Kenyan property developer HassConsult is expanding its Enaki residential model as social connection, wellness and community experiences emerge as increasingly important factors in how residents and investors value homes.
The company has introduced Elevate by Hass, a year-round resident experience platform covering fitness, wellness, entertainment, work, dining and community activities.
The platform was first piloted at Enaki Town, which HassConsult developed as a lifestyle-oriented residential community combining luxury housing with resort-style amenities and programmed social experiences.
“The traditional measures of residential value, location, size, specification, are no longer the full picture. When residents genuinely belong to where they live, it shows up commercially,” said Farhana Hassanali, HassConsult’s Co-CEO and development director.
The move comes as more daily activities shift online, potentially reducing opportunities for face-to-face interaction and changing expectations around residential living.
Global Wellness Institute research cited by HassConsult indicates that people with access to social infrastructure are more likely to report having close friends, highlighting the potential role of residential design and programming in creating social connections.
HassConsult also cited Global Web Index data showing high levels of social media use in Kenya, while Gallup research indicates that a significant share of Kenyan employees experience loneliness.
The developer believes these trends create an opportunity for residential communities to provide spaces and experiences that encourage residents to interact beyond their homes.
At Enaki Town, a purpose-built movement studio provides fitness and wellness programming delivered by specialist operator Yves Preissler. Artcaffé operates a marketplace that doubles as a social hub, hosting events including high teas, children’s baking competitions and cultural festivals.
The programme has generated thousands of engagements, while HassConsult said more than 250 children formed new friendships through Elevate by Hass events.
Activities have included movie afternoons, Easter egg hunts, summer events, community meals, floral arrangement classes and regular dance, fitness and wellness sessions.
Enaki records strong demand
The commercial performance of Enaki has strengthened HassConsult’s conviction in the model.
The development’s 440 apartments are 92% occupied, with several fully occupied unit categories recording waiting lists, according to the company.
HassConsult has also broken ground on Enaki Forestside, the next phase of the development, which is centred around a 23,000-square-foot private forest.
Forestside will include a co-working café overlooking the forest, a private events garden, outdoor spaces, a putting green, gazebos and illuminated forest walkways.
The company said 50% of Forestside homes had been sold within four months of its launch.
“All residents of Enaki can use all the town’s facilities all the time,” the company said, describing the project as a residential resort where different phases share the wider amenities.
Managing value beyond construction
HassConsult said its approach dates back to 2017, when it began taking a more comprehensive role across the property lifecycle, from market research and development to design, pricing, sales, lettings and property management.
The company has also introduced furnished apartments for buyers seeking ready-to-occupy homes and landlord services intended to reduce the administrative burden of managing properties.
For HassConsult, maintaining the development after construction is completed is central to protecting residential value.
“We know better than anyone that every property market has its bursts of growth, and its stiller times,” the company said.
The developer argues that distinctive communities capable of retaining residents and attracting new demand can provide greater resilience during periods of oversupply or changing market conditions.
HassConsult is now extending elements of Elevate by Hass and its hospitality-led approach to other developments, including 1870 West, Enrogue, Elysian, Coco, Nouveau, Ankori and Sensei.
The company sees community programming as another layer in the evolution of residential development, following the addition of amenities such as broadband internet, gyms and swimming pools.
With Forestside, HassConsult aims to integrate community, wellness and hospitality into the development from the outset rather than treating them as additions after construction.
The company said the approach is intended to create residential environments where privacy and social interaction can coexist, while strengthening the long-term appeal and commercial performance of its properties.
Discover more from Newsroom Kenya
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
