Yoo by Starck to Design $400M Condo Project in India

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorPune, INDIA–Yoo by Starck, a global design-focused real estate development company, is entering the Indian market with a $400 million condominium project spread over 21 acres in Pune, a city situated few hours from Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra.Though Yoo is not releasing any information regarding the project in the U.S, the company held a press conference in Pune last week where it revealed plans for Yoo Pune, a 400-unit project to be designed by architect and designer John Hitchcox and built in collaboration with Pune-based developer, Panchshil Realty.Yoo Pune will feature condos ranging from 600 to 9,000 sq. ft that are priced upwards of $1.25 million.“India and China are probably the biggest real estate markets in the world now. Branded homes are fairly unknown in India but Yoo by Starck finds India an attractive country to design and develop real estate projects in,” Hitchcox told Business Standard, an Indian business daily.The two companies are in talks with Marriott and Oakwood for housekeeping facilities for the Yoo condos.Design on the project will be completed by October, when it will also be launched along with detailed plans. It is expected to be complete over the next three years.