4.2. Community Living And Its Importance

Community can be defined in many ways, but when simplified and emphasized to the most important aspect, it is all about connection. Community is not only about a group of people, it’s a feeling of connection with others. It about feeling accepted and feeling supported. Having such connections can help boosting the mental well-being, and prevent from falling into the trap of loneliness. Community provides many aspects which are critical for mental well-being, for example (Sourced from National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI)

Belonging

The community provides a sense of belongingness, a group one feels a part of. A person is accepted as himself/herself and appreciated for his/her unique qualities.

Support

Knowing there are people who extend support, help and feel cared, is a satisfactory feeling which is very important for a human mental well-being.

Purpose

Having purpose, and helping others, gives meaning to life. In a community, people fill different roles. A role of a neighbour, who comes over for with a hot meal when you are alone, a friend who provides emotional support through the struggles of life.

The new part is that people with whom they are sharing homes and lives are not just their spouses or partners. Instead of limited their households to children, parent and grandparents, plenty of people are going a step further, making homes with friends and even strangers. Co-housing, in which a large community lives together and share duties and responsibilities is gaining importance. Apart from this, with walk-work concept gaining prominence in the densely population cities of India,

Integrated Townships are becoming a hit with home buyers.

WALK. to

LIVE. WORK. PLAY. Concept. of Integreated Township

Fig. 22: Integrated Township Concept Source: Author

INTEGRATED TOWNSHIPS:

A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH DEVELOPERS AND BUYERS

Property decisions are no longer now based on just the size, rather increasingly factors like security, convenience, amenities and maintenance are gaining. This is where the Integrated Townships are playing the crucial role.

There is a sense of well-being and security when one lives in a community of like-minded

individuals as against a standalone project. Most promoters and developers are today seeing a great demand for higher standards of living with a promise of safety of families. These integrated townships offer community living amongst the residents who are able to avail the recreational amenities together more frequently. Integrated townships are town within a town. These townships are planned and created to be selfsustaining for day to day living. The concept of Live-Work-Play is designed and planned in a manner so that one can walk from home to all essential services, including grocery stores, medical facilities, schools and workplaces. Apart from looking at essential services, the township is also built, catering to the need of all age groups and their convenience, starting from entertainment, malls, sports facilities to open spaces like parks, jogging tracks etc.. The renowned developers, for example Lodha Groups, Raheja Groups etc.. are investing in such integrated township which offers no compromise on lifestyles. These amenities become a unique selling point for them to attract buyers. Amenities are offered under the title of ‘Green Features,’ ‘Social Infrastructure’, and upcoming ‘Smart City Concepts.’