New Age Buildings get New Age Designs

April 14, 2008	(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)  Loading ...
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What would you call a four-leaf structure, an upside down building or a slanted slope as a roof? Simple - modern architectural innovation. May be it’s not as simple as that. Though some real estate players still seem to be opting for tried-and-tested construction models, there are others who are coming forward to offer a fresh face to building activity.

In fact, players such as DLF, Ansal API and Meriton Group have existing and upcoming projects which boast of unconventional design models and formats. But can such a product differentiation herald a new wave of growth for the realty sector and bring it on par with global standards?

Take a realty tour. DLF’s ship-shaped Gateway Towers in Gurgaon, a 12-storey complex, has become a landmark of sorts for its unique architectural design. Ditto for DLF Nestle House that has been designed aesthetically together with functional efficiency. Says a DLF official, “Product differentiation is very important as a developer has to cater to all classes of the society. These projects are very different from other projects in all aspects - architecture, quality and developmental mix - and are targeted towards the niche segment.”

Agrees Meriton Group director Avnish Agrawal who conceived the idea of constructing an exclusive ‘inverted’ clubhouse for the Orange County project in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad. From the outside, the building will bear the look of an inverted structure, even though the interiors will be as practically placed as that of any other clubhouse.

“We wanted to do something truly unique and have teamed up with consultants from Dubai for the clubhouse. In fact, we have already started getting a positive response from people and a number of reference bookings have come in,” he says. The clubhouse will be ready in a year with top-notch facilities for the residents.

The EON Free Zone in Pune is uncoventional in the four-leaf structure that it flaunts. It uses minimalist design and represents offbeat architectural design in its entirety. Spread over 45 acres of land, this IT & ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project is located in Pune and houses four clusters placed like four leaf clovers and a residential block.

So what really makes realtors introduce such differentiated projects in the market? A number of factors such as increasing customer expectations, exposure to international trends and growing competitiveness in the sector have come into play now. Moreover, foreign architects and designers have upped the ante, leading to an evolution in tastes and preferences among property buyers.

“Customers demand something that is world-class and are well updated about international living standards. Branding is the key and can be an excellent strategy in such a scenario,” says Kunal Banerji, president (marketing) of Ansal API. The player will be coming up with its niche designer apartments’ project in Greater Noida - Celebrity Greens.

Others attribute such changes to the increasing demands of an ever-growing market. “With aspirations of the buyer and widening knowledge framework, developers have to also now give more innovative add-ons, be it in terms of technology or services on offer,” says B P Dhaka, COO of Parsvnath Developers.

Most of the ‘differently designed’ buildings, however, have been witnessed more in the commercial segment as residential does not offer much scope for experimentation. This is more due to the buyer mindset that prefers to purchase properties with known dimensions. “The Indian mindset is not yet fully attuned to progressive formats and concepts in housing. In smaller cities, residential projects with vastly differentiating features may be initially met with some skepticism and be slower on the off take, while the same format would be sold out in a metro in no time,” feels Pankaj Renjhen, MD (Mumbai) of Jones Lang Lasalle Meghraj (JLLM).

Kaustuv Roy, director, Transaction Services, Tenant Strategies & Solutions India, Cushman and Wakefield says that the emphasis has always been more on functionality rather than creativity. “There is always an emphasis on efficient buildings with excellent services rather than creativity from the occupant’s perspective. Hence, there are not too many of such differentially designed buildings. Floor plate designs, building services and energy conservation measures clearly are more important criteria that are considered while choosing a corporate location rather the exterior appearances of a building.”

Even though creativity may get second preference, there is no denying the fact that in times of stiff competition in the real estate sector, players with unique strategies will be at a cutting edge. Renjhen adds that in terms of price points, office buildings that differentiate themselves via greater ambience and IT features may see a price difference ranging between 30-50%, depending on the added features.

In other cases, the differentiating aspect of a project may actually be lower cost via alternate construction techniques or materials, lower land costs, etc. Globally, it is not uncommon to find buildings that are design wonders in themselves. The Burj-Al-Arab luxury hotel in Dubai that stands on an artificial island and reflects a boat sail is a glaring example.

Amusement Park, Wonderworks, in Central Florida is another example of an upside down architectural marvel. Needless to say, design icons in the Indian realty sector definitely set the ball rolling for achieving global benchmarks. With some out-of-the-box design concepts coming in, competition is undoubtedly paving the way for ‘different’ construction models.

Roy sums it up rather aptly, “There is no denying the ‘wow’ Factor that these exquisitely designed buildings evoke even amongst the sternest corporate!” Agreed.

News Published Under:   Real Estate India |

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