SPACE has become a much-sought-after feature in many developments because of its scarcity in high-density areas.

GuocoLand understands this and is addressing housebuyers’ need for space through its first project in Cheras.

Emerald Hills, which will sit on 19.14ha of freehold land on the highest point of Alam Damai, consists of four blocks of condominiums and 181 terrace houses.

The project sets itself apart with a 8.50ha of open space that offers residents avenues for leisure activities and family time.

Kong showing a model of Lakefront Condominiums at the Emerald Hills sales gallery in Alam Damai, Cheras.

“I am sure many buyers in Cheras today are looking for a nice and comfortable home without having to worry about security and safety.

“They are living a hectic city lifestyle, so they would want a place that’s serene and with lots of open space as allows them to unwind to the sounds of birds chirping,” he said.

He added that they did not just want to compete with other property players out there, but also to make a difference with this residential development.

“We differentiate ourselves in how we design a place that homeowners will be proud to call their own.

“This is a low-density development because we focus on space. Instead of having many blocks of condominium, we decided to mix both low and high-rise buildings to reduce density,” he revealed.

The heart of Emerald Hills, according to Kong, is the 0.93ha lake, transformed from a retention pond into a positive feature of the development.

“As the lake takes centre stage, it has to be well-designed and well-maintained,” he added.

Aside from the lush greenery, the Central Park has a barbecue pavilion, jogging and bicycle path as well as a clubhouse and an infinity swimming pool overlooking the lake.

Look past the lake and there is a view of the Cheras skyline, which Kong calls “million dollar view”.

“It is all about placemaking and the promoting of healthy living. These facilities will be a communal space for residents to congregate as we want to create community living and promote camaraderie among them.

“When you design infrastructure as such, naturally you are encouraging people to use it. They can look forward to coming home after a long day to unwind and rejuvenate.

The back lanes of the terrace houses, called Garden Terraces, will be turned into linear gardens so residents can enjoy the beautiful landscape and catch up with neighbours, while each living room will have a view of the garden.

It will also have a fenceless home concept as the development is a gated-and-guarded community.

The double and triple-storey houses have built-up areas starting from 2,600sq ft.

The four-block Lakefront Condo-miniums face the lake so residents can expect a stunning view when they draw their curtains.

There are 1,378 units with built-up areas between 807sq ft and 1,119sq ft and prices starting from RM500,000.

Perched on each rooftop are the Sky Lounge communal spaces for residents to read a book, watch the sunset or mingle.

The development will also employ smart features such as a mobile application for residents to make payments online or book facilities instead of having to go to the management office, or even to pre-register visitors.

“There will also be electric car charging stations,” Kong said.

The gross development value of Emerald Hills is about RM1bil and it is slated for completion in 2021.

This development has access to major highways, with the Sungai Besi–Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway being the most convenient route to Kuala Lumpur.

A soft launch will be held at the end of the month for the first two blocks of Lakefront Condominiums at the Emerald Hills sales gallery in Alam Damai, Cheras.

“At the end of the day, anyone can design a house but it’s the creation of space that’s most important,” Kong said.

“We are not selling a house but a home. A lot of thought has been put into space planning to add value to the project.

“For developers, providing good security is a given. But creating a conducive environment is not necessarily a priority as it depends on the availability of land.

“We are fortunate to have the land that allows us to create something meaningful at Emerald Hills,” he added.