Artist Donna Baspaly has famously said, “Stay flexible to the adventure of creativity.” This is an apt description for the Page luxury multihousing project in India that was a true collaboration of Eastern and Western philosophies. The design was so successful that the first day the units at Avenue 71 were available for sale, all 723 of them sold out within one hour. The project was awarded Gold Certification by the Ministry of Environment and Forest even though it was still under construction at the time.
CHD, a development firm, had acquired a 16-acre parcel on which they intended to build a premier housing development in the vibrant city of Gurgaon thirty kilometers southwest of New Delhi, India’s capital city. Gurgaon has the third highest per capita income in India and is considered by many to be ”the best city in India in which to work and live.” Many major international companies have call centers there, including American Airlines, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle.
Based on a video interview selection process, CHD selected Page to work with Indian associate firm Adonis Designs to create the master plan and concept design. Their objective was to meld Western architectural knowledge with Indian lifestyle preferences for a one-of-a-kind development. Adonis provided the Page team with valuable cultural insights such as the strong Eastern preference to isolate the kitchen so that cooking odors don’t travel to the rest of the living quarters. They also made the team aware of local building requirements that differ from North America.
The elegant Western-influenced Avenue 71 complex, which is located within walking distance of five-star hotels and popular shopping malls, is a cohesive urban design of multiple buildings and connecting green spaces. The structures are organized along a central tree-lined boulevard punctuated with fountains that ends at the distinctive signature tower that was designed to capture the spirit of Avenue 71. Married with perimeter vehicular circulation, this layout creates a series of parks and linked amenities between the housing towers, all atop the convenient underground parking.
The buildings in the compound were designed to be earthquake resistant and are fire-safety compliant with underground wiring. Every building and every unit benefits from climatically appropriate design. Rooftops are insulated and careful siting of each building provides extensive daylight as well as engaging views of the expansive greenspaces. The extensive balconies in each unit also support needed cross ventilation.
Upon arriving at Avenue 71, residents and visitors are welcomed by a trellised entry gate that is adjacent to the fitness center with a pool. Residents enjoy personal, assigned, covered parking spaces that are connected by sheltered walkways to nearby high-speed elevators that are assigned near their unit for maximum convenience. A leisurely stroll through the verdant garden spaces is all that is needed to reach a convenience store, boutiques and restaurants throughout the complex.
While Avenue 71 was designed with luxury and convenience in mind, nearly 20% of the units were sized with mixed-income residents in mind. As a result, units vary from luxurious four-bedroom penthouses spanning 2,350 square feet to compact and economical at 1,200 square feet, and nearly every size in between. The total site capacity of this successful project is estimated at approximately 4,000 people.
