Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Real Estate

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

The new Nalanda University campus at Rajgir in Bihar, remodelled after the 1,600-year-old Nalanda Mahavihar, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024, marking a significant revival of the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumara...

The new Nalanda University campus at Rajgir in Bihar, remodelled after the 1,600-year-old Nalanda Mahavihar, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024, marking a significant revival of the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumaragupta.Steeped in historyThe world’s first residential university gained its name from ‘nalam’ (lotus) and ‘da’ (to give), symbolising the blossoming of knowledge.Green campusRevival of the university gained momentum in 2006 after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, then President of India, proposed its reestablishment. The architectural design was chosen on the basis of a global competition and the jury, consisting of architects including Liu Thai Ker, chose Pritzker Prize laureate and Padma Vibhushan late BV Doshi’s firm, Vastu Shilpa Consultants, as the winner of the design competition.The new campus, built at an initial cost of Rs 18 billion and spread over 485 acre, merges eco-friendly architecture with ancient Vaastu principles. The campus is among the largest in India and its commitment to sustainability is evident in its net-zero green campus, which includes a 6.5-MW DC on-grid solar plant, a 500-kld water treatment plant, a 400-kld water recycling plant and 100 acre of water bodies with an innovative 1.2-MW AC biogas-based waste-to-energy plant. Indeed, the new campus of Nalanda University symbolises the revival of an ancient institution and serves as a beacon of modern educational excellence and sustainability.A Forest of MemoriesSmritivan Earthquake Memorial is on UNESCO's 2024 list of the most beautiful museums.The Smritivan (Forest of Memories) Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj, Gujarat, has been honoured as one of the world’s seven most beautiful museums globally by UNESCO’s Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design. It is the first museum in India to receive international recognition for adherence to local culture, environmental conservation and sustainable practices.Situated on the Bhujiyo Dungar (a small hill) on the outskirts of Bhuj and spread over 470 acres, it is the first earthquake memorial in the country. The site features the world’s largest Miyawaki forest, with around 0.5 million trees, 50 check dams adorned with plaques bearing the names of the victims of the 2001 earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, which claimed close to 13,000 lives and affected 890 villages. The museum also includes a special theatre that offers a realistic simulation of the earthquake experience using sound, light and vibration along with a 360º projection. The architect was Rajeev Kathpalia from Vastushilpa Sangath LLP while the exhibition design and curation for the museum was done by Design Factory India.Design intentThe hill’s steep slope posed a challenge in constructing a building that blended with the landscape as the hill holds cultural significance to the community and constructing a large-scale box contrasting with the hill was considered inappropriate. So, the natural contours of the hill were incorporated into the design.Resilience and regenerationAs Smritivan was planned to be a pilgrimage site for bereaved families of the victims, each element of the museum, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, stands as a symbol of Gujarat’s resilience in the face of adversity and focuses on regeneration and hope for a better future.- R SRINIVASAN      

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Real Estate

Mahindra Lifespaces Bags Rs 12.5 billion Redevelopment in Mulund

Mahindra Lifespace Developers (MLDL), the real estate and infrastructure development arm of the Mahindra Group, has been appointed as the preferred developer for the redevelopment of a premium housing society in Mulund (West), Mumbai. The project will be developed across a 3.08-acre land parcel, with an estimated development value of approximately Rs 12.5 billion. Strategically located, the site enjoys proximity to major connectivity points—just 1.4 km from the upcoming Mumbai Metro Line 5 and 0.8 km from the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. It also offers seamless access to the Eastern Expre..

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Infrastructure Urban

Snowman Adds Warehouses in Kolkata and Krishnapatnam

Snowman Logistics, India’s leading integrated temperature-controlled logistics company, has announced the commencement of operations at its two new state-of-the-art, owned cold storage facilities in Kolkata and Krishnapatnam. With these additions, the company’s total pallet capacity has reached 1,50,754, spanning 43 warehouses in 20 cities across the country. The newly operational Kolkata facility offers a storage capacity of 5,630 pallets, while the Krishnapatnam facility holds 3,927 pallets. These warehouses are equipped with advanced automation and infrastructure designed to enhanc..

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Resources

Noesis Enables IHCL Hotel Deal in Udupi–Manipal Corridor

NOESIS Capital Advisors, India’s leading hotel investment advisory firm, has successfully facilitated a landmark hospitality transaction in the Udupi–Manipal region of Karnataka. The deal involves the acquisition of a nearly completed, 130-key upscale hotel that will operate under one of the premium brands of IHCL, reinforcing NOESIS’ position as a preferred partner for strategic hospitality transactions across India. Strategically located on the Udupi–Manipal Highway, the 1.03-acre property will cater to business travellers, pilgrims and families visiting Manipal University. With..

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