Hiranandani Galleria

One of the most popular images from the fantasyland of Hiranandani Gardens is that of Galleria which is set in front of a group of neoclassical residential towers. The 16 mtr high black granite rotary set in front of this shopping mall completes the popular picture. This rather whimsy rhetoric has come to become incredibly popular and its images are strewn across the popular media including Bollywood. The chronicle of Galleria started off as a result of the immense success of the residential development, when the developers were looking to create a sense of community by including shopping precincts in a predominantly residential area. Galleria enjoys a prime location within the Hiranandani Complex and is contained within a low-rise form that is symmetrical along its shorter axis. The typical floor plan comprises rows of shops in variable sizes, on the ground and first floor. The shopping mall is 2-storey tall. However, the blocks on extreme ends of the building are 4 storeys and overlook the terraces below. These corner segments are punctuated with rectangular and semicircular openings and have an open colonnade above. The end blocks have characteristic sloping roofs with brightly rendered tiles. The architect has endeavoured to create a comfortable and leisure shopping experience. The passage walkway or corridors outside the shops are wide, open and airy. The corridors on the first floor of the mall are wide terraces that cover shops underneath them, thereby creating smaller shops on the upper floor. The terraced walkways are arranged in such a way that they face each other, creating an open atrium-like space between them. These terraced walkways and the atrium are shaded under a voluminous cylindrical space frame. The food court in the centre of the composition has proved immensely successful and is yet another activity hub. Its seating area covered with a pitched roof creates a tranquil fun atmosphere.