A pool with a view for IHC culture vultures

NEW DELHI, May 12: And you thought India Habitat Centre was for the culture vultures, what with its endless round of theatre, food, semin...

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NEW DELHI, May 12: And you thought India Habitat Centre was for the culture vultures, what with its endless round of theatre, food, seminars, book launches and children’s festivals. The IHC recently opened one of its rooms with a view for its resident fitness freaks.

The centre now boasts of the only fifth-floor swimming pool in the city. Christened Lite Zone, with a Mediterranean theme, it is restricted to just 1,000 members. This terrace pool was opened on April 30.

Designed by architect Mohit Gujral, the 60×30 (1,800) square-feet pool has been done up in aqua-marine. It has been set against a backdrop of bright blue mosaic in chips, depicting fish, octopus and other sea creatures in white. There is also a pool deck and an adjoining salad bar. The pool cafe goes by the name `Lite House’ and serves low-calorie Californian cuisine — which is a mixture of Spanish and Mexican and lots of sea-food.

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But the Lite Zone boasts of much more than just a swimming pool. There is also a gymnasium and a spa. “What the Lite Zone has to offer to its members is complete fitness. Something for the mind as well as the body,” says Dr Neeru Dhingra, manager of the Lite Zone. And that set of fitness activities include yoga, aerobics, jazz-exercise, marshal rhythm, slow body dance, tai-chi, tai-kwando and so on. “We have one of the most comprehensive gyms in the city,” says Dhingra, who was a practising doctor and gynecologist at Batra Hospital before she went to work for a fitness centre in New Friends Colony.

And the floor below, at the fourth level is the spa, which comes fully-equipped with a steam-sauna, Jacuzzi, massage rooms and showers. And to give the entire concept a very IHC-touch, there is to be a merchandise counter which will sell Benetton sunglasses; track suits, T-shirts, mugs and other knick-knacks with Lite-Zone logos. Elaborating the complete-fitness mantra, Dhingra says that the Lite Zone will be completely health-oriented and medically-supervised. “We will maintain a health record of members. This record would comprise a measurement chart, a diet chart (including a pre-diet form) and exercise recommendations. “There will be ongoing-consultancy, which will guide the members towards complete fitness — be it weight-loss, gain or just to keep fit,” says Dhingra.

Though the IHC has a membership of around 7,000, the membership for the Lite Zone has been restricted to 1,000 members the selection of whom has been strictly on a first-come-first-serve basis. And to control the rush at peak hours, the IHC has incorporated a nominal usage fee for peak hours and put in even time limitations. The annual membership fee for the fitness centre is Rs 8,000 per annum (for single/dynamic membership) and Rs 14,000 per annum (for a couple) and is strictly reserved for IHC members.