The bar for amenities will continue to rise in 2025 as developers work to transform the luxury residential experience. From saltwater pools floating 800 feet above New York City to Roman bath-inspired wellness circuits in Florida's newest premium towers, designers are creating immersive environments that merge wellness, technology and sophisticated social spaces. 

Even in Texas Hill Country, a region between Austin and San Antonio, traditional amenities like swimming pools are being reimagined into whimsical gathering spots. Buyers in the High Rockies of Colorado are asking for amenities to stretch across all four seasons, not just the prime skiing months.

At higher price points, pools have become a given, but future aquatic amenities are being elevated into wellness destinations. At Florida’s Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove (where homes cost $6 million and up), residents are promised service from their lounge chairs to match the brand’s five-star reputation. The palm-framed pool deck complements a Roman bath-inspired spa circuit featuring steam saunas, ice baths and hydromassage pools.

Amenities at Manhattan’s 255 East 77th St. ($3.45 million and up) showcase indoor-outdoor offerings located on the ground level and the 15th and 16th floors. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, they include a 75-foot pool with an oak leaf mosaic, natural light and skyline views.

The Greenwich by Rafael Viñoly ($1.125 million and up) in Manhattan’s Financial District positions its 50-foot saltwater pool 800 feet above the city. A spa, fitness center and private dining room round out the building’s amenity floors.

At Loraloma Private Club and Estates in Texas ($2 million and up), traditional pools are complemented by a swimming hole complete with rope swings, wooden rafts and swimming platforms, not to mention the 18-hole David McLay Kidd golf course.

The Greenwich by Rafael Viñoly. Photo: Evan Joseph

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The Art of Repose

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Developers are now dedicating prime square footage to spaces designed purely for repose and quiet contemplation. At 520 Fifth Ave. (where homes start at $1.7 million) in Midtown Manhattan, an amenity suite dubbed Penthouse 88 hovers 900 feet above street level. Designed by Charles & Co., it offers a lavish glass-roofed solarium, library and private dining room with Central Park views.

The library lounge at The 74, 201 East 74th St, NYC. Rendering: Elad Group

The 74, a new development on Manhattan’s Upper East Side ($2.995 million to $12.8 million), features two building entrances adjoining a library lounge designed by Rafael de Cárdenas with a wet bar and a secluded private garden. 

“The library lounge is an exquisite space for reading, relaxing or doing quiet work,” said Elyse Leff, the vice president of market and sales for Elad Group, the 74’s developer. “Meanwhile, the garden is a serene and calming space mere moments from Central Park.”

The Greenwich by Rafael Viñoly incorporates a dedicated quiet space on its 86th floor. Marketed as “purely for rejuvenation,” the room is empty except for high-backed chairs, plush ottomans and long views of the New York Harbor and beyond.

On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, residents at 720 West End Avenue ($1 million to over $12 million), can retreat to approximately 30,000 square feet of amenity offerings, designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. The building’s Marcy Library combines coworking essentials like printers, scanners and coffee, with a book collection curated by Kenneth Jackson, a former president of the New-York Historical Society. 

“Unlike most prewar buildings that historically lack amenities, 720 West End Avenue offers a wealth of coveted lifestyle offerings tailored to today's buyers' expectations,” said Myles Horn, a managing partner of Glacier Equities,  the development firm behind the property.

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Nature as Necessity 

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Building on the trend of dedicated areas for repose, premium developments are transforming outdoor areas into multifunctional sanctuaries that blend entertainment with serenity.

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At the Henry on Manhattan’s Upper West Side ($5.385 million and up for current listings), a 2,000-square-foot yard reimagines formal English garden traditions, while a 5,650-square-foot rooftop terrace features a bocce court, fire pit and outdoor kitchen.

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“The spaces were designed with the modern buyer in mind and function as a true extension of the home, whether for socializing or relaxing in a quieter, more serene environment,” said Miki Naftali, the chairman and CEO of Naftali Group.

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In New York’s Gramercy neighborhood, 200E20TH ($1.58 million to $7 million and up for current listings), tapped landscape architect Ziv Lavi to design a 185-square-foot “secret” garden in a space that was initially planned solely for mechanical equipment.

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“Much like its neighboring Gramercy Park, it is an intimate and secluded space,” Lavi said. “This secret haven is a surprising escape amidst the bustling city's steel and concrete.”

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Finally, in Colorado’s ski country developers are delivering open-air amenities that residents can enjoy year-round. The Arcadian on Beaver Creek ($5.995 million and up) features folding-glass doors that open to decks, balconies and patios with fire pits and mountain vistas, along with convenient heated driveways and snow management.

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“Beaver Creek has evolved into a true four-season destination and the Arcadian’s design reflects that, with a focus on outdoor space, an emphasis on the proximity to the waters of Beaver Creek itself and taking advantage of views from every angle with modern, open floor plans,” said Joanna Hopkins, a broker associate for Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, which is handling sales for the community.

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Elite Golf Practice at Home

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Taking entertainment to the next level while allowing golfers to hone their skills, sports simulators are evolving into near-professional-grade training facilities within residential settings.

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At the Residences at Shell Bay in Hallandale Beach, Florida ($1.8 million to $10.5 million), the Bays Golf Performance Lab complements its 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed Championship course with advanced technology.

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Swing Catalyst's Dual Force Plate measures vertical force, torque and horizontal shear and provides heat mapping, stance width data and foot pressure tracking. TrackMan 4 combines radar and camera technology for game analysis. Finally, GCQuad’s powerful processor enables the most precise launch monitor available. The lab is open now for club members and future residents, while occupancy is expected in 2027.

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On Manhattan's Upper East Side, 200 East 75th St. ($3.275 million and up for current listings) features a Full Swing Sports Series simulator in a leather-clad room, where residents can practice golf, hockey, soccer and baseball. It’s inspired by New York’s iconic members’ clubs, said Ted Segal, founder and president of EJS Group, the property’s developer.

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High-tech golf and other sport amenities are trending in other upscale residential buildings, including at both 720 West End Avenue and 520 Fifth Avenue.

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“Amenities like this have become increasingly important for luxury buyers, offering a blend of convenience and recreation while perfectly aligning with their lifestyle,” Segal said.

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