Project Details
Project : Lodha Venezia
Builder : Lodha Group
Locality : GD Ambedkar Marg
City : Mumbai
Analysis
Builder & Project Review:
Venezia by Lodha is located at Parel, in Mumbai. It is among the well-known Projects of Lodha Builders Pvt Ltd. The landscape is beautiful with spacious Houses. Lodha Venezia offers 2 BHK and 3 BHK luxury apartments with Jain Temple includes various amenities like Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Kids Play Area, Sports Facility, and much more. A series of 65 storey residence towers, will set new highs in luxury living while pioneering the concept of 'responsible ' luxury. Designed by globally renowned names like Sitectonix.
There have been some issues in the construction of the project since launch and there has been a delay in terms of approvals.
Location:
The location has 2 stories.
Let’s look at the positives:
Great potential, with the current government opening up with eastern corridor this often neglected space is bound to grow. It is technically South Mumbai and has close proximity to BKC and upcoming Wadala business districts. The location is such that it would offer great Views (of the Arabian Sea) from the higher floors. Upcoming Mono, Metro, eastern freeway, eastern express highway, sea link to the new airport. It all works in your favour, when these projects are completed, this zone will be the heartbeat of Mumbai.
Now let’s look at the negatives:
1) It’s surrounded by slums as on date. You would hope the same would go into redevelopment someday, if yes – you would hope it’s not a high rise coming up.
2). You would hope the approach roads are sorted before possession
Master Plan:
The constraint the developers faced here was the fact that the plot size is very small. So to find a differentiator they have worked really tried hard. And came up with a marketing proposition which said:
‘The project is inspired by Venice, the podium is beautifully conceptualized to incorporate the most dramatic water features, from water cascades and bubbling springs to fountains and pools’
Have a look at the master plan, take a look at the space & the number of water bodies. With the overall sizes of water bodies present, we don’t feel that there is sufficient space for gondola rides which has been presented in the communication for the project.
Looking at the positives the other amenities work for me, the swimming pool, gym, the club are nicely tucked in. A 10000 sqft. clubhouse with a business centre and an indoor games area are a welcome addition.
Floor Plan:
Meant to attract buyers, loaded with very good amenities and features but not just there to call it luxury. Why? Well, the apartment could and should have been a little more spacious, but it’s decent enough for a young family to stay. An entry foyer is always welcome, it helps you stack up your shoes. A decent 200 sqft. living with a separate 100 sqft. dining helps. The kitchen comes with a separate storage area which is very functional in nature. The master bed is 140 sqft. could have been bigger. What’s missing in this Lodha design are typical, built in wardrobes, the luxury of space and the decks.
Having said that let me inform you that the brochure on the Lodha website reads that all apartments come with marble flooring, a Poggenpohl kitchen and premium fittings in the 4 fixture bathroom. Amenities unmatched by any competitor at this price point for sure.
The 3 BHK comes in 2 variants.
The guest and kids bedrooms are of manageable size. The master bed is a little better but the wardrobe space which is a common phenomenon in most Lodha flats is missing for sure. The kitchens in both variants are of decent size and come with a large storage space
Now coming to the big difference. The living and dining space in the regular 3 BHK is good almost 350 sqft. and this gets better in the large 3 BHK’s, its more than 400 sqft. It’s large!
Our Opinion
Pros:
1. Amenities, the product is loaded. Future appreciation of the product keeping the location in mind.
2. The architecture (stunning elevation).
Cons:
1. The floor plans could have been more spacious
2. Construction Issues
Final verdict:
I have no doubt once the product is complete it will be an icon. In spite of the fact that I think this is a good investment opportunity considering the location of the project and the amenities provided will be better than most of the competitors, I am afraid I can’t recommend this project to you upfront for whatever has happened to the existing customers. You should also consider the L&T project before investing here.
Project Details
Project : Lodha Aurum Grande
Builder : Lodha group
Locality : Kanjurmarg
City : Mumbai
Analysis
Builder & Project Review:
‘Lodha Aurum’ alias ‘Lodha Aurum Grande’ alias ‘Lodha Celestia’ – 3 Names 1 project; I shall refer the project name as Lodha Aurum for ease of understanding
1. Year of start of construction: 2009
2. Land is clear, a total of 5 acres of land acres being developed ( Lodha owns 10 acres jointly with Jollyboard – 5 acres being used for commercial)
3. 5 towers, 30/34 storeys tall
4. Keys Highlights: AC homes, marble flooring, I-pad controlled homes, e-concierge
5. 1 lac sq.ft. of landscaped green, children’s play area
6. Lifestyle Features – Clubhouse with gym & spa, 3 pools, Jacuzzi , waterfront café
7. Strategic location - Easy connectivity to Eastern & Western suburbs
Connectivity:
Let me start with the location – Located approx. 3 kms from Powai next to Kanjurmarg Railway Station, off JVLR and the Eastern Express Highway, the location of Lodha Aurum is ideal for a residential complex, an unexplored gem of some sought.
Lodha Aurum Grande reviewYou wonder why Kanjurmarg as a destination has had the privilege of not been eaten up by land sharks for so long and having acres of green space. Well, back in the early 80’s Kanjurmarg had earned the reputation of being a burrow for criminals. Naturally Kanjurmarg was not a popular destination with home buyers.
However over a period of time things have changed; you have many prominent developers in the close vicinity who have picked up land here; Lodha, Hiranandani, Raheja and Runwal to name a few. This convenient destination has everything working for it brilliant connectivity with 6 lane roads (a privilege of some sort in Mumbai), rail connectivity at your doorstep, an upcoming 7 star hotel and few mom n pop stores; little social infrastructure development around in terms of a school and some retail outlets and this would be by far the best location in the central suburbs.
What is interesting about the location is that it is a 10 minute drive from Powai (Don’t be surprised if the area is referred as Lower Powai in few days).
Master Plan:
Given the constraints of the plot let me tell you the overall layout is quite good. The open spaces are quite enticing. The distance between the buildings also seems to be good enough for sufficient lighting and ventilation. The project also boasts of some very good amenities which are plotted well in the centre. Everything seems to be ideal except 1. There is a commercial complex right in front of the project and Lodha has tried to pitch the product as a walk to work concept as well, however privacy could be an issue on the lower floors.
Floor Plan:
The overall floor plan is quite efficiently designed. One thing we don’t like here is the dining area right at the entrance. The houses come with sundecks which is a rare thing now in Mumbai at least at these ticket prices. The sizes of bedrooms are a bit small to our liking although the toilet and kitchen sizes are sufficient. Also, privacy is ensured with one common toilet and complete isolation of kitchen from the living room. In all, it is an efficient design albeit with small room sizes.
Our Opinion
Pros:
The location, the overall delivered product
Cons:
1. Its close to the railway station so you might experience some noise issues (Tower C)
2. Size of the bedrooms
Final verdict:
Overall what works for me is the location, the product, the price point which is surely attractive considering the fact that the product is close to completion and similar products in the vicinity are far more expensive. *Ideally suited for service class professionals who lead a busy lifestyle looking for a product with all the luxuries for a lifetime.
