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Building Homes With Wellness and Health in Mind

Real Estate Report: Elements of wellness can be addressed through design, system or lifestyle changes

As homebuilders zero in on building the most energy-efficient homes possible, they’re increasingly turning their attention to delivering a product that might actually enhance the health and well-being of residents.

It all started with trying to make sure people’s homes weren’t making them sick. “The wellness movement is a lot more than indoor air quality, but that’s probably the main focus because it’s an offshoot of the green, sustainability kick we’ve been on for the last 15 years,” says John Guilliams, director of design for KGA Studio Architects.

Ways to improve indoor air quality include installing a built-in central air purifying system to eliminate airborne pollens and dust particles and using low VOC (volatile organic compounds) products. Hard flooring rather than carpet also helps.

Biophilic Design: Bringing the Outside In

Humans, on average, spend the vast majority of their time indoors. Yet scientific studies on human health conclude that spending time in and around nature, or even just looking at natural elements, can have wide-ranging benefits. The real estate industry is closing the gap between these conflicting concepts by bringing nature indoors with biophilic building design.

Whether as a living wall, an indoor water feature, a green roof, wood building materials, or art that evokes nature, biophilia is growing in popularity. Biophilic design—the practice of connecting people and nature within built environments and communities—is making spaces more authentic and memorable in a meaningful way.

Within the real estate industry, building certifications and standards are major drivers for the adoption of biophilic design concepts; many green certification programs require buildings to adopt various biophilic elements to achieve increasing levels of recognition.

Real Estate Watch: The Lakehouse in Sloan’s Lake

The first building in Colorado to pursue a new wellness certification, the Lakehouse may change the face of development—for the healthier.

At the new Lakehouse condominium complex in Sloan’s Lake, there are perks you see—floor-to-ceiling windows in penthouse units, a juicing station, a sauna—and perks you don’t see, like a sophisticated air-filtration system and mold-killing ultraviolet lights in the pool. These elements, and dozens more, are part of a growing effort to boost buildings’ contributions to the health of their inhabitants. At the helm of the movement: the International WELL Building Institute, or IWBI, a corporation that’s set guidelines to help architects design residences, offices, schools, and more with wellness in mind. Denver’s Nava Real Estate Development, the team behind the Lakehouse, was the first in Colorado to register with the IWBI under the multifamily track—and they hope to prove just how luxurious a healthy building can be when residents move in this fall. (Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop devotees, perhaps?)

Virtual reality helping provide glimpses of Denver’s real estate future

Team at Lakehouse luxury condo project near Sloan’s Lake among those using VR tech to sell real estate

Picture this: You’re interested in buying a new condo but the building is still being built. The drywall isn’t even hung yet. Before you sign on the dotted line and commit to a major investment, you want to see more. What will the countertops look like? How’s the view?

Forget two-dimensional renderings and floor plans. Just pick up a tablet or strap on a pair of virtual reality goggles and get a complete 3-D look around the condo that could be yours. Switch between floor plans and finishes to get a sense of what you’re getting down to the digital inch.