Luxury and nature intertwine at Kanai, the lush 680-acre site on Mexico’s Riviera Maya that is home to a quartet of swank hotel brands—St. Regis, Auberge Resorts Collection’s Etéreo, EDITION, and the Mandarin Oriental (coming in 2028). Leaving the jungle setting undisturbed was essential, so these properties collectively occupy only 10 percent of the land. In response to the dramatic backdrop, the hotels’ various design teams drew from Mayan architecture, cenotes, and celestial patterns, embracing materials like limestone, walnut, and locally woven fabrics in the process.

“Each guestroom across the three hotels has a front row seat to the ocean view. We wanted guests to feel as though they’re relaxing in their own beach house and only have to open the doors to be steps away from the sand,” says Michael Edmonds, founder and CEO of Vancouver- and Mexico City-based architecture firm Edmonds International, which handled the St. Regis and EDITION properties. “Many of our structures are elevated above the mangrove forest, connected by raised walkways, allowing the natural ecosystem to thrive beneath.”

Kanai thoughtfully approaches high-end hospitality, prioritizing ecological sensitivity and the overall allure of the outdoors. It’s one of the first of its kind in the industry, and it serves as an inspiration for a slew of residential projects that are anchored in bringing an amenity-rich, holistic wellbeing to the forefront of daily life.

In fact, an indicator of this growing trend comes for the Global Wellness Institute, which found that wellness-focused residential properties at the mid- and upper-market ends command a price premium of 10 to 25 percent, while commercial buildings demonstrate a five to eight percent rental premium per square foot.

With that in mind, we highlight a handful of projects from around the world that are reshaping the idea of community with wellbeing at the forefront.

Future First

A rendering of Khalid Bin Sultan City in Sharjah, UAE shows one of its seven residential neighborhoods, each organized around a central plaza and connected by pedestrian paths

At the forefront of this residential evolution—guided by a principle of living well via amenities and location—is the UAE. Consider BEEAH Group, which ideates sustainable solutions across the technology, energy, healthcare, and waste management sectors from its Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)-designed headquarters in Sharjah, UAE. Recently, it decided to venture into real estate development with the multiuse Khalid Bin Sultan City. ZHA was tapped once again to masterplan the project, which is adjacent to BEEAH Group’s dune-shaped, LEED Platinum-certified office building.

This time around, the London firm is stitching together seven different residential neighborhoods, each one anchored by a central public plaza and connected by walkways shaded with native vegetation and colonnades. A mile-long park will be its centerpiece, threading through Khalid Bin Sultan City and featuring sculpture gardens and wildlife ponds to complement the leafy boulevards’ restaurants and cafés.

The Nest community pavilion at the Wilds in Dubai, shown in a rendering, anchors a development of nearly 1,700 new homes

Elsewhere in the UAE, developer Aldar has two ambitious projects in the works for 2029. In Dubai’s affluent Dubailand district, the family-friendly Wilds will offer almost 1,700 mansions designed by Beirut, Lebanon-based Nabil Gholam Architects, as well as villas and apartments, all bolstered by local plants and wildlife. Duck houses and bee-keeping zones will be found throughout, and the community pavilion dubbed the Nest will engage future generations with a science-fueled curiosity area for children.

Sales are also soaring on Aldar’s Fahid Island in Abu Dhabi, which registered nearly $953 million in sales during its initial launch week with overseas buyers and expatriate residents representing 67 percent of the total.

A rendering of Fahid Island’s fitness center, where massive windows open directly to the Persian Gulf

The world’s first Fitwel-certified island, it owes its high demand to its prime location between Yas and Saadiyat islands, which offer a highly coveted waterfront lifestyle. Designed in collaboration with prominent architects like Kengo Kuma and Koichi Takada, it incorporates untouched mangrove forests and miles of coastline and beaches. Berm Park, a multipurpose green oasis spanning cycling routes, water stations, shaded rest areas, and outdoor fitness zones, will be the star of the coastal wellness destination.

Cultural Appeal

At Don Dom in the Dominican Republic, residential units, shown in a rendering, are designed with expansive balconies

This mindset extends to North America too, where developer Becca and architectural partner Gritt are overseeing the creation of the Don Dom. Located in Dominicus-Bayahibe, on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, the gated residential enclave encompasses more than 1.3 million square feet and takes design cues from both the Caribbean and rural Crete in Greece.

Although the Island Club & Bar and coworking nooks act as social hubs, there are also quiet lounges, communal reading rooms, and gardens for unwinding in hammock lounges. La Isla, scheduled to open in 2027, marks Phase 1. Later, those 294 houses, apartments, and studios will be joined by a village, cementing the idea of a full-fledged neighborhood with grocery shops, boutiques, and even a convention center.

The Don Dom’s design narrative was informed by “the grandeur of nature itself, creating spaces where human presence feels harmoniously integrated into the environment,” explains Becca CEO Federico Castillo. Water is critical to the design, expressed in the artificial lagoon and saltwater pools. “In all its forms, it surrounds and defines the community, creating the sensation of drifting over water,” adds Castillo. “The architectural language balances innovation and durability, using materials and solutions adapted to the tropical climate to ensure comfort, longevity, and minimal maintenance, such as cane and travertine.” Don Dom, he adds, “transcends the built environment. It invites residents and visitors to reconnect with the essence of the Caribbean.”

A rendering of the clean-lined Palazzi residential unit by Piero Lissoni at Oakridge Park in Vancouver

Originally a mall, the forthcoming Oakridge Park in Vancouver is a residential, lifestyle, and cultural hub, complete with Canada’s second Time Out Market and a park showcasing a running loop and community gardens. Several talents left their imprints on the homes, including Clémande Burgevin Blachman, creative director of fashion accessories at Hermès; Japanese botanical artist Azuma Makoti; and Milan- and New York-based Lissoni & Partners.

Rising 42 floors, Piero Lissoni x Oakridge is expected to be completed by 2026, its 365 units configured in 125 different typologies. Stefano Giussani, partner and COO of Lissoni Architecture New York, notes that the design of the tower “began by introducing a European sensibility to Vancouver’s architectural landscape, while also acknowledging the city’s strong cultural and aesthetic ties to Asia.”

Versatile layouts that blend home, office, and social spaces are balanced with an amenity floor, “a dynamic extension of the private residences, conceived as a shared living environment,” as Giussani puts it. Highlights include the communal kitchen, music room, bar and lounge, game room, and private event space. Stellar views are one of the main attractions of the gym and barbecue stations, where communal dining tables entice residents to the outdoor terrace.

“The material palette throughout the design is timeless, neutral, and enriched by refined contrasts and elevated finishes. Italian marble is paired with natural Canadian wood, creating a dialogue between tradition and place. Bespoke Italian furniture is combined with iconic pieces from Scandinavian and Japanese design, resulting in an eclectic yet harmonious atmosphere that reflects a global sensibility,” adds Giussani.

In the Clara lobby in Santa Clara, California, a stone desk is paired with warm brass and wood details

In the Clara, Related California’s 22-story development in Santa Clara’s new Clara district, 508 studios, apartments, townhomes, and penthouses reveal architecture from Bohlin, Cywinski, Jackson and interiors by AvroKO that are shaped by “the culture of Silicon Valley and infused with a relaxed, laidback attitude while being rooted in the surrounding Northern California landscape,” explains Andrew Lieberman, design director and principal at AvroKO’s San Francisco studio. “Silicon Valley industries are so focused on technology typically. We wanted to create a project with a strong sense of place and physicality, contributing to a sense of home and permanence, rather than transience.”

Building a palette around the evaporative salt ponds to the east and the condensing fog to the west was one way of nodding to the terrain. “We pulled from a local palette of oak tones, rich brown and rust-colored leathers, and deep green and gray lime wash paints. The salt ponds have an incredible rainbow of earthy saturated hues that change based on salinity, and this helps ground the project on the lower floors,” Lieberman says. “The higher floors of bleached oak, mist grays, light blues, and desaturated yellows, along with soft bouclés and lush velvets, were influenced by the evaporating fog as it spills over the western coastal mountain range—a near-daily ritual seen from the upper floors.”

It’s the Clara’s social hangouts that provide Leiberman’s favorite moments. Consider the bar on the 22nd floor that evokes a private members club or the ground-floor gathering room. “We turned what was essentially a hallway into a rich, seductive, intimate fireplace lounge,” Lieberman says of the space. “It’s perfect for reading, quiet conversation, and warmth.”

The Redwood Den at the Clara features a rounded green tile fireplace and wood-paneled walls

This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2025 issue.