Luxury: “a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense”. From the Latin ‘luxus’ meaning ‘excess’.

 The concept of luxury has been re-defined to suit a fast-changing society with modern lifestyles, in which most people have their basic needs fully satisfied and, more importantly, unlimited access to free information and education, and therefore a broad knowledge of many subjects. 

 Luxury is no longer a matter of quantity, but more a matter of quality, where the spotlight is on the “how”, and on the “why” rather than the “what”.

 However, it is still perceived as aspirational and exclusive, and status is shown nowadays not only by having more, but also by knowing more. In a world where abundance is common, luxury has less to do with wealth and more to do with ideas, experiences, meaning and identity. It is therefore more democratic, accessible and potentially affordable.

 Luxury can be broken down into four easy-to-understand principles which do not necessarily increase cost, yet have an important impact on quality and, potentially, also on value. 

1- It is not a question of size: 

 Unfortunately, the value of a property is determined to a great extent by its size and location, value being often confused with quantity or size. The smaller a house or apartment, the more crucial is the role played by its design. 

We are often told that wall colour, finishes, furniture, and storage are resources for enhancing space, but, while this is true, these are not measures with high impact; instead, proper design requires thoughtful actions: 

A smart layout to connect the whole space to the external views and windows, together with floor-to-ceiling door openings in small spaces, work rather well and augment the space. In our projects we endeavour to create cross-views throughout the house. 

In small and constrained micro units, typically one-bed flats, radiators are to be avoided and UH should be used instead − not only will the space look cleaner, you will also have more flexibility when arranging the furniture.

2- Natural light: 

This is the most precious resource, it is free and unlimited, but it is without doubt the most difficult resource to use and to manage.

More light is not necessarily better, and just as a lack of salt in a recipe leads to a bland result, and an excess ruins it irremediably, the same applies to light. To make the subject more challenging, there are several different kinds of natural light which can have very different effects. Direct sunlight from the south or south-west can lead to overheating and in many cases can render a space unusable. Direct light in the wrong places creates the worst results in the same way as not having it where it is needed. 

3- Materials for touching and feeling:

 Although tone and colour are important, the magic appears when one touches and feels. Authenticity is critical too − if it is not what it looks like, or does not feel as it should, then it is a lie, so it should simply be avoided.   

 Whether you touch it with your feet or hands it must feel good − consider for a moment how many times a day you touch things. Touching and feeling are understated senses. 

 Shiny, bright and glossy materials are not necessarily unacceptable, but they are not easy to combine, an excess can be disastrous, they do not feel warm, and people tend to get tired of them in the long term. 

4- Site and context: 

 Around any building or flat there is a context, often including many years of history and a character of its own, and each new project unfolds a story that starts in the past, builds a present and looks towards the future. Any building must be well rooted in its context, proclaiming: “I belong to this place and time”. 

The site of a property is not limited to its boundaries because the visual connection with its context enhances all of the site’s dimensions and significance.

 Roof-lights, wisely used, can be effective, as the sky is one of the most powerful  elements of context, full of impact, affecting us in very different ways.

Aim to avoid replicas – “pastiche” does not dialogue with the surroundings, but is merely an imitation, something that pretends to be something that it is not.

Conclusion  

 Luxury is about being present in the right place, seizing the time, it is about homes which are built to last, and which transcend trends and superficial needs. 

 A building will be with us for a hundred years if not more, so we property professionals have an important responsibility for our acts: the legacy that we leave behind for future generations.