Chennai's New Look: How Tall Buildings Are Changing the City
Chennai, once known for its quiet homes and open spaces, is changing. With more people moving in and land becoming scarce, the city is growing taller. High-rise buildings are now a common sight, especially in places like OMR, Velachery, and Pallavaram. New residential projects, such as Prestige Pallavaram Gardens along the Pallavaram-Thuraipakkam Road, show how modern living is reshaping the city.
If you visit areas like Mylapore or Triplicane, you'll still see old-style houses with courtyards and pillars. These homes tell the story of Chennai's rich past. But if you go to fast-developing areas like Perungudi or Sholinganallur, you'll find glass buildings and tall apartment complexes.
This shift from single-story homes to high-rises didn't happen overnight. As the population grew, there was less space to build new houses in the city center. Developers began building upwards to make room for more families. Today, most of the new construction is happening in southern and western Chennai.
There are two main reasons why tall buildings are becoming popular in Chennai:
- Land is limited and expensive.
- In central areas, it's hard to find large open plots. Even if land is available, the cost is very high. To use space better, developers started building apartments that go up, not out.
- The government changed FSI rules.
- FSI (Floor Space Index) tells builders how many floors they can build. When the government relaxed these rules, it became easier to build taller structures.
As a result, neighborhoods like OMR, Velachery, Thoraipakkam, and Pallavaram started seeing more high-rises. Projects like Prestige Pallavaram Gardens are taking advantage of this shift, offering modern homes with good access to schools, hospitals, and offices.
Homes in tall buildings come with many features that people like today. These include:
- Lifts and power backup
- Security guards and CCTV
- Clean water supply
- Parking and green areas
- Gyms, play zones, and clubhouses
These features offer a better quality of life, especially for young families and working professionals. High-rise apartments also give good views and better ventilation. This makes them more attractive than small, independent homes with fewer services.
The rise of Chennai's IT industry has also changed how and where people live. More jobs in IT parks mean more people want to live nearby. Places like Sholinganallur, Perumbakkam, and Pallikaranai are now full of IT workers looking for modern homes.
That's why developers are building more apartments in these areas. The demand is high, and people want homes close to work, with all the comforts they need. This trend is also seen in Pallavaram, where Prestige Pallavaram Gardens is meeting the needs of people who want both comfort and location.
Even though buildings are getting taller, some developers try to keep the city's traditional style alive. In many new apartments, you might find features like:
- Courtyards
- Arched windows
- Red terracotta tiles
- Granite and stone finishes
These touches help residents feel a connection to Chennai's past, even in a modern setting. While these features are more common in luxury projects, they show how the city's culture is being respected in new ways.
Because land is limited and FSI rules allow taller buildings, developers are building vertically to use space better.
It's a long-term plan to make Chennai carbon neutral by 2050 and better prepared for floods and heatwaves.
Yes. Some builders include features like courtyards, arches, and local tiles to keep the city's culture alive.
They offer good amenities, security, fresh air, better views, and are often closer to workplaces and schools.
The growth of IT jobs has increased demand for homes near tech hubs, especially in South Chennai and along OMR.
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