We would
like to describe, not a village in the backwaters of Kerala or in the distant
comers of Tamil Nadu but a gated complex with villas in the centre of
Bangalore. It is known as Armadale built by Chaitanya projects.
You may
see smooth Chettinad columns, dormer windows of the Kerala style, and Jaglis of
Andhra Pradesh decorating the houses standing among the coconut and chikkoo
trees. Iron swings, pergolas and such old-world charm mark the end of one villa
and where another one starts. Sloping roofs of Mangalore tiles make the scenecomplete.
Many
people have an attachment to traditional architecture that reminds them of
their childhood and their roots. However as the times have changed this kind of
old architecture is not practical for the interiors. Here is traditional and
contemporary architecture enters the scene giving the charm of bygone days
along with the functionality of today’s world.
Every
small detail at Armadale is taken care of to produce period architecture. Steps
with a concrete parapet wall lead up to the main entrance. Both sides of the
main door have small niches to put diyas. Jaglis outside the main door welcomeinmates to come and rest with a book to read or to listen to the chirruping ofbirds in the trees that frame the house.
The joint
Managing Director of Chaitanya projects says that people like to have a link to
the past without doing away with the comforts of modem interiors. It is not
sensible to have total period architecture because of the practical problems
involved. The traditional appearance should be limited to the outer parts.
There are
little spikes on top in the Dormer windows that emphasize the period look.
Outer walls are painted with a double color of yellow and cream divided with
red oxide as in past days. They have done their best to keep the trees by
building the villas around them. In some cases they have been replanted around.
Chettinad columns support the sloping tiled roofs at the entrance of everyvilla. Wooden support to the roofs makes it look genuine.
People
opposed the small size windows as they prefer to have larger ones. However they
decided to keep the smaller size in order not to spoil the traditional
appearance. Multiple win- dows were provided to give light and ventilation.
Modem architecture means large windows whereas period architecture has small
ones. Large windows have been rejected for medium sized ones.
When you
enter the villa it is like all other homes with granite and marble structures
and the contemporary fittings. The lamps in the garden are like the antique
ones. Corridors with columns running round give the appearance of a typical
period bungalow of south India very much like a picture postcard.
Whenever
one steps out of the house one is greeted by the atmosphere of a different age.
One of the residents thinks it is fascinating and charming. He wanted to have
the period appearance in the house too but had to give it up on account of
practical problems. He used traditional Attangudi tiles on the floor to make
the inside with a period look also.
Whether
the structure is Scottish, Tudor or traditionally Indian there is definitely a
demand for a blend of the styles to help people relate to it according to their
thinking. Architecture does not have to be strictly blended out of modem and
traditional. They have created Scottish style exteriors in other projects as
well as a Tudor style like in others at Whitefield.
The Press
Note 2 of 2005 makes it mandatory to have minimum capitalization, minimum
area of development and three year lock-in period to allow the flow of Foreign
Direct Investment in real estate. Attempts were made within the government to
gain exemption for real estate projects from this Press Note on the condition
that they include hotel and tourism components.
Foreign
Direct Investments in real estate would not be exempt from the compulsory
three-year lock-in period where 'mixed' projects that include hotel and tourism
activities are concerned. Various proposals were considered in the consultationbetween ministries and following this the Department of Industrial Policy and
Promotion (DIPP) sent round a note for the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) to consider which states that the lock-in should remain.
The
perspective thinking within the government is that for the flow of FDI in
projects including hotel and tourism activities exemption could be provided
from minimum capitalization and minimum area of development. Such an exemption
will be subject to 50% of the total built-up area in such projects being kept
for tourism activities and 20% of the total built-up area being set apart for
hotel rooms. A note to this end has been submitted by the Dipp to the Prime
Minister's Office and ministries handling the subject. According to highlyplaced government sources it would be sent to the CCEA with the remarks ofother departments.
A project
that wants to be eligible for this exemption must be at least 50% composed of
restaurants, resorts and tourism complexes that give accommodation and
connected services to tourists. The 'tourism facility' categorization would
also be for travel agencies, tour operators, transport agencies, units dealing
with cultural activities and wildlife, entertainment services, sports amusement
parks and health facilities.
Apart
from this at least 20% of the full built- up area of the projects should be
composed of hotel rooms. According to this at least 30% of the full built-up
area should be earmarked for tourism activities besides hotel rooms. Theobjective of the exemption is to give a thrust to tourism infrastructure in FDI.
The
concerned authority would control the construction projects carried out with
mixed development. There would be no misuse of residential buildings for
non-residential purposes. Some of the other conditions to be fulfilled
according to the Dipp note sent to the PMO are adequate parking space,
structural safety of the buildings, rain-water harvesting and providing
barrier-free environment.
In order
to make sure that the flow of foreign money did not cause speculation in the
real estate business the government had made clearance to FDI in real estate
and construction conditional through Press Note 5. A warning has been issued by
the Reserve Bank about a 'real estate bubble' and foreign venture capital funds
in this sector have slowed down in investment. Real estate developers have
simultaneously been urging for open-minded FDI norms as they are encountering
pressure because of a downturn in demand and falling valuations.http://www.bangalore5.com/news.php?id=101
The first
draft for the CCEA on FDI in 'mixed' projects had suggested exemption from compulsory
lock-in also. The present one is the second draft.
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