GPP ONE – By Green Panther Properties
Perched on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, close to Thol Lake and Bird Sanctuary is a quaintly picturesque and peaceful farmhouse with the most unusual and absorbing name – Shoonya Farm. A name that means nothingness gives a sense of mysticism that one would want to discover more. A short walk on the neatly cobbled pathway around Shoonya Farm reveals a neatly-landscaped plot with a single-storied, solar-roofed glasshouse at its center. Throughout the 1-acre farmhouse are other carefully-crafted indulgences that only a discerning connoisseur of refined taste could partake in.
Shoonya Farm is a natural haven for living beings of varied forms, visited by more than 70 bird species and 50+ species of fauna. The permanent residents in the form of native trees and plants of 40+ varieties thrive here too. Looking at the vivid, dense flora, it almost beggars belief that the plot on which Shoonya Farm stands was a barren land with no trees or animal life, just 6 years ago.
Its journey from a parched land to a thriving, green habitat has been beautifully captured in this short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhwpd6A5ypY
A fine embodiment of luxury, sustainability and nature living, Shoonya Farm stands as an inspiration for Gujarat’s first-ever, limited-edition 100% Solar-powered farmhouse project – GPP ONE by Green Panther Properties, near Ahmedabad.
This landmark project, being built just 35 minutes from the Shilaj Circle, Ahmedabad, aims to offer free electricity and water for life with its scientifically-designed ecosystem that adheres to the IGBC Platinum rating standards.
The brain behind Shoonya Farm and GPP ONE is Mr. Amit Rao – the founder of Green Panther Properties. A tete-a-tete with him reveals more.
What inspired you towards the idea of sustainable and natural living?
The journey of Shoonya Farm and the emergence of Green Panther Properties have been deeply rooted in my love for nature. I have been an avid follower of Sir David Attenborough and have spent my time discovering and learning about the beautiful earth and its beings. I wanted to create a space for my family and myself that exemplified co-existence and nature living. Rapid urbanization has also led to increasing in the pollution of the environment. Water is getting scarce, which is impacting us as well as other beings. 60% of mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles have become extinct in the past 50 years. The wildlife is shrinking day by day. All of these factors pushed me towards the idea of building a community that respects the environment we live in so that it remains habitable for the future.
How does the eco-luxurious villa project GPP ONE intends to change that?
Green Panther is not just a name – in spirit, it’s like a movement that aims to bring back the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity. Through GPP, we want to develop a deeper understanding of nature that it is not for our mindless indulgences, but for us to live in harmony with. A lifestyle in which we’re truly conscious of our surroundings, and where we can acknowledge every aspect of our living. This includes choosing the sustainable source of our energy and water to what we eat and what we discard, and how everything affects or helps our planet. It begins with being completely mindful and taking real actions for the future of our kids and their kids after them. It is about our legacy and what we make of it.
How are you going to be different than other developers talking about sustainability and coexistence?
At GPP ONE, we have allotted the majority of the land out of the 80,000 square yard plot to amenities that will help in building the sustainable infrastructure. 100 kW of clean, green energy will be produced at the project level to power the common facilities. The individual nature villas will be powered by 8 to 16 kW rooftop solar panels. The energy used to fill the 24-meter tall, centralized water storage tank will be powered by solar energy and its supply to the nature villas with gravity.
Similarly, the glasshouse villas are being scientifically developed based on the wind and sun direction, so that the right amount of light gets through without warming up the place as we use Low Emissivity glass. All of this has been planned with experts in toe, without compromising on life’s little, discerning indulgences. All of the amenities that one would truly expect in an Authentic Farmhouse.
Do you feel people are conscious enough to adopt to the change you are about to bring?
People are living precariously with the belief that things will last forever or get better. However, it is not going to be. For starters, we want to attract people who are awakened and truly understand the virtues of sustainability and natural living. This will encourage others and inspire more to follow.
Besides, people are going to faraway places on vacations to experience living in the forest, around nature, enjoying the fresh air, eating chemical-free food from backyard farms and exploring birds and animals in their habitat. After experiencing all of this at Shoonya Farm, I wish to extend that same feeling to more and more people.
GPP ONE may be a start, but we, at Green Panther Properties, hope that more and more companies and institutions come forward and take steps in creating sustainable and nature-friendly projects.
You can learn more about the project Green Panther Properties ONE on their website www.greenpanther.in or call 9388888826.
