When an average person hears wine cellar, movie theater or gym, and the must have is `lotus/lily pond’ they may think we’re discussing a mall or a resort. But for those willing to spend big bucks in Chennai, these are some of the ‘must-haves’.
Magicbricks takes a look at some of the `luxury indispensables’ and even the absolute deal breakers, when it comes to Uber luxury Chennai style.
“The list of wants has changed and new design trends are emerging in the luxury home market,” says Maithili Krishnan, who recently returned from Thailand, after a six month course in Indo-Siamese architecture, to create a `Pooja room’ incorporating this unique fusion of culture.” For those willing to spend big bucks, wine-rooms and private movie theatre rooms are just part of the package that comes with luxury home ownership.”
They may live in RA Puram, Poes Garden, Boat Club Road, Rutland Gate and have second homes in some of the fast upcoming OMR areas next to resorts. Entering their homes is like coming to a new world that leaves the developing areas around the city far behind.
So what do the Chennai rich have today?
Wine rooms (not cellars)
“Wine cellars are passé,’ says Reuben Mougan, who specialises in developing theme-based interiors, his specialty being South European themes. Today, with increased export oriented businesses, the new rich want an entire room dedicated to their love for wine. Whether they want an ample supply on hand for entertaining or they simply like to collect an assortment of the cabernet or the sauvignon blanc, is irrelevant.”
Mougan has done several interiors of these wine rooms, each of them different from the other. “The essential ingredient of luxury is exclusivity, so you need to be on your toes when catering to their demands and come up with innovative designs, each more unique than the other,” says Mougan.
Golf Croquet beyond tennis court
“A new favored amenity for luxury home buyers is Golf Croquet, which requires less space. It is less strenuous and above all, can be played at home to entertain guests, who are not active outdoor people,” says Prem Solemen, who specialises in outdoor spaces for luxury homes.
“Outdoor games need to be fun and easy to play to cater as pure alternate entertainment, without being too strenuous. This is what Golf Croquet addresses,” says Solemen.
Golf Croquet to the uninitiated is a cross between golf and tennis with simpler rules and is more interactive (each turn is just a single stroke). The players follow a course contesting each hoop in turn. As soon as one hoop is scored all players move on to the next – a simple idea that can include rich tactical thinking, depending on the players.
The much hyped ‘pooja’ room
‘Pooja’ rooms which are a replica of your favourite temple, from Tirupti to the Meenakshi temple or the Srirangam temple, you can have it at home, thanks to R Selvakumar. Along with his team of special sculptors, he will create it for you in your home, provided you have the money.
“I used to hang outside the work place of sculptors, to hear the `clink-clink’ sound that their chisel and hammer made, that is how I got interested in this art. After I finished my B-arch, I adopted this as my main offering and have been able to make a name for myself in this niche area,” says Selvakumar.
The most expensive Pooja room he has designed so far?
“A smaller version of the Tirupati Venkateshwara temple for a devotee, in which he had gold plating done for the wood carvings in the traditional pillars inside his prayer room,” says Selvakumar.
The staff rooms
Not only do the rich live big, they also like to give their staff the comfort and hygiene that the rest of the family experiences.
“Today, no super luxury home is complete without the well planned and designed staff quarters,” says Krishnan. “At the least there are rooms where the staff changes into their uniforms (they are all in the same printed sarees or trousers and shirts). They are provided with western style bathrooms with vitrified tiles, naturally lit staff eating areas with tables and chairs, cupboards for hanging their clothes and other washroom amenities including full length, separate for ladies and men.,”
Clearly, when it comes to luxury real estate, the stakes are really high.
Source: Times of India /Kanchana Dwarakanath, magicbricks.com Bureau/