By The Waters in Ahmedabad by Suryam Developers is an ode to slow living

Water has historically been at the centre of all civilisation. Most major metropolises in the world were initially conceived along river banks. From the ancient Indus Valley to the thriving city of London, these settlements have remained anchored to water despite expansion. It is a human tendency to return to water, in lakes, canals or even pools; in natural and manmade water bodies for respite and comfort. As cities grow manifold, it has become more important than ever for people to find these avenues to pause and to reconnect with water. A new waterfront luxury development on the outskirts of Ahmedabad operates from this point; of slowing down and discovering the quiet luxury of waterside living for its residents.

By The Waters by Suryam Developers is designed with the ‘global citizen’ in mind, worldly yet rooted, a sensibility that is reflected in the design of the development. Conceived by architect Dhaval Makhmalwala (Design Module), in collaboration with SCDA Architects, Singapore, the planning keeps a 60,000 sq m lake at the core of the development. 99 thoughtfully curated villas are planned throughout the site with unabated access to this ‘blue heart’. What differentiates By The Waters from similar developments is exactly this sensibility, the water body is not just a scenic backdrop; it is intended to actively shape the residents’ lives. “Every resident possesses a direct, visceral connection to the water. You don’t ‘view’ the waters here; you live within its reach”, states an official release.

A truly international team came together to deliver the quality imagined for the project, including Netherlands-based Witteveen+Bos, renowned for designing some of the world’s most complex delta works. Their design ensures that the water body at the heart of the development remains self-sustaining and maintained as a living, breathing ecosystem in itself. The waterways are further activated by the presence of light installations and sculptures designed by artists and designers from around the world, thus ensuring a stimulating calm and an association with public art outside your doorstep—a rare avenue for private developments.

The master plan, devised by Design Module, divides the development into six distinct ‘realms’, including ‘The Water’s Edge’, spread over 7,400 sq m as a holistic club area; the ‘Shunya Forest’, an afforested green area covering a major chunk of the site; ‘Barefoot Island’, featuring an observation tower with a viewing dock and a cafeteria; and ‘The Plains’, comprising curated experience zones for residents along with the other amenities onsite. The central water body is itself aptly titled ‘Reflections’. The development further upholds the mental, physical and social health of its residents through an extensive network of walking, cycling and kayaking trails, completing the sixth realm. Together, they seek to merge natural living, recreation and the luxury of both at a single venue.

Apart from the planned 99 villas, the project’s architectural weight is elevated by the clubhouse, which Suryam Developers state to be the project’s soul. Designed by SCDA, the clubhouse is imagined in line with some of the world’s leading exclusive members’ only clubs, boasting soaring scale and finishes. It is drawn to be an embodiment as well as an extension of the project’s ‘Modern Contemporary’ narrative, with SCDA seamlessly carrying the logic of fusing indoor-outdoor thresholds and refined, intimate spaces from the residences here. As the development’s social hub, it is planned to have world-class amenities including banquets, gyms, spas, gourmet restaurants and luxury suites for guests, anchored by the same serenity afforded by waterside living.

This social architecture extends beyond its walls to the Kayak Club—an outdoor pavilion that sits at the water's edge and serves as the estate's most elemental amenity. Where the clubhouse offers retreat and enclosure, the Kayak Club offers the opposite: open sky, the quiet pull of water and a point of departure for the two-kilometre kayak trail that traces the full periphery of the blue heart. Together, the two spaces form a single social spine—one that moves seamlessly from the interior grandeur of the clubhouse to the unhurried freedom of life on the water.

In conversation with STIR on the occasion of the project’s launch in Ahmedabad, Jin Aik Oon, director at SCDA, revealed how they were insistent on researching and picking materials that were rooted in local context and history, yet luxurious to the touch. Furthermore, SCDA’s architectural approach to the project comes from a near reverence for the water at the centre of it all, with considerations like monsoons and local climatic conditions naturally belonging in design discussions.

So while Italian marble composes the floors of the villas with its dramatic textures, it is complemented by light-coloured cladding on the outside, wooden pergolas and carefully devised shading systems animating the sunlight throughout the interiors and ample open spaces to welcome cooling breezes. The interior design and decor, thoughtfully curated by bySalt, bring a series of renowned brand names and designers under a unified design language, bridging prestige and utility. Under this language, Indian motifs in the tapestry and furniture, along with interior layouts uniquely suited to the rituals of an Indian home, are both elevated to an international living standard.

At the launch, Ishan Patel, director at Suryam Developers, expanded on the ethos of the project and its aspirations. With several thoughtful luxury developments around the country, By The Waters emerges as a passion project for the team precisely because of its ambition: to redefine the perception of luxury in India as material and immaterial, as both physical and fluid, something that Patel believes will drive people to make these villas their first homes.

Click on the cover video to view the full conversation featuring Jin Aik Oon and Ishan Patel, along with an exclusive design-led walkthrough of the property.