Could DLF and Hafeez Contractor be clairvoyant?
Making sense of the duplex balconies at the Magnolias apartments in Gurgaon
If any of you have been to Gurgaon and heard of DLF, you must have heard of the prestigious Aralias, Magnolias, and upcoming Camellias complexes on Golf Course road. Overlooking the lush green golf course and Aravali range, these seem like a truly luxurious getaway separate from the rest of Gurgaon. It is uncanny that such rich flora and fauna, as you see here, would be amidst the concrete jungle of corporate Gurgaon.
As beautifully designed and landscaped as these buildings are, there is one design element that has always confounded me - the balcony of the DLF Magnolias duplex. If you have ever had a chance to visit a friend or family member, or even live here, you must have noticed the odd structure of smaller room balconies overlooking the grand main balcony in each duplex. With such an overall beautiful design aesthetic, I could never understand why anyone would want a view of another balcony from their balcony??! This made absolutely no sense to me, and I was certain that none of the residents would ever use it.
Until now.
Could the builder, DLF and the architect, Hafeez contractor have predicted the onset of a pandemic? Could they have known that social distancing would be the norm a couple of years down the line?
For people with symptoms of illness or a family just taking precautions, this is the ideal set-up to maintain a physical distance and yet not be socially and mentally isolated. The two members living in the master bedroom and other bedroom overlooking the main balcony could easily step out into their individual room balconies, while two other members could sit on opposite sides of the main balcony. They could chat, have a cup of tea, or even have a meal together, while still being at a safe distance.
While my parents and sister have been going to work physically, I have been working from home for over a year. There have been Covid-19 scares with the people that they have met and we, as a family, have decided to take precautions and isolate in different corners of the house to proactively protect each other.
But I miss seeing them and hanging out with them, especially my sister. This is why I am now fondly thinking of the Magnolias balcony setup. This obviously small piece of odd design can be easily overlooked and ignored in the overall grandeur of these apartments, but it is something I could never really get over.
What an ideal way to be precautious and still spend time with your loved ones!
