Arun M.N. on building the next decade: community design, buyer aspirations and high-rise urban living

What happened: CasaGrand’s founder links gated housing design to community life and buyer expectations

CasaGrand’s founder and managing director argued that residential development in India is shifting from smaller standalone communities to larger gated developments that are designed for social interaction. He said developers are recreating a village-like layout inside a single gated community so residents can maintain a “whole village” feeling rather than living in isolated units.

He emphasized design for everyday interaction. The founder described common corridors, shared spaces, and seating areas as deliberate planning elements. He added that these shared areas should be designed to support resident interaction through events and festivals.

He also highlighted balcony design as part of daily living. The founder described balconies as more than places to step out, arguing that balconies can be designed to accommodate daily routines and small furniture, such as a coffee table.

On demand, the founder stated that India has a large number of first-time homebuyers and that this trend is expected to continue. He described home buying as emotionally driven, and described modern buyers as having higher expectations shaped by international amenities, specifications, comfort, lifestyle, status, and pride.

On city differences, he said buyer behaviour and culture vary across Indian cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru. He suggested business growth through expansion to larger cities and adding new verticals, including warehousing.