The Evolution Of Indian Architecture Over The Past Two Decades

A lot has changed over the past 20 years. Bombay became Mumbai and globalization has taken over the country by storm. There has been a noticeable shift in the lifestyle, food habits, clothing etc. of the Indian populace.These changes have spelled a seismic shift in architectural practices as well.

Over the past 20 years, architecture has been about accommodating people and creating good functional living spaces. It breaks away from traditional aesthetics and strives to create home designs that go beyond “standard” ideas and tries to pursue projects inspired by location, and function.The main objective of architecture in 2016 is creating clutter free homes from the limited space available due to the immense population crunch.

While builders adhered to this concept practically, they also implemented their own tweaks because architecture in India is all about harmony between the old and the new. A very good example of this is Mumbai city. The city has Gothic, Victorian, Art Deco and neo classical styles, most of which were left behind by the British. Even as architectural aesthetics evolved over the past two decades, these traditional styles were incorporated into contemporary architecture.

History also plays an important role in deciding the architecture of a city. Take Delhi for example, it was a combination of 8 cities, which each one built in a different era by a different ruler. Today, even with the rise of modern architecture, the legacy left behind by these rulers is one of the defining aspects of architecture in Delhi.

In more recent years, architecture is not just about the form and style of a structure, it is more responsible now. Architects make conscious efforts to incorporate designs which promote sustainability, vertical gardens and reduce harmful impact on the environment. Not just this, over the past few years, buildings are about promoting a quality lifestyle as well. Clubs, parks, landscapes etc. become serious aspects when designing a structure. 

This evolution of architecture can easily be witnessed through various properties throughout India. Bungalows are making way for spacious apartments and people are opting for more efficient and practical homes.

The continuing evolution of architecture will shape (and reflect) the evolution of India as the country steadily moves towards becoming the best it can be.

The Vertical Garden: Made For Modern Urban Life

Modern cities are some of the most innovative areas on the planet. However, all cities are forced to deal with unique issues brought on by the concentration of large populations in limited spaces. One of these issues is definitely the lack of greenery within the city. In classic concrete jungles, the city becomes stifling for its residents and there is no respite whatsoever. The continuing expansion and growth of the city just adds to the mess.

The French botanist Patrick Blanc says, “Living in a city doesn’t have to mean abandoning the natural world”. He backs up his argument with an amazing solution that he promotes very enthusiastically, i.e., the vertical garden, a fresh and innovative idea meant to improve life in the city. The term ‘vertical garden’ refers to any kind of construction and support structure for growing plants in an upwards-directed, vertical way, efficiently and productively making use of the existing space for other purposes.

Growing a vertical garden is very simple, all you need is a good, solid structure which can be hung onto the wall, a plastic sheet to stop water from leaking, a tube running through the soil to irrigate the garden and the plants of your choice.

Vertical gardens can act as great greenery boosters. According to Patrick Blanc, “Any human being standing in front of one [vertical garden] will feel the breath of the wilderness in the midst of the city." Not only are they simple to create, they also have many advantages, such as:

Maximization of small spaces: A vertical garden can be grown on a wall or a kitchen window, owing to the fact that it can grow on loose soil; a small layer of soil is more than enough to develop a beautiful and fragrant vertical garden.

Excellent Aesthetics: A vertical garden wall can change the entire look of your balcony or terrace. These kinds of gardens add a certain charm to your house as well, lending your home a feeling of lush abundance and a connection to nature.

Reduce Pollution, Noise and improve air quality: Due to its very versatile nature, vertical gardens can be used to tackle pollution very effectively. Thomas Pugh, a ‘biogeochemist’ at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, observed that a green wall absorbed large amounts of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter—both pollutants harmful to people. These fragrant life walls also cool the surroundings and reduce noise pollution, both of which are the need of the day in modern cities.

Given the relative ease of setting one up and the innumerable benefits that accrue from integrating a vertical garden into your space, one could argue that every home and planned urban space should invest in this facility.  

The Space Crunch That’s Driving The Vertical Growth Of Cities

An aerial view of Mumbai is enough to provide us a glimpse of the unconventional growth of the city.  Mumbai is the third densest city in the world trailing just behind Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka and the Pakistani city of Hyderabad. There are approximately 32,400 people in every square kilometre of its land area. The city has, technically, run out of space and yet, it is more than accommodating at the same time. How is that possible? The answer is vertical growth.

What is Vertical Growth?

Vertical growth is the emergence of high rises and skyscrapers that outline the horizon of the city. These structures support the population of the city, providing additional living space to the thousands who migrate here every day. It is the modern world’s solution to the space constraint faced by cities.

Another important reason why the city is witnessing vertical growth is because Mumbai has the largest number of ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) in India, at 1,094, followed by Delhi with 545, according to property services firm Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2016.

 HNIs most preferred investment opportunity tends to be property. The average number of residential properties owned by wealthy Indians stands at four, which is the highest in the world, while the global average stands at 3.7. 

When not only immigrants, but also HNIs occupy the city, the need for vertical growth has become necessary. Vertical growth helps in population management; high rises provide sufficient living space even with the limited land space.

Luxurious living

High rises integrate various facilities like gyms, clubs and departmental stores within their building space instead of occupying more land surrounding the high-rise. This is indicative of the fact that vertical growth inspires sustainable ideas.

Vertical growth also frees up more land space: While the whole intention of high rises was to cope with the limited land space, vertical growth is ensuring that we are actually conserving precious land space which can be turned into green spaces or public recreation zones.

 Redevelopment in the city

One of the best examples of vertical growth in the city is redevelopment.

Housing redevelopment refers to the process of reconstruction of a residential premise by demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new one as per approvals from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). Redevelopment is a concept that uses vertical growth as a driving force to provide good living spaces for people in a crowded city like Mumbai.

Of course, redevelopment is dependent on FSI or Floor Space Index. In India, FSI restrictions tend to hinder the optimization of a concept like vertical growth.  Compared to international cities, India is far behind. Shanghai has an FSI of 13.1, while New York and Manhattan have an FSI of 15. Mumbai, on the other hand, is still grappling with an FSI of 3.0. Higher FSI is a need of the day because taller buildings are necessary to combat city- congestion.

 A versatile concept that can incorporate sustainable development, vertical growth helps us to make the best of the very real space-crunch situation we find ourselves in. 

Life In The Modern City: A Search For Experiences.

 The accelerated pace of our lives makes us forget about the less pressing, but infinitely more important things in life. In the grand scheme of things, isn’t it imperative that we not miss out on experiences that enrich and mould us into better people? Experiences are important for those of us who are forced to cope with the monotony of city life. These experiences are necessary to reconnect with ourselves and alleviate the stress that dominates our lives.

Living Life Vs. Experiencing Life.

In recent times, the modern Indian city has seen many changes, including the greater availability of new experiences. Cities are now growing beyond places to simply live and work, gradually developing into hubs that promote and provide diverse experiences for any and all types of tastes and preferences. Do you like outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking or rock climbing? Want to meet like-minded people who share your passion for art, photography or even wine tasting? Chances are all of these experiences are available to you not very far from where you live.

It’s universally agreed upon that life in the city can be stressful. To alleviate this stress people themselves are actively seeking out new experiences. Photography, adventure sports, exotic spa treatments and many other experiences are now accessible to us within the realm of the city itself.

Previously, when people wanted adventure, they needed to plan well in advance and locate places that could offer these experiences. The whole process was tedious and time consuming, and the feeling of satisfaction from the experience was also delayed.

This has now changed. A couple of examples: adventure groups who plan events for a day or a weekend now utilize small hiking trails near the city. People can sign up with these groups and have the adventures that they crave.

Short term photography courses, art appreciation seminars, city walks and sports activities are available to people within the city itself.

These days, developers are addressing these experiential needs exhibited by their customers. The demand of the ambitious Indian looking for rewarding life experiences is being catered to in his/her own vicinity. Today, developers don’t just build houses; they serve lifestyle demands. Examples of modern townships with world class tennis courts, expansive golf courses, riverside views, luxury brand outlets, self-contained markets, high-end spas, etc. emerging in the city are testaments to this. 

The Experiential Generation:

A generation that is unaffected by class and status, but instead places immense value on living life to the fullest, the people of the 21st century are constantly searching for newer and fuller experiences. Emerging urban acronyms such as DINKS (Double Income No Kids) and YUPPIES (Young Urban Professionals) are testimony to emergence of a subset of people with great spending power and an unquenchable thirst for new experiences.

They are the upholders of the YOLO (You Only Live Once) ideology and exert a growing influence on the development of urban life. These professionals believe in working hard and playing harder, hence they turn to experiences within the city itself to balance their stress levels and enjoy life.

The DINKS and YUPPIES provide us with an insight into the future of the city. The city will soon be an avenue for activities that will provide great experiences. 

Experiences Are Changing Our Lives

One does not have to wait for a vacation to relax or have fun. Experiences of every type, shape and form are now available relatively close to home. The availability of these experiences has made experiential culture the new trend. People are excited to immerse themselves in different experiences and try new activities. 

Even our homes have progressed beyond just places to return to after a long day at work. They’ve now become our connection to local communities and activities. People are starting to look for homes that reflect the experiential culture they want to be a part of.

All in all, it would seem that people have started to appreciate the fulfillment that comes with filling our lives with experiences. It is therefore, incumbent on progressive developers to aid the customer in this search.

The Art And Science Of Landscaping

Land is one of the most important assets you can own today. As with all assets, improvements and enhancements add value to your investment. One way of enhancing your property is landscaping. A customised patio deck or well-manicured garden can be a crucial tipping point in a prospective buyer's decision. These days, the utility of landscaping goes far beyond aesthetics. There are financial, environmental, health and social reasons that make landscaping an important factor when planning a project.

Landscaping in the city

A little greenery in a concrete jungle goes a long way. Green spaces in a city aren’t just desirable, they’re also essential. Well-planned green areas raise the value of the area while serving as highly prized ‘green lungs’, enhancing the quality of the air we breathe. This is becoming more and more urgent today with burgeoning populations and high levels of pollution.

The best way to incorporate these much-needed green spaces is through landscaping. Landscape architects, designers and horticulturists are available to incorporate landscaping into the city environment as well. ‘Hardscaping’ is another creative method of landscaping in the city. Hard materials such as concrete and stones are already available in plenty; therefore incorporating trees, shrubs and grass in tiny pockets through the city is not very difficult.

Sustainable Landscaping

In Sustainable Landscaping one can design rooftop gardens as part of a building’s overall design. Alternatively, one can grow plants and create a pollution free environment without incurring heavy expenses. Maintenance of such landscapes is less expensive than one might expect. In fact, in cities, this form of landscaping works even better because of the limitations of space and limited funds. A little water (especially considering the current scarcity) and regular weeding is enough to keep these landscapes looking beautiful and well maintained. With changing times, landscaping options have grown very versatile and affordable, so keeping this in mind while investing in property is very important.   

           

Financial Benefits

Landscaping is an investment with high returns. It increases the value of one’s property because not only does the property become more beautiful, it also becomes environmentally friendly and promotes sustainable development. As a homeowner, one will realize the value of landscaping as part of community development and as a positive influence on residents. Landscaping also promotes a better standard of living and a healthier lifestyle. This in turn becomes a USP of the property, eventually adding to its financial value. Whether one is a seller or an investor, the financial benefits of landscaping cannot be dismissed.

The Future Of Landscaping

The first sign of a quality, well-planned development is the beauty of it’s landscaping. More and more developers are investing resources to enhance the aesthetic presentations of their projects. For buyers looking to purchase and invest in property, this added feature is now an important and relevant consideration. Looking forward, one can expect a significant uptick in well-landscaped, high quality developments across the country. 

A country will boom if its high streets bloom

Localities since time immemorial have been defined by the people that live in it or the type of landmarks that are around it. Sometimes localities are synonymous to the high streets that surround it. Highstreets define the culture, the flavour and to an extent the psychography of the cohort residing there. A place becomes special because of local food, the local chocolates or art. These creative entrepreneurs have their own niche and create distinct character of the city. They would never be found in malls because the big conglomerates tend to crowd out small players. Some of the examples that would provide testimony for the same would be Oxford Street (London), Hill road (Mumbai), Tsim Sha Tsui (Hong Kong), Ginza (Tokyo) & Champs-Élysées (Paris). A lot of retail therapy has shifted to malls. However many malls have had to even shut shop, but it’s the high streets that have stood the test of time and have been successful.

It’s the high streets that will contribute in a great way to the governments ‘Make in India’ initiative. Owing to the evident footfalls, retailers will be forced to setup their businesses here. Moreover, these lanes which display art, craft and other retail products hailing from the very grass roots of India will attract tourists from all corners of the globe. It will provide an enormous push towards the entrepreneurial culture that is being promoted in the country

Commercial activity of shopping, retail cafes allows small entrepreneurs to come up with innovative offers, pioneering ideas and also gives the life to the street to make the whole walk more interesting and more interactive. High streets are the finest examples of how the entire community lives together. From a tiny newspaper vendor to a big brand all survive in harmony on these streets. There are families that make memories on these streets, who share moments of joy and togetherness sitting and eating-out at the flourishing eateries, as against going astray in the mad rush of malls.

I would like to end this blog post by talking about Hiranandani, Powai. With Central Avenue we have created a pedestrian high street. In 1990 we actually went to a newspaper vendor and gave him a hole in the wall to help in distributing the newspaper and magazine. With the aim of encouraging local entrepreneurs we welcomed mom and pop shops as well.

How engineering and construction technologies have facilitated real estate industry

The most important aspect of the industry is the tools that are used to build it. Like any other sector the tools of the trade in the real estate industry have evolved. These advancements have been leveraged to build new business in a professional, efficient & effective manner.

Companies like JCB, CAT etc have been investing heavily in research and development to produce world’s toughest, fastest, smallest and fuel efficient construction equipment. Latest backhoe loaders, tracked excavators, wheeled loaders, compactors, drills etc reduce the time and improve the efficiency of construction work which was not possible otherwise.

High rises usually have long gestation period which escalate the cost. Today exciting new technologies have emerged like Jump from ie climbing form. With this the core walls can be completed ahead of the rest of the building structure. The monotonous and engineered nature of form work, allows fine tuning of construction operations which in turn leads to minimal concrete wastage.

Low rise and value homes have been blessed with pre cast technology. In this case various sections of the structure are cast in factories and then assembled on site. This technology thrives on economies of scale and similarity of layouts.  It can achieve almost zero wastage and reduction in the number of highly skilled engineers leading to reduction of cost.

Aluminum formwork technology has helped in constructing huge number of houses in short period of time. It involves using room sized forms to construct wall and slab in one continuous pour of concrete. On removal of bolted forms a high quality concrete semi-finished product is produced which requires no plastering. Such technology requires less labor, provides uniform quality and reduces chances of leakage.

With rapidly increasing GDP of India we can expect engineering & construction technology companies investing more in research and development wing in order to come up with superior products.