Extensive travel, exposure to social media and an increasing spending power have opened the minds of people in tier -2 cities to new ideas and a stylish way of living. Today their worldview is informed by international trends and innovations. All of this has refined their sensibilities in accordance with universal standards. Similarly, the gap between metros and smaller cities has been fast bridging over the past decades.
In this context, the kind of projects that have been gaining favour among people in small cities are farmhouses and outhouses. Since small towns too are now faced with a fast-paced life, people are going for farmhouses and outhouses in the outskirts looking for a relaxed weekend or holiday. They offer a vacation in the middle of nature. Apart from personal use, they have started using these outhouses for commercial purposes as well, either by renting them out to vacationers, or for weddings and other events.
There was a time when people in India, whether metros or smaller towns, used to mimic what they had seen on their travel or on social media. Most of the inspiration for interiors came from these windows they had to the outside world. Not any more. People are now past that stage. They now think it out whether something that they like is viable for our environment or context or way of living.
Today people’s perspective about design, functionality and comfort has changed. With the ongoing pandemic, there is more inclination towards design that respects Nature.
So instead of blindly replicating what they admire, they now apply their knowledge and worldview to adapt international trends to Indian context.
There is also a lot of awareness about the need for an eco-friendly lifestyle, so their decisions are informed by sustainable means and practices. There is a good understanding about the importance of sustainable building and construction methods, and about using renewable materials. They are willing to try them out. For farmhouses and outhouses, these practices are considered viable. Â
More importantly, people in tier 2 cities are now open to sustainable ideas / options offered by designers. They are ready to go for a design that is in consonance with the context rather than just replicate a fancy design that has caught their mind. They see the significance of using locally available materials and resources to control climatic effects. A design plan that includes naturally available light and ventilation, thus depends less on artificial resources, is now considered a smart choice.
So with sensitivity and respect for natural resources, and an aspiration for design that fits the context, the customer in tier 2 cities has definitely come of age. And it shows in the choices he makes.