A home is increasingly becoming more than a place to sleep, as Kenyan property buyers place greater value on spaces that help them connect, socialise and build a sense of community.
Property developer HassConsult is responding to the shift by expanding its resident experience model, Elevate by Hass, designed to make social connection a deliberate part of residential living.
The move comes as wellness real estate gains momentum globally. According to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 report, the sector is valued at an estimated Ksh78.9 trillion ($548 billion) and is projected to exceed Ksh129 trillion ($1 trillion) by 2029.
The report highlights the growing importance of social infrastructure in residential design, noting that people with access to such infrastructure are three times more likely to say they have close friends.
Kenya presents a particularly interesting market for this emerging trend. The report notes that Kenyans spend more time on social media than people in any other nation, with 20 per cent spending more than six hours a day online. At the same time, 26 per cent of Kenyan employees report experiencing loneliness frequently.
Against this backdrop, HassConsult is positioning Elevate by Hass as a year-round experience platform spanning fitness, wellness, children’s activities, entertainment, work, dining and community events.
The model is already being tested at Enaki Town, which was designed around greener, more sociable and resort-style urban living.
The development’s early performance suggests residents are responding to the approach. Enaki’s 440 apartments are 92 per cent occupied, with waitlists for several fully occupied unit types.
At the development, a purpose-built movement studio provides space for permanent fitness and wellness programmes led by specialist operator Yves Preissler. Artcaffé runs a marketplace designed as a social hub, hosting activities including high teas, children’s baking competitions and cultural festivals.
HassConsult is now extending the model into Enaki Forestside, the second phase of the development, centred around a 23,000-square-foot private forest and additional fitness, social, work and wellness spaces.
The new phase has already sold 50 per cent of its homes within four months of launch, providing an early commercial signal for the developer’s community-focused approach.
Farhana Hassanali, Co-CEO and Development Director at HassConsult, said conventional measures of residential value such as location, size and specifications are no longer enough to define a successful home.
She said a stronger sense of belonging can also translate into commercial value.
Sakina Hassanali, Co-CEO and Creative Director, said future residential design must deliberately create opportunities for human connection rather than leaving social interaction to chance.
With Elevate by Hass now being scaled across its developments, HassConsult is positioning resident experience alongside research, development, sales, letting and property management as a core component of sustaining residential value in Kenya.