Indigo Properties has been for several months hyping up its new Zen development, promising a Far East-resort feel.
Now Arabian Business can reveal the 350-villa project will include running waterways, meditation zones, 10 semi-hidden parks and dense greenery.
“Once you’re inside, you’re at peace,” director Anand Lakhiani told Arabian Business of the AED1.5 billion ($408m) project.
Lakhiani said while several Dubai developments already were centred around water, the source was usually stagnant and the residences were towers.
Indigo Zen would be a far greater sensory experience.
“We’re looking more at running streams, the sound of water,” he said.
“From towers you can’t get the sound of water, you can’t get the feel of it, but when you’re in the villa, it’s very close to you, or when you’re walking around it, you feel it.
“[And there will be] sunken pavilions where you can put your hand in the water.”
Ten parks and green spaces also will be smaller and more intimate, while meandering paths will replicate real nature – and send walks and runners around “mysterious corners”.
“Every corner and turn you don’t know what you’re going to be expecting,” Lakhiani said.
“We’ve created niches where residents can sit together in a small group, cosy corners, meditation nooks and platforms where you can sit and do yoga.
“You might even get lost – that’s the idea, get lost in nature.”
Lakhiani hopes to launch the project at Cityscape Dubai in September – a few months behind schedule due to a backlog in the approvals process.
The villas will sell for “in the AED5 million ($1.4m) bracket” and Lakhiani expects middle-aged businessmen to be attracted.
“I don’t think we’ve seen any community like this,” he said.
“Other villa [communities in Dubai] have paved roads, a lake here and a park there, or a golf course, so we’re moving into something different. We all love the Far East resort.”
Construction on the 4.5 million square foot development, east of Arabian Ranches, is due to begin early 2015, with construction to be completed in 24 months.
The project is the largest ever undertaken by the company, which last year resurrected 11 projects put on hold during the global financial crisis.
About half of those are due to be completed about the time construction begins on Indigo Zen.
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