by Anand Sharma, Founder & Partner, Design Forum International
A house is a once in a lifetime investment that people often make. However, fuelled by the pandemic, the trend for homes has gone from being a ‘want’ to becoming a ‘need’. As more people aspire for luxury homes, a lot of pressure has been put on builders and architects to develop solutions for the post-pandemic society.
The lockdown has also led to a significant change in the buying preferences of home buyers and how they evaluate a property. Today, the amount of space that a dwelling offers has become paramount for homeowners. Especially, with work-from-home becoming a new normal, millennials are searching for a place that not only adapts to their lifestyle, but also serves additional purposes of health, education, work and recreation.
Supported by the rising trend of people moving to suburbs, the location has become another major factor that a buyer often looks for in a luxury home. Its distance from workplaces, accessibility to civic and transport infrastructure and commercial opportunities provided by the site often governs the final decision of the prospective buyers. This, in turn, has ushered the rise of mixed-use developments, dwelling upon the concept of “Live, work and Play “ such as Silverglades Hightown in Gurugram, which celebrates the idea of ‘landmark living’. Conceptualised as an urban oasis, its design gives residents the benefits of luxury living and quietude within the urban epicentre with a very balanced mix of work spaces, retail and tastefully designed condominiums. Furthermore, its proximity to ITC Laburnum, bustling Sector 29 hospitality precinct and high speed connectivity via NH 8 and IFFCO Chowk MRTS Station adds to its strong contextual presence. The design also hosts the best-in-class amenities, and by raising the built form on double-height, the housing development provides amply transparent green spaces for man and nature to coexist.
While the pandemic may have accelerated the trend for luxury homes, they have always been seen as a status symbol: an aspiration for common people. Today, more and more people are buying luxury homes for the type of lifestyle and amenities they offer. Open green spaces, gymnasium, sports fields, and clubhouses have now become a must-have in modern luxury townships, as people prefer to access these facilities in the proximity of their homes. Spacious balconies and decks are other functions that are gaining popularity amongst the homeowners during the pandemic.
