Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545128
I n the 21st century, good health is the signifier of true wealth. Daily well- being rituals and advanced longevity modalities are far more essential accessories for the well- lived life than, say, another Birkin Bag. And, as the $2 trillion global wellness market continues to transform how we approach our daily health and wellness, we require far more than a day at a luxury spa. Enter KA Residences, a first-of-its- kind wellness-centered concept that marries spectacular design with a long- term approach to health-centered living. Breaking ground later this year, this ambitious residential concept was conceived and created by interior designer Nina Magon and developer Moiz Bhamani. Together they envisioned a concept that KA The New Well-Lived Life at A new cutting-edge luxury development is transforming health-centered high-rise living, designed by Nina Magon. By Kendall Morgan Top: Every residence at KA Residences will have a Merkaba Room, a private space rooted in ancient rituals. KA Residences co-founders Moiz Bhamani, Nina Magon. Residences draws its name from the ancient Egyptian word describing a person's vital essence. Magon, whose design work defines 51Fifteen restaurant at Saks Fifth Avenue and Memorial Estates at Verdi, was introduced to Bhamani, a fellow Canadian, two years ago. Bhamani had already built a successful career developing commercial and residential real estate in his native country. At a YPO retreat in Costa Rica, the duo found themselves engaged in conversation during a long, humid walk back from a waterfall plunge. This casual chat seeded the beginning of what w o u l d u l t i m a t e l y become KA. "We both realized we're all seeking to live better lives and practice wellness," says Bhamani, a Harvard Business School graduate and founder of Eletell Development. "At that Costa Rican hike we were one with nature, which was the real inspiration." Magon adds, "Both of us are into wellness. I'm more into the aesthetics of beauty, and he's more into longevity. Obviously, the ideas exchanged have evolved since then, but we wanted to create a unique development not offered in the market. I think in this day, it's so important to focus on the self as we've been so outwardly focused for such a long time. Everything is coming back to mindfulness and how we elevate ourselves, so we created KA the brand." When Magon and Bhamani, who both live in Houston, returned to reality, they immediately went to the drawing board, devising a new kind of residence that doesn't just pamper its residents — it rejuvenates them. With private, rather than shared amenities, KA is the first standalone wellness residence of its kind. Each residence in the 14-floor, 28-unit building will hold, at its heart, a private space rooted in ancient rituals called the Merkaba Room, which