Dubai-based British architects Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) hands over their latest project, a residential community in northern India.

Garden Bay Lucknow offers a tranquil living community responding to the desire for an inviting, contemplative space, where nature, community and healthy living come together to make a positive contribution to the city. Its timeless design reinvigorates a corner of northern India with a mix of high quality villas set in carefully landscaped grounds.

The new township is the vision of the Shalimar Group and exemplifies the vision and values of the group by engaging with the surrounding green landscape and creating an uplifting and inspiring environment for residents.

The township, situated on the Sitapur-Hardoi Link Road in Lucknow, is characterised by an imposing entrance with gatehouse surrounded by green box hedges and local trees. The arrival experience is enhanced by selective water features and green covered walkways.

The connective landscape within the township has the primary function of providing recreational and leisure space for residents, which ranges in scale from intimate pocket parks to large open spaces which separate the main blocks of the development. It includes jogging and cycling routes as well as seating areas and BBQ locations along its length within a verdant setting of lawns, plants and trees.

Although contained within a gated community the public park provides abundant facilities and open spaces for residents and guests and includes jogging and cycling routes as well as seating areas and BBQ locations along its length within a verdant setting of lawns, plants and trees.

There are 600 villas in total with four different typologies. They are spacious and well planned with natural light and ventilation. The villas have been designed as a community living space with a deliberate lack of boundaries to encourage social interaction yet still maintain a degree of privacy.

Facilities include a clubhouse and dedicated community retail space with a fully-equipped gymnasium as well as a wide array of recreation activities.

Sustainability is key within the township and a number of energy efficient initiatives have been implemented including the design of the soft scape to help reduce the urban heat island effect and a water harvesting pond network to recharge the ground water

“With this project we wanted to create a lush green community that combines a clean and healthy lifestyle with an appealing range of homes. The scale and grain of this new urban plan regenerates the site in the heart of Lucknow through a combination of villas, apartments and leisure facilities which have been designed to blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings,” said Avinash Kumar, associate partner at Godwin Austen Johnson.