The Luxury Quotient

Luxury homes continue to dazzle in the wake of robust demand and keen investor
interest. check out some of the top offerings in the country
EVEN in the midst of low sentiments haunting the real estate sector, there is one segment that is totally unfazed by it all. Luxury homes continue to dazzle in the face of robust demand and keen investor interest in the segment. Royal offerings doled out one after the other by real estate
developers show that at least one buyer category has remained as loyal as before — the luxe home buyer. SundayET commissioned a survey to global real estate consultancy Cushman and Wakefield (C&W) to find out some top-of-the-line luxury offerings coming up in the five major cities of
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.
And here’s what they found. While the new luxury apartments in Delhi-NCR were valued at over Rs 10 crore, in Mumbai it easily crossed the 20 crore mark for a 4 BHK. It also found that among the new constructions around the National Capital Region (NCR), properties in Gurgaon commanded a premium, while sea-facing locations in the financial hub attracted the richie rich. Lavelle Road in Central Bangalore was much sought after as a luxury buy. And while Spanish villas in Hyderabad made an opulent statement, it were the spacious independent houses in Chennai that were the new luxury abode. In the survey, they included both projects which have been announced recently or the ones which though announced earlier, were only getting ready now.
Delhi NCR, in itself has at least seven extremely high-end projects. Top corporate honchos, expatriates and high networth individuals (HNIs) dominate DLF’s Magnolias located in DLF Phase V, Gurgaon. The apartments, which will be ready in 1-2 years can go up to a whopping Rs 10 crore with the average size of an apartment at roughly 5,500-10,000 sq ft. Attractive rental potential and substantial increase in capital values since 2005, the locational advantage of the golf course and improved connectivity via the operational Delhi–Jaipur 8-lane super expressway are some of the USPs of this project. Says Rajeev Talwar, executive group director, “Luxury apartments are taken up by actual users so demand will always remain…. Anyone who is buying such an apartment does so keeping a variety of factors in mind. Moreover, these are bought by those who have a surplus.”
Another project in Gurgaon, Ambience Group’s upscale Caitriona project, located in Ambi City NH-8 Gurgaon, will be coming up in 2-3 years and is priced at a royal 8 crore plus tag. Boasting of sevenstar living, it is located amidst the 150-acre Ambience Island premium integrated township.
Caitriona offers limited condominiums for a select few. A great golf course view, super premium international designing and complete furnishing for a readyto-live-in condominium, Caitriona flaunts snob value all the way.
Vipin Agrawal, executive director of Omaxe, feels that the current market scenario will have little effect on this segment. “Luxury homes are always in demand. Top CEOs and businessmen are the main occupants here. Hence, whatever be the market dynamics, there will always be an active demand for such projects.” The realtor has a luxury project, The Forest, adjoining the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, which sold for Rs 6,500/sq ft.
Spectacular views of the sea in the financial capital of Mumbai was seen as the sign of exclusivity and beauty. Lodha group’s Lodha Solitaire project offers just that on Napean Sea Road in South Mumbai, wherein each apartment offers a tranquil view. High-end amenities such as a mini theatre and an infinity-edge swimming pool further add to the glam quotient. Another project by the same developer, the 48-storey Lodha Bellissimo project features private pools, gardens, private staircases at a starting price of 8 crore for a 3BHK apartment!
However, it is the villas in Bangalore and Hyderabad that come through as a plush buy. Lavelle Road in Bangalore was found to be a much sought after address. Villas in Purva Grande located on Lavelle Road, Central Bangalore are commanding a premium owing to their strategic location. With prices starting at Rs 10 crore, the villas are replete with all leisurely comforts, including terrace pools and gardens. Occupants in another project on Lavelle Road — Mantri Altius by Mantri Developers were chosen personally by the realtor based on factors such as similar interests and non-competing businesses. The 17-floor super premium apartment occupies a built-up area of 85,000 sq ft in a prime locality in the city. Each apartment boasts of a 360-degree view of the city and security arrangements include biometric sensors, sirens and proximity cards. No wonder that the 5,000-6,000 sq ft apartments are in the range of Rs 10 crore upwards.
It’s a touch of Spain in Hyderabad that makes for some royal living. Spanish luxury villas Casa Estebana, developed by Koncept Ambience, are located in Kompally which is witnessing significant residential development primarily in the villa category. With prices starting at Rs 6.5 crore and
going up to Rs 17 crore, unique facilities such as a personal grooming centre, specialty restaurant, manicured landscaping with tree-lined streets and amphitheatre make it exclusive enough. An artificial lake with marine life and natural habitat for birds connect you with nature.
Chennai is no different. And as if taking the nature theme forward, Vijayshanthi Builders’ Raintree project in Alwarpet area in Central Chennai priced upwards of Rs 3 crore, features well landscaped surroundings with large water bodies. A skating rink, multi-purpose hall, water bodies and a
covered car park are some of the other elaborate amenities on offer here.
Besides luxury apartments, independent houses in Boat Club, Venus Colony, Poes Garden, Kotturpuram are preferred luxury residential areas.
Capital values range between Rs 15,000 per sq ft and Rs 25,000 per sq ft, with sizes above 4000-6000 sq ft. Tucked away from heavy traffic, these areas offer serene living. Spacious gardens, barbecue corners, entertainment areas in the garden and patios are additional features making these
houses much sought after. Majestic and palatial — these luxury residences are a dream buy. Exquisite facilities and charming decor basics makes them absolutely priceless.
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What Women Want-Luxury !!

Luxury perfumes are a must-have in your accessory list. Splurge on these fragrant buys
DISCOVERt he mesmerising fragrance of luxury perfumes. Featuring aromatic accents of rose, jasmine, lavendar,violet and many others, these are a must-have in your accessory list. Brands such as Moschino, Lancome and Fendi have some interesting new ranges in store for women. And they don’t just smell good….they look good too
with their unique packaging features.
Moschino’s ‘Hippy Fizz’ perfume is the new perfume from the Moschino Chic and Cheap line. Notes of raspberry leaves, rose, violet, magnolia and lotus make it a good buy. Even the bottle reflects the feminine element with its bright pink cap vibrant against the yellow and bright flowers on the bottle. ‘I Love Love,’ from the same line is as lovely with the explosion of colours and the amusing graffiti on the bottle.
Eau Vitamanee by luxury cosmetics brand Lancome is a unique cocktail of citrus fruit. The musky floral note,consisting of freesia, white lily and white musk, gives the fragrance an opulent dimension teamed with its long-wearing and residual qualities. For a mood enhancing fragrance, choose Eau d’Energie, a scented body spray which is fruity and soft. With 27% natural essences of sun-ripened fruit, the perfume is a concentrate of natural active ingredients with energizing elements. And if there is something simple and sophisticated that you are looking for, the brand’s Miracle perfume reflects the splendour of magnolias in stunning style.
Fendi’s new perfume, Fendi Palazzo is fancy and feminine. Notes of rose, orange blossom, bergamot, pink pepper and lemon lend charm to the fragrance. Infact Palazzo signifies more than just a name. Situated in the vibrant heart of Rome, Palazzo Fendi or the Fendi Palace lends the bottle its beautiful architecture. Its beauty lies in the contrast of the classic simplicity of a rectangular body and Baroque style with the top of the structure struck with a double ‘F.’ The façade of Palazzo Fendi, the brand’s home in Rome, is illustrated on the back of the bottle. Splurge on these fragrant buys. And enjoy
all the admirable glances that come your way

Service sector to give more revenue

The contribution of service tax to the country’s GDP is quite low at 1.1 per cent and the government expects to get more
revenue from this sector in future, a top official said.
Contribution of the service sector in the GDP is 56 per cent but the share of the service tax in the GDP is just 1.1 per cent,
Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), P C Jha, said here last night.
Jha said the service tax revenue is growing at a rapid pace, in 1994, service tax was imposed on three services and the rate of
duty then was five per cent, with service tax revenue at Rs 410 crore with 3900 service tax payers. Now, 106 services come
under tax and the rate of tax has gone up to 12.36 per cent.
The number of service tax players in the country now has gone up to 5.5 lakh and the service tax collection in 2007-08 was
51,113 crore. In spite of this rapid growth, the contribution of service tax to the GDP is only 1.1 per cent.
For the current year, the target for collection of service tax is Rs 64,460 crore, he said, adding, the department’s expectation is
that it would be exceeded.

Dhoni On Number One

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retained his place at the top of the batting chart while teammate Zaheer Khan stormed into the top 20 of the ICC ODI bowlers’ rankings issued on Saturday.

Dhoni, who had toppled his South African counterpart Graeme Smith off the top spot on August 28, maintained a 21-point lead from the Protea skipper with 793. They were followed by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, his teammate Mike Hussey and Pakistani Md Yousuf.

The 27-year-old from Jharkhand was the leading run-scorer in the five-match series against Sri Lanka with 193 runs which helped him displace Smith.

Dhoni, who won the player-of-the-series award, was also on top of the batting list for a week in April 2006 and is the first Indian batsman to head the batting chart since Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, however, has dropped three places to ninth after missing the series in Sri Lanka because of an elbow injury. A player loses one per cent of his rating for missing every match.

Struggling Yuvraj Singh is the third Indian batsmen in the top 20 but the left-hander has dropped three places after scoring just 72 runs in the series and shares 18th position with England’s Ian Bell.

Besides Dhoni, Suresh Raina is the only other Indian to improve his batting ranking. The 21-year-old left-hander scored 157 runs in the series and was rewarded by rising 18 places to 35th position.

Virender Sehwag, who missed the ODI series due to an ankle injury, stays in 29th place but his opening partner Gautam Gambhir has dropped six places to 28th after scoring just 36 runs in the series.

In the bowler’s chart, headed by Australian Nathan Bracken, Zaheer is the highest ranked Indian at 14th place. The 29-year-old left-armer took nine wickets in the series and has stormed into the top 20 after jumping eight places.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh improved his ranking by six places and now sits in 23rd position. Meanwhile, England’s Andrew Flintoff has struck gold in the latest rankings. The Lancastrian has surged to the top of ODI all-rounders after jumping six places. The 30-year-old achieved the feat after climbing 10 places to 38th in the batting list and moving up four places to 13th position in the bowling chart.

Brand Value In Luxury Market

Emporio, home to 90 top-of-the-line brands, comes as a delight for the uber rich craving for luxury products .
LUXURY has a new address. DLF’s luxury mall, Emporio, in the capital has created a 3.38 lakh square-feet home for luxury brands in the country. For years, luxury brands in India have been limited to small confines within the five-star hotels. Less traffic in hotels and a limited scale of operation has always posed a problem for these brands. But Emporio, set to be open soon to public, comes as a delight for the uber rich who craved luxury watches, handbags, shoes and other lifestyle products,
but had a limited choice in the past.
What attracts you even before stepping inside the mall is the building itself. The huge display of brand names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Burberry on the glass panels add to the pull factor.
Inside, it is 90 top-of-the-line brands, four levels and plenty of visual delights that Emporio brings for the luxury-starved consumer. As you enter the mall on a dry August day, the Mughal fountain teamed with an artistic display of plants gives a soothing and cool effect. The champagne coloured Italian marble and mosaic floor sparkle, lends an opulent yet elegant look to the mall. Nothing is over the top. Designed by architect Mohit Gujral, the mall has four floors that include spa, wine bar,atrium lounge and restaurants along with the shops. The interiors have been done in burnished wood with brass detailing.
Even the washrooms reflect the rich ‘n’ royal look and are spacious in themselves. Undoubtedly, every detail has been treated with careful attention in the mall.
Rentals, not surprisingly, are steep here. Retail rentals here can be between Rs 1,200-Rs 2,000/ sq ft, say sources. And while not all of these are open yet, some of the stores on the upper ground and first floor are ready for business.
Emporio has brought almost all the world’s luxury brands together under one roof. There are brands such as Cartier,Tod’s, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany’s, Zegna, Paul Smith, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, La Perla, Hugo Boss and Escada apart from the famous Indian fashion designers such as Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka, Tarun Tahliani, Abu and Sandeep Khosla, Ranna Gill et al. Several product categories jostle for a dekko, including apparel and fashion, accessories,watches, perfume, jewellery and lifestyle.
And it’s not just fashion or luxury that Emporio limits itself to. The dining arrangements, too, are classy. Terrace cafes,restaurants or confectionaries — the options are aplenty here. It’s like stepping into another realm — magnificent and majestic. The luxury customer need look no further. She can experience luxury’s one-stop-destination on her home turf

Supreme Court defines who’s an idiot

Idiot’ is a grossly misused word and an oversimplified epithet, if one goes by the Supreme Court’s brand
new definition of the term. It is almost impossible for a person to qualify as an idiot, says the Court and therefore, few can expect to get a reprieve for an offence.
To be legally accepted as an ‘idiot’, one has to be so dumb as to be unable to count till 20, list the days of the week, or fail to remember the names of one’s parents, the Court said on Friday.
Under Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code, a person is not liable to be prosecuted if they are of unsound mind, or incapable of comprehending the nature of the criminal act and the fact that it is against the law.
The Supreme Court identified just four kinds of people who could be classified mentally unsound — idiots, the very ill,lunatics and drunks.
“An idiot is one who is of non-sane memory from his birth, by a perpetual infirmity, without lucid intervals: and those are said to be idiots who cannot count 20, or tell the days of the week or who do not know their fathers or mothers or the like,” said the judgement by Justices Arijit Pasayat and M K Sharma. They added that it was for the accused to prove they were idiots or otherwise of unsound mind.
The court was dealing with a case from Madhya Pradesh where Hari Singh Gond murdered his grandfather-in-law and then claimed innocence on the grounds of idiocy. The Bench affirmed the lower court orders convicting Gond for the murder.
If the investigating agency came across a history of insanity, it was duty-bound to subject the accused to a medical examination, the judges said. If a medical examination is not done “the benefit of doubt has to be given to the accused”, the judges said.
The MP trial court had refused to accept the accused was mentally unsound even though eyewitnesses reported he behaved in an unusual fashion at the time. Friday’s judgement differentiated between a defendant of unsound mind and mere absence of motive.
“Mere absence of motive for a crime cannot, in the absence of plea and proof of legal insanity, bring the case within Section 84,” it said. “Mere abnormality of mind or partial delusion, irresistible impulse or compulsive behaviour of a psychopath affords no protection under Section 84,” the SC added, affirming the earlier court orders convicting Gond for the murder.