This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 24, 2025 - November 30, 2025

SPECIAL MENTION | The Valley Residences @ SkySierra | SkyWorld Development Bhd

Passive design and quality are among the pillars of SkyWorld Development Bhd’s (KL:SKYWLD) philosophy, both of which can be seen in The Valley Residences @ SkySierra in Setiawangsa. This has translated into good capital appreciation, earning the developer a special mention in The Edge Malaysia-PEPS Value Creation Excellence Award of The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards 2025.

SkyWorld CEO Lee Chee Seng emphasises that every SkyWorld development is built with longevity and low-cost upkeep in mind.

“The way we design homes is not just about selling a unit — it is about creating a sustainable, comfortable environment that will last 80 to 100 years. Our philosophy is simple: Whatever we build must last. You can’t design something beautiful and then force buyers to repaint or fix it after a few years — that cost comes back to the purchasers,” he says.

“This award reinforces our belief that long-term thinking, not short-term gimmicks, delivers true value to our purchasers. The award is not by chance … It is the result of good location, solid design and reliable maintenance.”

According to top five sub-sale transaction samples submitted by SkyWorld for the award’s evaluation, The Valley Residences achieved capital appreciation ranging from 25.12% to 42.7%.

These units were sold with a hot water system and tank in all bathrooms as well as an electrical meter and distribution box in dual-key studio units.

Based on the submissions, a 937 sq ft unit on Level 19 of Block B changed hands in October 2023 at RM535,000, up RM160,150, or 42.7%, from its first sale and purchase agreement discounted price of RM374,850 in December 2019.

A similar-sized unit on Level 21 in the same block, purchased from the developer at a discounted RM385,410 in December 2019, was sold at RM550,000 in February 2023, showing a gain of RM164,590, or 42.7%.

At the heart of The Valley Residences is a deliberate passive design strategy that enhances comfort while cutting long-term costs. Its three residential towers are angled at 35°, optimised for cross-ventilation as a result of detailed wind tunnel studies.

SkyWorld also carried out sun path and daylight analysis to determine optimal building orientation. That has resulted in a narrow carpark podium structure so that sunlight lights up the entire carpark naturally.

“Our layout is not accidental. We angled the blocks to invite the wind in so that residents can open their windows and enjoy the natural airflow. You can feel the effects on the facility floor. This kind of cross-ventilation makes a big difference; it is welcoming, cooling and sustainable. Air conditioning is not always necessary if your building is well-ventilated and oriented right. We want our purchasers to enjoy that advantage,” he explains.

“We also made the carpark podium shallow and the structure thin so that sunlight can reach the central areas. Residents don’t have to turn lights on in the middle of the day.”

These strategies reduce reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning, lowering maintenance and utility costs while promoting healthier, longer-lasting homes. The maintenance fee at The Valley Residences, inclusive of sinking fund, is 33 sen psf.

Lee observed higher demand for well-ventilated and well-located homes during the pandemic. “All our units [at The Valley Residences] have balconies. People appreciated that during the pandemic, as it gave them space, light and fresh air.”

Located just seven kilometres from the Kuala Lumpur city centre, The Valley Residences, which occupies a 4.66-acre leasehold parcel, is the first phase of the larger 13.6-acre SkySierra mixed-use development. With a gross development value of RM761 million, The Valley Residences offers a total of 1,309 apartments across three towers of 43, 48 and 54 storeys.

The units have built-ups ranging from 800 to 1,318 sq ft and selling prices start from RM580 psf. Facilities are spread across four levels and include swimming pools, an indoor gymnasium, a boxing studio, multipurpose hall, stargazing deck, barbecue lounge, garden lounge, an MMA gym as well as aerobic and yoga studios.

“We launched the first block [Block B] in 2019, before the pandemic. Even during the pandemic, we sold out quickly. We weren’t selling at luxury prices. We kept it affordable, and people saw the value,” Lee says.

Buyers included first-time homeowners and nearby residents who purchased homes for their children so they could live nearby.

The Valley Residences’ mix of thoughtful design, strategic location and affordable pricing drew strong interest from local professionals and families.

The project was fully sold before the handover in July 2023 and enjoys an occupancy rate of 90%. To preserve the residential character and build the community, SkyWorld discourages short-term rentals such as Airbnb at The Valley Residences.

Consequently, the prohibition of short-term rental has been added as a clause in the handbook, which is given out to homeowners during the delivery of vacant possession. The handbook acts like an additional bylaw and has been submitted to the Commissioner of Buildings for endorsement and empowerment.

SkyWorld’s pursuit of quality is reflected in The Valley Residences’ Qlassic (Quality Assessment System in Construction) score of 86%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 74% to 75%, according to Lee. He notes that SkyWorld assesses the quality of its completed buildings using Qlassic, and its portfolio average stands at 81%.

“We don’t cut corners. Quality is designed from the start — not inspected at the end. If you leave everything to the contractors, you are not going to get this result. Contractors look at cost; we look at long-term value,” he stresses.

SkyWorld employs a comprehensive inspection and test plan for each stage of construction to minimise defects and ensure accountability. The SkyWorld Quality Centre showcases the developer’s high construction standards. It also serves as a training and knowledge-sharing hub for staff, consultants and engineers.

“We need to align with the contractors. They need to understand us and to know the benefit of doing [the assessment via Qlassic]. We also need to understand the products. When purchasers know that you understand the product, they will have confidence in you,” he says.

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