By VIKNESH ASHLEY vikneshashley@thestar.com.my
Sime Darby Property’s thriving Shah Alam offering creates the setting for living large.
UNFOLDING inside mature Shah Alam is the City of Elmina (CoE), one of the first wellness-themed developments in Malaysia that embrace the concept of a holistic "livable city". The entire Township holds a gross development value (GDV) of RM27bil.
The City of Elmina focuses on forming a township with eight distinct elements of wellness which is seen across its land. These facets of wellness include community, environmental, intellectual, family, occupational, physical, emotional and spiritual.
The development threads closely to the theme of wellness and livability in a 300-acre regional parkland, which is fundamentally an extension to a 2,700-acre forest reserve. This 300-acre parkland will be the foundation of other amenities and facilities in the township, including a dedicated 90km cycling and jogging track. Additionally, the City of Elmina will feature a wellness cluster.
Aerial view of Elmina valley central park.
Thorough Application of Wellness
Inside each private offering, the occupants would notice that home layouts refocus on the kitchen poised as the heart of each household, promoting a family-oriented lifestyle.
Looking over to commercial parcels, one would see the subtle promotion of social inclusiveness, creating "active streets" to enhance social wellness through a vibrant, safe and fun community, while the industrial component embraces sustainability and facilitates environmental wellness.
The City of Elmina replants endangered, rare and threatened forest tree species throughout the township and also incorporates mixed density, walkable and safe neighbourhoods, ultimately reducing the need to drive, which translates to the conservation of resources and a lower environmental impact that promotes a healthy lifestyle.
The township is also designed based on the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) where priority is given to residents regarding quality spaces that are safe, comfortable, pleasing to the eye while keeping the community united in the community gardens, large central park and ample in-phase linear parks.
EV3 Type C Corner.
Living Large
The homes offered are award-winning and have, as of now, been awarded four awards. These include the Excellence Awards in a Professional Category – Landscape Analysis & Study Awards for Elmina East Landscape Masterplan at the ILAM MLAA 2017, StarProperty.my Awards 2017 Five Elements Excellence Award, PAM Award Silver for Phase J15 2017 and the Best Housing Development (Central Malaysia) SEAPA for Clusia 2016.
The township rests on a large freehold land parcel of 5,000 acres and divided into four estates dubbed Elmina East, Elmina West, Denai Alam and Bukit Subang that are sized at 1,088 acres, 2,662 acres, 1,000 acres and 250 acres respectively.
The developer has launched 9,857 units of residences in City of Elmina to-date. The fully completed township will offer up to 36,000 units of homes at its target completion date in 2042.
The homes are inspired by the spirit of plantation, visible through the combination of modern and traditional design elements such as pitched roofing,
deep overhangs, fair-faced bricks, and vent blocks.
As one walks into a typical home at the City of Elmina, they would notice the application of open plan living layouts, ergonomic spaces to maximise safety, comfort and privacy, wide windows which maximise natural ventilation and light, as well as a resident friendly home designed to meet the needs of multi-generational families.
Most homes in the City of Elmina will have access to dedicated community gardens, back-lane herb gardens and planter boxes, encouraging residents to grow their own fresh vegetables and lead a healthier lifestyle.
The selection of sustainable building materials such as stone wool and automated aerated concrete blocks aims to achieve better thermal comfort and improve energy efficiency. The township will soon be launching a new precinct in Elmina West called Elmina Green, and a new phase called Ferrea in the matured Denai Alam neighbourhood.
Elmina Green Phase 1 is offering 20' x 70' linked homes with built-ups from 1,856 sq ft.
Meanwhile, Ferrea in Denai Alam will offer linked homes with larger lot sizes of 22' x 70' and 22' x 75' with built ups from 2,212 sq ft. The current offerings at the City of Elmina include Viana 30' x 97' superlink homes and Elmina Valley Phase 3 comprising 24' x 75' courtyard linked homes.
The spacious Viana Type C unit.
Ease of Amenities and Connectivity
For parents looking for schools to enrol their children, the City of Elmina is within proximity of several schools including the Help International School, U4, Shah Alam, Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Jelutong, Greenview Islamic School Bukit Jelutong, as well as Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Subang Bestari.
As for retail conveniences, residents of the City of Elmina can look to the Star Avenue in Shah Alam, Sunway Giza in Kota Damansara and Aeon and Giant Shah Alam.
The township enjoys connectivity to and from the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar), North-South Highway (Plus) and the upcoming Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash).
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