Design, Capital, Legacy - UHNWI Trends

INTRODUCTION

Luxury design has always mirrored the priorities of its age.

In previous decades, wealth was often expressed through ostentation—grand entrances, gilded finishes, even showers infused with cologne. Today, the emphasis has shifted. For UHNWIs and family offices, true luxury is measured not in spectacle but in health, privacy, and resilience.

At Rigby & Rigby, we study these shifts closely. We see how UHNWIs not only influence design but also sustain a wider circular economy—supporting makers, artisans, suppliers, and services far beyond their own projects. By understanding these evolving patterns, we ensure our work is not only beautiful but deeply aligned with how the wealthiest families live, invest, and protect their legacies.

UHNWI OBSERVATIONS

A growing global elite: There are now more than 3,000 billionaires worldwide with a combined wealth of around US$16 trillion. The defining change is not the scale of wealth, but how it is being directed—towards long-term real estate strategies, intergenerational protection, and wellness-led living.

From display to discretion: Where luxury once meant visible opulence, the new benchmark is discretion and substance. The most valuable properties are now judged by their ability to deliver security, health, and operational excellence—qualities that cannot be seen at first glance but are deeply felt.

Family office compounds: Increasingly, UHNWIs are commissioning compound-style estates designed to accommodate multiple generations. These are not just private homes, but long-term bases—secure, flexible, and able to adapt as families evolve.

Generational protection: Families are as focused on safeguarding health as they are on preserving wealth. This translates into discreet safe rooms, layouts that protect privacy, and wellness architecture built to support longevity.

Strategic property investment: Family offices are treating prime residential property as a tactical asset, acquiring bases in key jurisdictions and lifestyle compounds that combine discretion with operational resilience.

Wellness as infrastructure: What was once a spa-style amenity has become structural. Air and water are purified to medical standards, circadian lighting is engineered to improve sleep, and acoustics are tuned to reduce stress. Increasingly, hyperbaric oxygen suites are being specified—spaces once reserved for elite sports are now helping families maintain long-term health and cognitive performance.

DESIGN FOCUS: HOW WE’RE IMPLEMENTING THESE TRENDS

We respond to these shifts with a clear framework, ensuring our projects not only meet today’s expectations but anticipate the next generation of luxury.

Nature as Foundation

Landscaped compounds and biophilic design are no longer decorative—they are central to wellbeing and asset value. Our projects place nature at the core of the living experience.

Wellbeing as Architecture

The evolution from ostentation to health defines our work. Showers once infused with fragrance are replaced by purified water systems monitored for total dissolved solids. Acoustics, circadian lighting, and air purification are embedded in the architecture itself. Hyperbaric oxygen suites, recovery spaces, and wellness rooms reflect the new measure of luxury: longevity.

Living for Generations

We design estates that are both flexible and enduring—multi-generational layouts, adaptive compounds, and homes conceived as legacies that evolve with the family.

Security with Discretion

Privacy is invisible yet fundamental. Dual circulation routes, resilient service infrastructure, and safe rooms integrated seamlessly into the design ensure protection without ostentation.

Celebrating Collections

Art, wine, and vehicles require environments of the highest standard. We design museum-grade galleries and controlled spaces where collections are both safeguarded and enjoyed.

Operational Excellence

Behind every seamless lifestyle is intelligent planning. From professional-standard kitchens to staff circulation and technology resilience, we choreograph the invisible systems that make a property perform flawlessly.

SUMMARY 

Luxury has evolved: from being about what can be displayed, to being about what can be lived and sustained. The next level of UHNWI design is centred on health, security, and generational continuity. These projects also support a broader economy—sustaining networks of suppliers, craftspeople, and services whose expertise enriches both projects and communities.

Rigby & Rigby is uniquely placed to deliver this future. With our multidisciplinary in-house team, we combine research-led insight, design innovation, and precise delivery. The result is a new standard of ultra-high-net-worth living—where wellness, resilience, and timeless luxury are seamlessly integrated.

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Written by James Ashfield