The first time I visited the commercial hub of Gurgaon, in India, I was struck by the sheer number of skyscrapers housing Fortune 500 companies that called the âcyber cityâ home. Located only 20 miles from New Delhi, the former agricultural area was built entirely by private companies. And now, rising from the concrete city is a dramatic green masterpiece, The Camellias, a unique architectural utopia twice the size of Central Park.
Created by DLF and headed by billionaire Kushal Pal Singh, the company began developing 22 urban colonies in Delhi. In 1985, the company started luxury living spaces for professionals in Gurgaon. They invest in sustainability from wastewater treatment systems at the DLF Golf and Country Club and recycling construction materials. Singhâs creation has enabled Gurgaon to become the leader in innovative green technology.
The Camellias is the latest residential offering from DLFâs portfolio, and it joins their other luxury residences- The Aralias and The Magnolias. The Camellias is impressive with its stunning architecture, green landscape, and waterways and is the first residential development in the country to have LEED Platinum certification. DLF also planted 25,000 trees alongside three artificial lakes fed by sewage-treated water.
The high-end residential community has 429 units with one unit per floor, which start at $6.25 million. Owners are encouraged to design and furnish blank slate residences with column-free spaces, high ceilings, and large balconies. Adjoining the luxe towers is the dramatic 160,000-square-foot Camellias Club, one of the most extensive well-being facilities in the world.
With seven âenergy zones,â residents enjoy a massive fitness center, a stunning spa with a Turkish hammam, a boxing ring, a rock climbing wall, and even a four-lane Brunswick bowling alley. And dining options are endless with five restaurant offerings.
In the middle of the luxury development is two signature courses, The DLF Golf Academy and The Pavilion. The Arnold Palmer course is a championship course through the rolling hills of the adjacent Aravallis. The Gary Player Signature Course is an 18-hole, Par-72 course with two large lakes, and the DLF Golf Academy is the first professional golf school in the country.
I spoke with Aakash Ohri, DLF’s Group Director and Chief Business Officer, about what makes the Camellias unique. “This is an island that we’ve created, which is an extension of your own home,” he said. “A place where you can create your own masterpiece. Our residents have done well for themselves, created a name, and they want to be associated with properties and projects in the world that actually mark their presence in the world today.”