Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020

The first thing we notice when we enter the grounds of UOA Group’s The Goodwood Residence, where its sales gallery is located, is the lush greenery and completed facilities even though the development is only about 30% completed.

“It was our intent to make sure that the landscape and facilities were completed ahead of time. It is also unusual to have the sales gallery on the actual site — we did this to enable prospective buyers to see what they are buying and give them confidence. It is also important to start the landscaping early, so that the plants are flourishing by the time the residents move in,” says senior manager of sales and marketing Frankie Choo.

Located in UOA’s 60-acre Bangsar South, the 40-storey development offers 678 units with built-ups of 947 to 2,002 sq ft. The Goodwood Residence has a gross development value (GDV) of RM600 million while the units are priced from RM720 psf. Launched in June, the project currently has a take-up rate of 40%.

Residents will be provided with two to four parking bays, depending on the size of their unit. The maintenance fee will be 35 sen psf and is inclusive of the sinking fund.

Bangsar South has a total GDV in excess of RM10 billion and is about 50% developed.

According to Choo, Bangsar South has been divided into two segments. On one side are the commercial properties such as The Vertical Corporate Towers offices and Komune Living, while on the other are mainly residential developments such as The Park Residences.

Choo: It was our intent to make sure that the landscape and facilities were completed ahead of time … we did this to enable prospective buyers to see what they are buying and give them confidence (Photo by Suhaimi Yusuf/The Edge)

“The Goodwood Residence is a relatively low-density development. We will have two wings — A and B. One wing will have eight units per floor while the other will have nine units per floor.”

Its proximity to lifestyle retail outlets such Nexus, The Sphere and The Village is an added convenience for residents, he says. UOA will also build a link from The Goodwood Residence to the neighbouring Nexus.

“We understand buyers’ concern about the traffic in the area. So, The Goodwood Residence will have two entrances — one from behind Nexus and another from Jalan Pantai Permai that links to the New Pantai Expressway. There will also be a half hourly shuttle service from 8am to 8pm (Monday to Friday) to and from the nearby Universiti LRT (light rail transit) station. The nearest pickup point is the main entrance of Nexus.”

Something for everyone

Greeting us at the entrance to the tower is a family tree and the name of the development, lit on a wall of flowing water. This, combined with the space, greenery and variety of facilities, gives The Goodwood Residence a resort vibe. There is also something different about this particular UOA development.

“Compared to our previous developments, we are targeting a different group of people. What we have here are multi-generational homes, owing to the range of built-ups we have — from 947 sq ft for singles or a small family to 2,002 sq ft with 5+1 bedrooms for the entire extended family of three generations,” says Choo.

He believes that the multi-generational concept is a timely response to meet the increasing demand from family focused end-users looking for larger units.

According to Choo, while such a concept is quite common in Asia, it is less common in Western countries. However, this is now changing with more architects and designers around the world looking to build multi-generational homes, owing to concerns such as a lack of natural and financial resources and the increasing demand for childcare and living assistance for the elderly, he continues.

Among the over 40 facilities are the heated pool and aqua fit (Photo by UOA Group)

“Our facilities too are designed for different age groups. For those in their golden age, we have a hydrotherapy spa, heated pools, a mahjong lounge, an aqua fit for low-impact exercises and others. For children from nine to 16 years old, we have a kids’ splash pool, an adventure zone and a cycling track, which also doubles as a jogging trail for adults, among others.

“Then there are the 30m lap pool, fitness and yoga zones for grown-ups. Of course, there are also facilities for all ages, including a discovery pond, garden pool, community garden and fragrance garden. All in all, we have over 40 different kinds of facilities to cater for all ages,” says Choo. He adds that facilities are important to help encourage bonding between different generations.

UOA takes the concept of “ageing in place” seriously, Choo stresses. “Each unit is designed with the needs and well-being of the elderly in mind. The tiles and flooring materials are all anti-slip; the master bathroom is fitted with sliding doors and there is a bench in the shower area for the elderly to sit on while showering, along with a non-stepped floor for added safety; and the corridors are wide enough for a wheelchair to move through.”

Making it attractive for investors

The Goodwood Residence is also targeted at investors. “Bangsar South has a working population of 30,000 and the location is strategic and accessible, with an LRT station nearby. So, there is demand for rental as well,” says Choo.

The units will come partially furnished with fittings and wardrobes. Choo believes this will make them more attractive to investors. “There will be less things for them to do when they want to rent the unit out. We are also dealing with more mature tenants here — those who have married or have families.”

With the lush landscaping and recreational offerings, Choo says The Goodwood Residence will offer residents nature-inspired, resort living in the city.

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