Thursday 30 August 2018

Hebbal - One Of Bangalore's Scenic And Well-Connected Suburb



Hebbal was once known for its pristine lake and scenic beauty situated away from Bangalore’s city limits. But now, this suburb has transformed into a residential and commercial hub in the northern quadrant of this thriving city. Hebbal has a vibrant real estate market that is supported by a network of flyovers that enable access to Outer Ring Road and NH-7.

Hebbal has witnessed massive growth and development particularly in the last 15 years because of IT hubs like Kirloskar Business Park and Embassy Manyata Business Park, which are located nearby. This suburb is also only 10.3 km away from central Bangalore (Majestic). If you are looking for a home in a suburb where there is a balance between nature and the city, Hebbal is just the place for you.

Connectivity
When we search for our dream house, we always look at suburbs which have good connectivity to reduce the time spent on the road. The Hebbal flyover is the heart of this locality, with an expansive length of 5.2 km which connects it to two main arterial roads - Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Bellary Road (NH7). The MG Road is also connected to ORR, making Koramangala only 12 km away from Hebbal. This suburb is also just 20 km away from the Kempegowda International Airport, which makes national and international travels easier.
There are many BMTC buses which run to and from Hebbal, and connect it with the rest of the city. These buses are very frequent and reliable and you can find one which goes to almost any locality you want to go. The Hebbal railway station improves the connectivity of this place even further. The proposed Namma Metro Station nearby would give Hebbal’s residents access to places like Banashankari, K.R. Market, M.G. Road, Indiranagar, and many more.
Employment Hub
The boom of IT companies in this locality has put Hebbal on a fast route for development. Hebbal is home to many giants such as Philips Software, Integra Micro Software Services, Electronics Limited, IBM and AstraZeneca. There are prominent employment hubs like Kirloskar Business Park and Embassy Manyata Business Park. This attracts IT professionals from all over the country. Yeshwantpur which is a business hub is only 10 km away from Hebbal. Other important companies located in Hebbal are Shell, BEML, Tyco, Wipro Fixtures, and National Seeds Corporation.

Well-Developed Social Infrastructure
Hebbal has easy access to many prominent schools, colleges, hospitals, shopping centers and several other amenities in close vicinity. Reputed schools in Hebbal include the VidyaNiketan School, Jain Heritage School, VidyaShilp Academy, and MallyaAditi International School. Famous engineering colleges like REVA University, Altria Institute of Technology and NITTE Meenakshi College are also located here. Presidency College, National School for Journalism and Karnataka College are other important colleges situated in this vicinity.

The famous Columbia Asia hospital, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, and M.S. Ramaiah Hospital are located in Hebbal. There are numerous shopping centers located in Hebbal such as Elements Mall, Esteem Mall, Orion East Mall and Mantri Square Mall. These shopping malls along with cinemas, restaurants and branded stores cater to more than just daily essentials.

Gateway to Adventure
Hebbal Lake is one of the most desired rejuvenating spots of this suburb. This lake is well known for its park, boating facility and for the bird watching; numerous bird lovers can be seen here regularly watching out for their favourite bird species. Hebbal is close to Jakkur Aerodrome which offers adventurous folks the thrilling experience of parasailing. Soaring through the limitless horizon like a bird provides an unbelievable adrenaline rush. The Jakkurlake is also a popular destination which is located near Hebbal.

At House of Hiranandani we believe in the balance that nature provides. We are developing luxurious residences close to nature in Hebbal. Hiranandani Glen Classic is a 10 acre development which offers homebuyers urban-centric amenities balanced with the grandeur of space and comfort of privacy. Finely crafted 1, 2 and 3 BHK apartments are available which offer unmatched lakeviews. Come, experience a unique home created by House of Hiranandani in a picturesque, emerging suburb of Bangalore.

Wednesday 29 August 2018

6 Neo-Classical Influences in Modern Indian Architecture



Architecture and culture have been intertwined since the beginning of human existence. In fact, architecture can be considered as the cultural expression of the people of its time. It is the reflection of the challenges faced by our forefathers and their pioneering and thoughtful ways of getting around them with intelligent design. Those solutions are the backbone of modern day architecture. They speak of who existed, their influences and act as anchors of our past.

Indian architecture is rooted in its varied cultures, history, traditions and religions. It is as old as the history of civilization. The earliest remains of recognizable building dates back to the Indus Valley civilisation. Moreover, India’s architecture is an amalgamation of the various influences that stemmed from its global discourse with other countries of the world throughout its millennia-old past - the French, Portuguese, Mughals and Britishers among many others.

Here we take a look at the various neo-classical architectural styles that were inducted into Indian architecture over the centuries. These forms have evolved with time in terms of its aesthetics and functionality but still bear the signature of its influencers.

Balcony



Balcony is derived from an old Italian word ‘balcone’ meaning scaffold. It is a platform or external extension of a floor enclosed up to a certain height by a wall, balustrade or railings. They are generally supported by columns or console brackets. The balcony serves to increase the living space of a house and also ensures adequate amount of sunshine and greater ventilation in the house.

Baluster or Balustrade


A baluster also known as spindle or stair stick is a moulded shaft square or lathe turned form, cut from a square or rectangular plank. It is made of wood, stone or sometimes metal. Multiple balusters are known as balustrades. Balustrades stand on a unified footing and its function is to support the coping of a parapet of a staircase, handrail, balcony or terrace. Throughout history, balustrades can be seen in the architectural creations of a wide variety of cultures like the French - ‘balustre’, Italian - ‘balaustro’, Latin - ‘balaustium’ and Greek - ‘balaustion’.

Canopy


A canopy is an overhead roof or structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached. Its main function is to provide shade or shelter from external weather conditions, but they can also be constructed for decorative purposes. Modern day canopies may be independent of other structures or may project out from a building, typically providing shelter at an entrance.

Pier


A pier in architecture is a support for a structure or superstructure such as an arch. It acts as a vertical load bearer thereby minimising load on the structure. They are mainly made of concrete. Example of piers can be seen in multiple monuments across India like the India Gate, Gateway of India.

Grillwork


Grillwork or simply grill comes from the Old French word greille. It is a decorative grating of metal, wood or stone or other materials used as screen, divider, barrier, or as a purely decorative element. In Indian homes, grillwork is predominantly featured in windows, verandahs, balconies and main gates.

Pediment


A pediment is an architectural element consisting of a gable of triangular shape, placed above the horizontal structure, typically supported by columns. The pediment is a widely present feature in the architecture of classical Greek temples as well as Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture.

Architecture is an expression of style and culture. At House of Hiranandani, we have cultivated a unique style of architecture which is expressed in all of our real estate developments. Architectural features such as balustrades, canopies and grillwork sit elegantly alongside contemporary Indian elements such as Mangalore tiles, as seen at our Devanahalli residential project. Piers are a notable feature of the stately towers of our project ‘City by the Sea’ in Egattur. House of Hiranandani celebrates architecture in every project we design and develop, ensuring stylish yet comfortable homes with a signature design.

Friday 10 August 2018

Evolution of Architectural Elements in Indian Homes: Traditional to Contemporary



The evolution of mankind and architecture has always moved hand-in-hand. Many elements of architecture have developed across eras, civilizations, climate change and geographies such that there evolved an established indigenous style in every part of the world. These elements have metamorphosed in design over time, from traditional to contemporary. The story of Indian architecture, through history till date, has numerous unique architectural elements which are still imbibed in our contemporary structures in interesting ways. Here are a few such elements which have made it to modern Indian homes.

Jaalis
As soon as we hear the names of palaces in Rajasthan and Gujarat, the first thing that comes to our minds are the intricately cut-out patterns on the doors and windows of these structures, known as ‘jaalis’. These patterns allow sunlight to filter through the openings and create an interesting play of light and shadow. Jaalis also prevent direct sunlight from entering the room as they dissipate the light. Also, they enable ventilation in the room and provide privacy for users of the space.

While passing through the jaali holes, the air is compressed and hence the temperature is lowered, thus cooling the home. Jaalis are represented in modern home designs as an external aesthetic feature or in internal partition walls.


L- Traditional Jaali in at Sarkhej Roza; R- Contemporary Jaali style in Brick Curtain House by Design Work Group

Jharokas
A traditional balcony which also acted as a semi-open space is called a ‘jharoka’. This architectural element is generally designed in the form of an overhang with intricately carved railings in stone or wood. Jharokas are also covered on top with domes or other semi-circular styles, usually supported by posts or columns. The original use of these jharokas in palaces or houses was primarily for the female members of the family who preferred to be a part of functions without being visible to the public. Jharokas also have a romantic element involved in the stories from our history, as the princess was generally ‘spotted’ standing in the balcony. Apart from this, jharokas also added to the aesthetic appeal of the structure.

In contemporary structures, jharokas have been imbibed using different materials such as brick, concrete or marble. They add a traditional appeal to the design and also provide a semi-open space in the house which can be an inlet to natural light and ventilation.



Courtyards
Courtyards are open spaces within the structure itself; in India courtyard styles vary based on the climate of the region. Be it the Wadas of Maharashtra, Havelis of Rajasthan, Pols of Gujarat or Nalukettu of Kerala, courtyards played a major role as a functional and aesthetic space of these houses. Courtyards work on the principle of convection currents, where warm air is drawn out and replaced by cool air. Therefore it works in both summer and winter- to keep the house cool and to bring in the winter sun, respectively. These centrally located courtyards also serve as spaces of congregation for family get togethers and other functions. They also act as buffer spaces between public and private areas of the house.

In modern day homes, this architectural element is a mark of luxury where architects use their creative energies to make the space unique and well connected to nature.



Verandah, Pitched Roof and Mangalore Tiles
Pitched roof with Mangalore tiles or red baked tiles are a common sight in Indian villages. Coupled with this, we usually find a verandah or a semi-open space - generally at the entrance or as a buffer between the closed and completely open spaces. Mangalore tiled roofs add to the beauty of a house more than a concrete one. They are also suitable for India’s climatic conditions as they keep the inner spaces of the house cool. Pitched roofs add on to the height of the ceiling of the house as well.

Verandahs, which make the intermediate space- are also a symbol of the Hindu tradition of welcoming guests with an open heart or more precisely- an open and welcoming house.




The wonderful aspect about architecture is its unstagnant nature- it will always change with time. This gives one the chance to keep modifying necessary elements of structures in one’s own creative way. At House of Hiranandani, we explore with design and meld the traditional with the modern. Our residences boast large living spaces with spacious balconies. Our project in Devanahalli boasts roofs with the classic Mangalore tiles. To quote from a movie- ‘we have to take the tradition and decorate it in our own way’.