities to build community and the presence of remote work infrastructure have become top priorities. Increasingly, buyers want a place where they can live, work and play, all under one roof.
The real estate industry has listened. The result is wellness real estate, which, according to the research-based nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI), “explicitly puts people’s wellness at the centre of the conception, design, creation and redevelopment of a build.”
Features may include everything from fitness centres and access to nature, to air filtration systems and smart lighting, emerging services such as daycare facilities, concierge services and meditation zones.
And the sector is growing. According to a 2024 report by GWI, wellness real estate is expected to expand by 15.8 per cent annually until it approaches the trillion-dollar mark in 2028. So far, the United States is the largest wellness real estate market, followed by China, the United Kingdom, Australia and France.
An increasing number of homes, workplaces, retailers and hotels are incorporating wellness features into their offerings, as consumers recognize the importance our environment plays in leading healthier, longer lives.
Some of the wellness real estate boom can be traced to the pandemic, when COVID-19 changed our relationship with our homes, our work and our community. With people spending so much time indoors, they became more attuned to the effects of their surroundings on their physical, mental and spiritual health.
The pandemic led investment professional David Hooper to see work in a new light.
“It made me rethink the nine-to-five routine,” says the 48-year-old. “I realized that I could work remotely from a beautiful place, like One Bear Mountain.”
The first wellness real estate project in Canada, the new One Bear Mountain development is 20 minutes from Victoria and units are selling quickly. Rising out of the natural beauty of Bear Mountain, the striking curvilinear tower has been designed from the ground up for buyers who are looking for a home that answers all of their lifestyle and wellness needs.
For Hooper, this meant a dedicated workspace that was near to, but not in his home. The building’s 16th floor in-house business centre includes a concierge, private meeting rooms and fully equipped office spaces.
“Working from a remote office gives me motivation to continue to grow my business while working smarter each day instead of spending so much time commuting,” Hooper says.
The business centre is connected to the Grenoble SkyLounge. Rich finishes, thoughtful seating and floor-to-ceiling glass walls give the space the ambience of a private club.
During the pandemic, different rooms took on different significance and many people felt the need for more living space. Wellness-forward homes such as the ones at One Bear Mountain maximize living space, giving residents room to breathe without feeling hemmed in.
The two- and three-bedroom units come with ample balconies and feature floor-to-ceiling aluminum windows to maximize sunlight and breathtaking views of Mount Finlayson. European-designed kitchens include high-end designer brand appliances and finishings such as Gaggenau, Bosch and Kohler while bathrooms boast custom cabinetry and design elements.
“Buying at One Bear Mountain was a strategic move to enhance my quality of life,” Hooper says.
Many of us now realize the importance of small, everyday interactions to our mental well-being. Builders are taking note, making room for large communal spaces, such as One Bear Mountain’s skylounge and a two-storey lobby. Opening out onto an outdoor terrace and lush gardens, the lobby acts as a stylish hub where residents mingle over coffee. In the evenings, as an event space, it can host up to 100 guests.
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“It’s a different level of relaxation,” Hooper says. “The community vibe is about living at a strategic pace.”
Fitness has been recognized as a leading contributor not just to physical well-being but to mental health as well. In wellness real estate, cardio and weight machines are merely a starting point, with new builds adding spaces for yoga and Pilates classes, bike rooms and more. One Bear Mountain’s fitness facilities include not only a fitness zone and yoga studio with twice weekly instructor-led sessions, but also the only rooftop swimming pool of its kind in Greater Victoria. The pool and its wind-protected lounge deck and terrace offer unparalleled views of Mount Finlayson and Goldstream Provincial Park.
Other recreational facilities include 36-holes across two Jack Nicklaus Designed PGA golf courses, and a private and public tennis club. Biking and hiking trails are close at hand. Hooper, who sees his new home as “investing in work, wellness and enjoyment,” says he appreciates being able to access these amenities just outside his front door.
“The play aspect of the community is incredible,” he says. “I can be on the golf course in no time.”
Wellness real estate may be in its early stages, especially here in Canada, but if homeowners like Hooper are any indication, it’s an industry that’s going to keep growing as people understand its advantages.
This story was written by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of One Bear Mountain. Read the full article here.