Last word in luxuryLandscaped exteriors, elegant interiors, designer gyms
A new breed of high-end apartments in the city is redefining the word ‘luxury'. Having a pool and a gym in an apartment complex used to be something to write about. Not anymore.
Now, builders in the city are talking about beauty parlours and bowling alleys, private cinema halls and personal swimming pools, ‘smart homes' that you can control with your cellphone, and apartment designs inspired by Picasso's Cubist art.
And that doesn't even cover the basic amenities that these buildings assure you — from 100 per cent power back up and piped gas to wi-fi across the entire complex and special water supplies.
“Our focus in terms of design is to be a lifestyle product, based on the attitudes and aspirations of people living in Chennai,” says Sudarshan K.S., COO of the Ozone Group about Metrozone, the 42-acre property they are developing in Anna Nagar.
So, for instance, given the perception of Chennai as being more traditional, the Metrozone complex will have two pools just for women, “so they will feel comfortable”, as well as an exclusive section for ladies in the gym.
As for the newer lifestyle amenities that these builders are introducing in their properties, the list is ‘limitless' as T. Chitty Babu, Chairman and CEO of Akshaya Homes puts it. Common swimming pools, steam rooms and saunas, Jacuzzis and massage rooms, squash courts and tennis courts… that's all passé.
Now, for instance, True Value Home's Lumbini Square offers a rock climbing surface and simulated golf (virtual golf in which you tee off before a large screen), Vijayashanthi's ultra-exclusive ‘The Art' coming up on Kothari Road will offer a beauty parlour and a discotheque, and all three — Akshaya, True Value Homes and Vijayashanthi's newest projects will have private cinema halls, varying in size between 20 to 75-seaters.
“We're talking to cinema hall operators to put in two shows daily during the week, and three during the weekend at our 75-seater hall at Ouranya Bay,” says Nakshatra Roy, director (corporate operations), TVH.
And then, there's the next big thing in luxury — having such amenities all to yourself. “We're working on a property where every apartment will have its own pool: 36 units and 36 pools,” says Babu.
Similarly, Roy says an upcoming property of TVH in Kotturpuram will have a pool and — wait for it — a spa in each apartment, while Vijayashanthi's ‘The Art', inspired by Picasso's Cubist paintings, will feature an art gallery in the glass-floored, centrally-lit atrium of each apartment.
“You will have statues and artwork studded with real pearls, diamonds and rubies, placed in the atrium,” Suresh Jain, MD of Vijayashanthi.
It isn't all just about spas and high-art. These new complexes also address practical issues such as housing for guests and space for servants. For instance, every tower of the Metrozone complex has a guest apartment, and the clubhouse at Lumbini Square has 15-20 rooms just to house guests of residents. And ‘The Art' has innovative arrangements for servants.
“There will be servants' quarters for each flat, but it will have a separate entrance, staircase and lift while remaining connected to the kitchen for ease of use,” says Jain. “Similarly, there will be a separate, fully-loaded room downstairs for drivers with a TV, a cafeteria, and beds provided in case of overnight stays.”
Nothing gets as much attention as security. Akshaya Homes' Aikya in Gandhinagar has a security system like something out of a Bond movie. A chip on your car sets off sensors on the main gate from a distance of seven metres to for it to open for your arrival. The lift functions on biometrics, using your palm or fingertips print.
“And you can access the surveillance cameras placed throughout the property, from the gate to the main lobby directly from your PC,” says Babu.
If that's not hi-fi enough for you, there's the Integrated Building Management System at TVH's upcoming project that will have a computer hub in the house sync-ed to your cellphone. “So you can switch on the A/C at home when you're leaving the office, for example,” says Roy. The building will also ‘think' for you — turn on your kettle at 5 a.m. or turn off a light in a vacant room.
Naturally, all these hi-end buildings offer you almost unlimited back-up in case of blackouts, most provide you wi-fi in your apartment and throughout the grounds, and piped gas is a common feature.
Even putting in your AC has become like ‘plug-n-play' at Metrozone.
“We do all the pre-conduiting and embedding of the pipes so your AC can be fitted and running in 30 minutes,” he says.
It's all, as he puts it, about making things as easy, and of course, as absolutely luxurious as possible.
Source :DIVYA KUMAR,The Hindu,May 22,2010
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