5 minute read
Are Integrated Townships the Future of Living?
Varsha Jain, Principal Architect & Co-founder, Creative Architects & Interiors (CAI), Chennai ruminates on the advantages of integrated townships.
Varsha Jain
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Varsha Jain is the Principal Architect and Co-founder at Creative Architects and Interiors (CAI), Chennai. She is an alumnus of the University of Pune and is known for her functional and efficient designs. She is lauded for her work on large-scale projects across residential, commercial, hospitality and institutional typologies. Her commitment to the craft is evident through her strong visualisation skills and efficient space planning. She believes that every project should have contextually transformative and evolving spaces that are perceived in different ways. She is a registered member of the Council of Architecture and an associate member of the Indian Institute of Interior Architects.
The unprecedented growth in urban population each year has led cities to sprawl at an expedited pace. This has raised issues such as the lack of accessibility to essential services and well-planned open spaces. The pandemic has prodded us to rethink our ways of living and question our urban planning and design sensibilities. With an emphasis on self-sustenance, efficient planning, community living and a mixed-use approach, can ‘Integrated Townships’ be the future of living?
Integrated townships are self-sustaining gated communities that comprise infrastructures such as residential areas, schools, hospitals, retail outlets, and commercial complexes, along with strategically planned and safe open spaces. With a purpose larger than just housing, this allencompassing typology is rapidly gaining ground in the urban setting. Juxtaposing the Indian tradition of community living with contemporary facilities and services, the design of integrated townships is an excellent answer to rapid urbanization. Being a ‘city within a city’, it aims at facilitating access to all essential services within 15 minutes of walking distance, and within a safe and inclusive environment.
With every passing day, the social breach in our cities is becoming far more evident. Through efficient planning, the residential zones within the integrated townships can have high, middle and low-income group housing to harbour an equitable ecosystem. Along with equity, inclusivity
Photo Credit: Creative Architects & Interiors (CAI)
Looking at the advantages of the typology,of integrated townships are being encouraged by the state authorities via subsidised schemes, to promote holistic living through structured and optimal land use in India.
and comfort, integrated townships promise safety, sustainability and healthy living. Dedicated pedestrianized zones such as open spaces, gardens, pathways etc ensure areas of interest for all age groups, whilst providing utmost safety. The reduced distances not only save time, but also lessen pollution and excess fuel consumption, nurturing healthy living.
Sustainability lies at the core of the planning and design of such townships. This is achieved by optimising available open lands and employing green strategies such as organic farming, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment plants, waste management systems, composting, and generating solar energy. These methods not only aid in making the controlled ecosystem self-sustainable but also results in energy conservation and efficiency.
At CAI, we take up several township projects and attempt to approach each one with a different perspective, depending on factors such as context, land availability, client brief etc. Oxygen by Urban Tree, an ongoing project located in Chennai, is one such unique project. As the name suggests, the site has been envisaged with copious breathing pockets and green spaces between the built masses. The design and planning for this project are driven by the site and climatic conditions, ensuring maximum natural light and ventilation within all built spaces. Making optimum use of the 9-acre land, 15 low rise residential blocks have been planned to avoid unnecessary high-rise development. Additionally equipped with two commercial blocks, a clubhouse, ample landscaped area, a supermarket and other amenities, this complex is a perfect example of sustainable living in an urban setting. It has been acknowledged by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) with a prestigious green rating.
Integrated townships, not only cater to households but also add to real estate value. They serve as a milestone for real estate investment strategies, opening up new revenue opportunities. Looking at the far-reaching advantages and positive impacts of this typology, integrated township projects are being encouraged by the state authorities via subsidized schemes, to promote holistic living through structured and optimal land use in India.
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