Nelson lifestyle village named New Zealand’s leading multi unit residential project

Photo credit: Steve Hussey

Coastal View Lifestyle Village – Yacht Club and Stage 4 (A/B/D) in Nelson has been named winner of the Hawkins Multi Unit Residential Property Award at this evening’s Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.

The award recognises Coastal View as one of the country’s strongest examples of residential development at scale, a project where quality homes, generous shared amenities and thoughtful village planning come together with care.

Owned by Coastal View Lifestyle Village and developed by Qestral Corporation, the winning project is anchored by the Yacht Club, a new wellbeing and social hub serving the wider village. Conceived as the social centre of Coastal View, the Yacht Club brings dining, wellness and shared spaces together in a low-profile building that sits naturally within its coastal Nelson setting.

Property Council New Zealand Chief Executive Leonie Freeman says the win reflects the growing importance of residential environments that support New Zealanders through different stages of life.

“New Zealand’s population is ageing, and that asks something important of the property sector,” says Freeman.

“We need places that support independence, connection and everyday enjoyment. Coastal View responds to that need with care. It understands that later-life living is shaped by the home itself, but also by the paths, outlooks, shared rooms and daily moments that sit around it.”

Stats NZ projects the number of New Zealanders aged 65 and over will pass one million before the end of the decade, increasing the need for housing options that support changing lifestyles, accessibility and long-term wellbeing.

Freeman says Coastal View shows the value of designing residential communities with dignity and social connection at their centre.

“The Yacht Club gives the village a natural place to gather. It creates a rhythm to daily life,  somewhere to dine, move, meet, pause, and stay connected to the landscape and the people around you.”

The Yacht Club is defined by a fully glazed rear façade, framing views across Tasman Bay toward Tāhunanui Beach. Inside, a carefully planned sequence of dining, wellness and social areas supports intuitive movement, accessibility and everyday use.

Chief Judge Andy Evans says the judges were impressed by the project’s balance of residential quality, amenity and setting.

“Coastal View stood out because it understands what makes a residential community work,” says Evans.

“The Yacht Club is a beautiful building, but its real strength is how it functions within village life. It gives residents a shared place to come together, while the surrounding homes provide privacy, comfort and choice.”

Stage 4 of the development was also recognised for the quality and range of its residential offering, with judges noting the generous options and high standard of finish across the homes.

Evans says the project lifts expectations for retirement and lifestyle living in New Zealand.

“This category is about the quality of residential environments and how well they serve the people who live in them,” he says.

“Coastal View shows how practical design, strong amenity and a warm sense of community can work together. It supports independence without isolation, and creates shared spaces that feel useful, welcoming and deeply connected to place.”

The project was designed by MAP Architects, with the Yacht Club constructed by Gibbons Naylor and Stage 4 constructed by Brendan Murray Construction. The wider project team included TM Consultants, EW Smith Electrical, MacMillian Plumbing, Degree AC, Kensway Consultants, Mostra Design and Morgan Pollard.

Now in its 36th year, the Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards celebrate excellence in design, innovation and investment across the built environment. This year’s Awards were held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, which was also recognised on the night as winner of the Holmes Tourism and Leisure Property Award.

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