The New Wellness Benchmark: How Smart Developers Are Creating Genuine Value
The wellness amenity standard has shifted from 6m² to 12m² per apartment, but the developers who are winning understand it's not just about the numbers.
South Beach delivers an impressive 14m² per apartment. Gurners La Pelago takes this to an even more luxurious level, with over 16m² of space per apartment. These aren’t arbitrary figures; they represent a fundamental shift in how Australia's leading developers are approaching wellness as both an amenity and an asset class.
Shannon Cloete: Benchmarking Analysis
After delivering mixed-use, hotel and residential projects across Australia for two decades, I've witnessed this evolution firsthand. The developers who succeed aren’t just adding wellness features; they're integrating them strategically to create lasting value for buyers and sustainable returns for themselves.
The Metrics That Matter: A New Baseline Emerges
The market has moved fast. What was competitive three years ago is now table stakes:
Current Market Leaders:
12m² minimum wellness amenity per apartment (up from 6m²)
Integrated operational models that sustain value post-settlement
Revenue potential built into the design from day one
Professional partnerships or robust self-service frameworks
Andrews Projects' South Beach and Gurner Group’s La Pelago aren’t just raising the bar; they’re demonstrating what happens when wellness is treated as core infrastructure rather than marketing overlay.
For Developers: Three Strategies Separating Leaders from Followers
Design for Year 5, Not Day 1. The best developers are already solving for long-term operational sustainability. This means understanding OPEX implications, body corporate structures, and maintenance requirements before the first render is created. Smart spatial planning can reduce operational costs by up to 30% while improving user experience.
Benchmark Globally, Deliver Locally. Looking only at local competition creates a race to the middle. The developers setting new standards are benchmarking against Singapore, London, and New York—then adapting those insights to Australian lifestyle patterns and regulations.
Integrate, Not Append. Genuine wellness integration influences every aspect, from apartment layouts and building services to precinct planning. When wellness is incorporated from the concept stage, costs tend to decline while value increases. It's not about adding costly features; it's about smart integration.
For Buyers: The Questions That Reveal Real Value
Sophisticated buyers and investors are learning to look beyond the marketing. Here’s what separates genuine wellness integration from expensive decoration:
"What's the operational model?" Well-designed wellness spaces include sustainable operational models. Ask about management structures, predicted body corporate contributions, and year-three projections.
"How does this compare to market leaders?" Get specific details, including square metres per apartment, operational costs per quarter, and partnership structures. Numbers tell the real story.
"Is this integrated or added?" Genuine wellness design encompasses the entire development process, from natural light strategies to circulation patterns to community engagement. If it feels separate, it probably is.
Why Design Directors Must Bridge Both Worlds
The most successful projects happen when design leadership understands both developer economics and buyer psychology:
Strategic Value Creation: Every square metre must deliver ROI—whether through sales premiums, reduced construction costs, or operational efficiency. The best design directors quantify this value from the concept stage.
Risk Mitigation Through Benchmarking: Bold visions succeed when grounded in rigorous analysis. Understanding global benchmarks, operational precedents, and technical requirements de-risks innovation.
Operational Intelligence: Knowing how spaces will perform in year five—not just look in renderings—separates professional design management from aesthetic decoration.
Shannon Cloete Analysis
The Competitive Advantage: Setting Benchmarks, Not Following Them
The wellness wave isn't slowing; it's becoming more sophisticated. The developers who understand this evolution are creating projects that:
Command premium prices through genuine differentiation
Reduce long-term operational risks
Build brand value beyond single projects
Create communities that sustain value over decades
This requires more than following trends. It demands:
Technical expertise in wellness delivery
Integration from concept through operations
Quantifiable performance metrics
Partnership between vision and viability
The Next Decade Belongs to Those Who Build Beyond the Benchmark
The gap between 6m² and 12m² represents more than spatial expansion; it signals a fundamental shift in development thinking. The leaders aren't just adding more wellness space; they’re reimagining how wellness creates value for everyone involved.
The developers who partner have design management leaders capable of bridging strategy and execution, who understand both the spreadsheet and the human experience, will define the next generation of Australian property.
The opportunity is clear. The benchmarks are moving. The question isn't whether to integrate wellness, but how to do it in a way that creates genuine, sustainable value.
Shannon Cloete is a strategic design director with 20 years’ experience transforming ambitious wellness visions into commercial reality. From Hotel Chadstone to Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, Shannon specialises in bridging developer objectives with market expectations to create projects that deliver exceptional performance.
Ready to go deeper? The metrics shared here are entry points to a more complex conversation. Each project’s context demands specific analysis of technical requirements, operational models, and spatial strategies. Let’s discuss how your next development can set benchmarks rather than follow them.
For strategic benchmarking insights or to explore how genuine wellness integration can differentiate your next project, connect at shannon@shannoncloete.com or visit www.shannoncloete.com
