From being just a roof over the head, the dwelling units are going through a sea change in engineering and technological aspects to redefine luxury. Unconventional is the USP for these residential projects.
For instance, the Lodha Group's recently-announced spa villas where each villa has a spa. “We have studied the market offerings. Customer demands are changing constantly,” says Samujjawal Ghosh, senior general manager (marketing).
Lodha is pitching the new project to 350-odd people, who earlier enquired about its luxury Belezza project. “People want new facilities and smaller projects,” he says pointing out that Lodha had reduced the size of the villa to about 3,500 sft from the earlier 4,500 sft.
“The spa is an extension of the living room,” he says. The project comprises 200-odd spa villas, each costing over Rs 1.6 crore. It is scheduled to be ready in about three years.
On the technology side, some property developers are offering cellphone-controlled air-conditioners, electronic gates that recognise cars, personalised elevators that lead directly into the flat, motion sensor for lighting and remote-controlled video doors among others.
For Dax Properties, a concern of Country Side, golf is the USP. According to its managing director Masood Hassan, all villas in the upcoming project on 300 acre near Shadnagar, about 50 km from Hyderabad, will have a view of the gulf court. “There is a appetite for unique projects,” he says. The villa plots will be 15,000 sft and will be ready in three to four years.
There are other golf projects too like Prestige Golfshire near Nandi Hills close to Bangalore International Airport. This will have about 224 mansions set in 600 sq m plots, each with 100 to 250 sqm sundecks and a private pool with a jacuzzi.
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Prestige also has other projects. White Meadows, near Whitefields. has 214 sky villas in four high rise towers of 27 floors and 66 independent bungalows (from 5,576 sft to 6,219 sft). The triplex units have indoor pools and a separate kitchenette/bar, says Uzma Irfan, director, Prestige Group.
The price ranges from Rs 4 crore to Rs 9.5 crore a unit. Both the projects would be completed in 2012.
Another developer Koncept Ambience is developing Botanika that promises a view of the adjacent 120 acre botanical gardens from the project. coming up in 7.5 acre. “Houses are same but execution differs,” says ML Agarwal, chairman of Koncept.
The project costing about Rs 300 crore, with 150-plus units in Phase I, will be a green building with zero discharge. “We are aiming at platinum rating by the Green Building Council of India. Each unit would be 4,000 sft to 7,000 sft and priced at Rs 4,500 per sft costing up to Rs 3.15 crore,” he says. The project will take three years or so for completion.
According to him, the company saw a slow response during the recent months due to the agitation for and against Telangana. However, in March it saw 60-70 enquiries coming and has closed 10 deals.
Kitti Group through its RRS Realtors Limited, with interests in steel, is constructing a 15-level residential tower at Raj Bhavan Road, in the heart of the city. The first two levels are reserved for parking while the third will have a 3,00,00 litre capacity swimming floor with a vanishing edge. “All apartments provide a view of the Tank Bund,” says a representative. The least one can have here is 3,100 sft making it Rs 2.01 crore.
The changing preferences are also reflected in the interiors.
Luxury brand Llardo, which recently launched its boutique in Hyderabad, says it has been finding customers willing to spend about Rs 1 crore for adding a style statement to the home.
Queen of Nile, a boat with travellers measuring 2.5 m long and 0 .5 m high in porcelain, costs Rs 1 crore and this is one of the most moving products.
“Home is an emotional issue in India and many people go that extra mile to add a zing to the home,” says Sachin, brand manager, Llardo. Hyderabad is the fourth biggest market for Llardo.