This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 29, 2021 - April 4, 2021

In Sime Darby Property Bhd’s (SDP) City of Elmina in Shah Alam, Phase 1 of Hevea in the Elmina Gardens precinct has seen a take-up rate of 85% since it was launched on Dec 19 last year. Phase 2 will be launched on April 10. 

“Hevea is named after a type of rubber tree — rubber was a prized commodity during the British colonial era and is currently still a key export material of Malaysia. The project redefines the classics with its colonial architecture and timeless design elements of a plantation home,” says SDP group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican Azmi Merican in an email.

He explains that these homes are designed with an open-plan concept to maximise natural lighting and ventilation, as well as wide windows, thereby integrating outdoor and indoor living. In addition, the homes feature classic black-and-white hues and integrate a green garden into the living space, combining the grandeur of yesteryear with modern comfort and sophistication.

Occupying 24.48 acres, the freehold Hevea has a gross development value of RM204.8 million and comprises two phases. Phase 1 consists of 56 two-storey semi-detached homes and a two-storey bungalow and Phase 2 will have 68 two-storey semidees and a two-storey bungalow. The units will come in 3, 5- or 5+1-bedroom layouts, with built-ups of 2,655 to 4,235 sq ft. Selling prices start at RM1.62 million. The two phases are expected to be completed in March 2023.

The project offers unique double-storey semi-detached homes that accommodate single-storey living facilities. The homes come with two large bedrooms on the ground floor, one of which is the master bedroom. On the first floor are bedrooms that come with ensuites and can be used as a family area or home office. All units will come with FittingPlus+ items, including air-conditioning points and piping, a booster pump, a solar water heater and a rainwater harvesting tank.

According to the developer, the 2,655 sq ft homes, which are limited to only 13 units in Phase 1, are ideal for retirees or a small family of three or four people. The larger 3,130 sq ft, 3,430 sq ft and 4,235 sq ft homes are aimed at bigger families, and some of them will come with a double-volume courtyard that allows in more natural light and ventilation. The two bungalows, at 4,015 and 4,125 sq ft, will feature large living spaces, a master bedroom with a private garden and a dedicated area for a swimming pool.

Residents will have easy access to City of Elmina’s 300-acre Central Park and 90km cycling and jogging track, as well as the nearby 2,700-acre forest reserve.

The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing Movement Control Orders have undoubtedly affected market sentiment. “Nonetheless, SDP’s landed homes in strategically located townships are still sought-after products. The pandemic has made many of us realise the importance of having a sustainable and well-designed home for the family to work and live in comfortably, in a township that enriches their lives,” says Azmir.

With a GDV of RM27 billion, the 6,500-acre City of Elmina comprises residential, commercial and industrial components. The township is easily accessible via the Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway, New Klang Valley Expressway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway and Federal Highway. The Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway, which is under construction, is expected to significantly shorten the journey to Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

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