Why Brantwood Is A Refined Retreat for the Culturally Curious

An unconventional new sanctuary has blossomed in the sun-dappled heart of Southern California, where the San Gabriel Mountains cradle Pasadena's cultured cosmopolitan core. Brantwood, a residential renaissance for the spirited sexagenarian, epitomizes the best of urbane living while shattering stereotypes of "senior" living. The brainchild of maverick developer Kenneth McCormick, Brantwood pays tribute to the hallowed estate where John Ruskin, that celebrated polymath of the Victorian age, savored his lattermost years. Much like Ruskin's Lake District lair in northern England, this avant-garde arcadia beckons residents into an invigorating atmosphere of intellectual curiosity.

Tucked into Historic Playhouse Village, Pasadena's polestar of artistic energy, Brantwood's prime location envelops residents in a citrus-scented tapestry of museums, theaters, bistros, and boutiques. This one-of-a-kind epicenter elevates the "active adult" living concept to new, rarefied heights. Brantwood's 55 masterfully envisioned residences, with well-appointed one and two-bedroom havens from $5,000 and $8,000 per month, blend seclusion and society. Floor-to-ceiling vistas serenely survey the slumbering San Gabriels and Pasadena's architectural crown jewel, the Byzantine-inspired City Hall. Beyond these exclusive sanctums, a kaleidoscope of amenities dazzles. From thought-provoking salons on filmcraft and verse to invigorating fitness immersions, Brantwood envelops its cerebrally-spry residents in a multifarious whirlwind of mind and body pursuits. The lounge, library, lush courtyard, and sky garden provide sumptuous backdrops for indulging in life's finer distractions.

Paying homage to Europe's most elegant villas, Brantwood's six-story silhouette is a confection of masterful stonecraft and lavish interiors. Bespoke chandeliers drip opulently over the grand salon while artisanal wallcoverings beckon admirers into a bygone aesthetic reverie. The crowning glory? A rooftop Eden affording rapturous vistas over Pasadena's hallowed tapestry of palms and steeples. To manifest this magnum opus of privileged pampering, McCormick has curated a bounty of concierge indulgences. White-gloved attendants ensure every groaning need is catered to with utmost deference—from arranging cultured jaunts to securing prestigious courtside seats at sporting spectacles, to orchestrating museum privé-viewings and procuring coveted restaurant reservations.

As Brantwood's palatial portals prepare to welcome its elite first residents, this daring new exemplar is poised to elevate "golden years" living from staid to soirée. An audacious mélange of hallowed gravitas and avant-garde exuberance, it stands as the crowning jewel of McCormick's visionary legacy—redefining the benchmark for the greige set's later-stage sophisticates.

Brantwood residences are currently available and represented by Lisa Ashworth and Lindsey Darling of The Agency. Monthly rates begin at $5,000 for one-bedroom units and $8,000 for two-bedroom units.