By MAK KUM SHI
IJM Land nurtures communities and ensures harmonious co-existence between nature and society.
Pantai Sentral Park.
DEVELOPERS are builders of the nation. IJM Land goes beyond this by being responsible to stakeholders, communities and the environment with the intention of building legacies for future generations.
According to IJM Land managing director Edward Chong, the spaces that they design and build are not limited by the structures upon which they stand, but are liberated by the purpose of what they mean.
Their push towards constant revolutions in environmentally sound property development projects reflects their commitment to eco-innovation in building design and sustainable integration.
Rather than an add-on, the purpose of benefiting their residents and communities is reflected in their innovation and creativity that is evident across all their developments and properties.
They are guided by the principle that the perfect living space does not solely consist of architecture and surrounding landscape within its walls, but rather, it thrives on the liveability and sustainability within an ecosystem that extends to all aspects and touchpoints within the immediate community.
Where commercially feasible for their developments, features that offer better air quality, reduces carbon emissions, provides lush greenery and landscaping, and investments in equipment that reduce consumption of energy and water have been incorporated.
This comes in the form of township value creation, community development and support, access and connectivity provision, capacity enhancement, rain harvesting, renewable energy, waterways protection and rehabilitation, landscaping, waste recycling and others.
He added, “As a responsible developer, we aspire to go beyond architectural excellence and the bounds of conventional thinking to create sanctuaries of comfortable and holistic living environments that are mindful of the lives and lifestyles of the communities we serve.”
Nurturing communities
Value creation to buyers does not end with the completion and handing over of units with vacant possession. It continues with sensitive and continuous enhancements to neighbourhoods and townships to provide a better living experience.
“It is by our nature that we foster close-knit communities in our properties. After all, homeowners are at the heart of all that we do,” he said.
Their neighbourhoods and townships emphasise a healthy, conducive and safe community living environment, with amenities such as parks, recreational areas, jogging tracks and bicycle lanes within developments being focal points.
Much attention has been devoted to creating user-friendly facilities and promoting green and outdoor living for communities.
With housing as one of the largest commitments in the lives of most Malaysians, IJM Land is compelled to act responsibly by delivering on their promises on time and every time.
“The work at IJM Land is driven by the values that we have and principles that we practise, where the customer is always at the heart of our business.
“We take pride in building properties for families, businesses and communities that resonate with them. It is a privilege for us to engage with them and an honour to gain their trust. We see our properties as destinations for our residents rather than shells, and we are here to help them on their journey.
“We do this as we believe that it benefits the livelihood and well-being of our communities. Our commitment in creating a harmonious and liveable community can be seen in some of our townships like Seremban 2, S2 Heights, Bandar Rimbayu and Shah Alam 2, where we make continuous efforts to improve and maintain existing infrastructure and amenities in the townships,” he said.
Chong cited Seremban 2 as a thriving community where lives and relationships blossom. This is a fully integrated and sustainable township held up by great people and cultures with strong community ties and respect for the environment.
Seremban 2 was launched 21 years ago, and the developer has continued to stay invested in the neighbourhood and community. In order to help residents to build a stronger emotional connection to the township, the developer has been making subtle tweaks to the Seremban 2 township through the decades.
The developer’s biggest innovation and creative solutions occur in planning, problem solving and green initiatives that benefit the community and creating opportunities for homeowners and families to celebrate the joy of life.
They had introduced a number of community and environmental-friendly initiatives to serve their township. This included dedicating large parcels of land to open areas and parks that serve as the township’s green lungs, fitting eco-friendly applications and equipment into homes, composting vegetation waste and harvesting rainwater.
A wide range of essential, retail, commercial and recreational amenities has also been introduced to the township over several years.
Seremban 2 has met its goal of becoming the township that would change the landscape of Seremban. It has been the catalyst in uplifting the Seremban address and has become a benchmark for future development, not only for the vicinity, but also for prime locations throughout the country.
“As we have played a big hand in nurturing this for so long, for us, Seremban 2 is nothing short of a place called home. We are proud to be a part of the Seremban 2 community as it is something that we have continually worked for – to develop a close-knit family where relationships not only blossom but last as well,” he said.
“In customer surveys, we discovered that buyers of the project’s initial launch had in fact returned to purchase new homes for their children. This indicates that there is a sense of belonging here within the Seremban 2 community and it comforts us that we have done something right,” he added.
Symbiosis of nature and society
Built and natural environments can co-exist with one another in a harmonious manner. IJM Land leads by example with exceptional developments such as Bandar Rimbayu, Pantai Sentral Park and The Light Waterfront.
The Light Waterfront is part of a greater development plan conceived especially for the growth of Penang. Dubbed ‘The Jewel in Penang’s Crown’, The Light Waterfront Penang is an iconic and fully integrated seafront eco-friendly property development set on the shores of the eastern coastlines on Penang Island with breathtaking views of the historic Malacca Straits and Penang Bridge.
Designed to complement Penang’s unique cultural identity while amplifying its love for the arts and stimulating eco-centric thinking and living, it fuses visionary architectural concepts with eco-friendly elements, offering a unique, nautical-themed lifestyle.
This development is highly regarded internationally with accolades such as FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2015 (Silver – Master Plan Category), FIABCI Malaysia Property Awards 2014 (Winner – Master Plan Category) and StarProperty.my Awards 2016 (Excellence – The Wow Award).
The Light Linear and The Light Collection series are Penang’s first green homes, having been the first residential development in the state to be awarded with certifications of Green Building Index.
The Light Waterfront Penang is designed to help reduce carbon trails and decelerate global climate change by adopting green measures and installing green technology items in every unit, as well as in the vicinity.
The most unique feature within The Light residential development is the self-sustaining marine ecosystem in the form of the salt waterways. The waterways weaves around and interconnects the cluster of buildings, teeming with corals and fish.
Besides creating awareness of a coral reef’s natural habitat, the waterways would also serve to reduce the ‘heat island’ effect and cool the surrounding area, as well as act as both a conservation and education tool for future generations.
The Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre supports this effort, and there are collaborative efforts in the pipeline for future marine life breeding and rehabilitation programmes. This feature has earned IJM Land a place in The Malaysia Book of Records 2015 for the first marine ecosystem in a residential precinct.
The development is also Penang’s first residential development to install wind turbines. Penang’s tropical climate and constant sea breezes are used as sources for wind turbines and solar panels to produce electricity for the clubhouse compound.
Bandar Rimbayu is another example of a sustainable township development, inspired by nostalgia for a time when life was simple and people lived close to nature, in a safe and supportive neighbourhood.
Bandar Rimbayu’s identity as a green township is expressed by sustainable use of natural resources and environmental consciousness. The entire development is lush with greenery and water features, and this has a profound effect of cooling the ambient heat of the development as a whole.
The Arc is an iconic landmark in the property development landscape that serves as a social hub and sustainable centrepiece, drawing in members of the community into 10,000 sq m of elevated green deck, a football field, herb and flower garden, green walls with over 50,000 trees, a scenic creek and board walk, as well as the future Bandar Rimbayu club house.
“Our dream of building Bandar Rimbayu was to create a fully integrated and connected community set amidst and at home with nature. We fully appreciate that integrated and holistic living environments need first to offer convenience to the people within its ecosystem,” he said.
“Residents also won’t need to travel far as it will have the advantage of connecting to a full suite of services on the development itself. This will allow residents time to dedicate themselves to more important things like family, work, study and health. It helps to reduce the community’s carbon footprint as people would not need to travel far to get the services they require,” he added.
Touting Pantai Sentral Park as Kuala Lumpur’s one and only urban forest city, its eco-innovation proposition of modern-day conveniences with nature-inspired living has attracted keen interest from homebuyers and investors alike.
Set against the stunning backdrop of a 200-acre forest in Bukit Kerinchi, the township is designed to integrate residential, commercial and recreational touchpoints with the serenity of nature.
The natural landscape, green canopies and predominantly north-south orientation of the infrastructure avoids heat gain. The development employs a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater for reuse in irrigation and landscaping.
Homeowners can enjoy the outdoors with direct access to a number of gardens, parks, a lake on the property, hiking trails, flora education parks and natural streams.
“Here at Pantai Sentral Park, one can truly step out from their doorstep and straight into the adventures of the outdoors, something no other property development in the Klang Valley can offer,” he commented.
Serving stakeholders
As a developer with a strong legacy, IJM Land is driven with the aspiration to provide a truly unique lifestyle experience for its customers, connecting them to nature and each other, balancing exclusivity and inclusivity seamlessly and nurturing a strong sense of community and family within a safe and secure environment.
“At the very core, we are a service-centric company with a culture that places great emphasis on delivering the needs of others and exceeding stakeholder expectations. This is our premier priority, key differentiator and competitive advantage.
“Acting upon this in all corners of our organisation, it touches all interactions with personnel, partners, customers and the community. It is with this focus on service excellence that we create positive legacies and bring life to ordinary spaces.
“With each development, we build on our reputation as the developer for the people. Within our local community, we aim to support various meaningful causes for children, youth, the less privileged, education, sports and the arts,” Chong concluded.
*For Chinese articles, download Property Trends at Google Play/iTunes, or subscribe to WeChat.
**Subscribe to StarProperty.my on Facebook for the latest updates.
***Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.
