Gurugram, Oct. 31 -- When Abhishek Trehan joined his family business in 2005, Gurugram was beginning to emerge as an alternative to Delhi for those seeking a different urban experience. Having grown up in the affluent lifestyle of south Delhi, he saw in the developing city the freedom to create, the space to grow and the opportunity to build something new. More than two decades later, the 43-year-old entrepreneur believes Gurugram has carved out an identity of its own. Its modern infrastructure, shopping malls, thriving food scene and expanding leisure options have transformed it into much more than an extension of the national capital. "I love the infrastructure that Gurugram has developed. The variety of cuisines, restaurants, malls and lifestyle destinations gives the city its own character. You don't have to go to Delhi for anything anymore. There is so much happening here," he says. Born in Delhi, Trehan attended Air Force Bal Bharati School before moving to Patiala for college. He pursued an MBA in Paris before returning to India in 2005. His family's association with Gurugram dates back to the early 1990s, when it invested in land in a region that would later undergo a dramatic urban transformation. For Trehan, real estate is not simply about constructing buildings but designing spaces that enhance people's lives. His interest in design extends beyond his profession. An avid photographer who also enjoys singing and playing tennis, Trehan is drawn to creative pursuits. He even designed a villa in Mayfield Garden, bringing his personal aesthetic sensibilities to a residential project. While he values Gurugram's energy, cosmopolitan outlook and growing range of amenities, Trehan believes the city's next phase of development should place greater emphasis on quality of life. For Trehan, Gurugram's enduring appeal lies in its ability to combine the ambition of a modern business hub with the conveniences of urban living. But its success in the years ahead, he believes, will depend as much on the communities it nurtures as on the buildings it constructs. (Abhishek Trehan is the executive director, Trehan IRIS)....