3. Editorial Team:
KC Chong,
Malathi Pillay,
Dinesh Ranawaka
Design:
MoonShadow
For information on
or for advertising details
please contact:
Malathi Pillay
Senior Communications
Manager, BRDB
malathipillay@brdb.com.my
Dinesh Ranawaka
Communications Executive,
BRDB
dinesh@brdb.com.my
editor’s notecontents
Firstly, thank you all for
the warm welcome the
first issue of has
received. With our second
issue, we hope we continue
to exceed your expectations,
and that you appreciate
the improvements we have
made and the gentle shift
in direction we have taken.
We have recently undertaken
an exercise to refresh our
brand positioning, reflecting
on how we, the customer
and the industry have
evolved. More than building
communities, we are a
company that improves the
way people live and hence
we are now refining our
brand with a focus on three
key pillars: intelligent
design, uplifting aesthetics
and cosmopolitan living.
We feel this refinement is
important because quality
is now viewed and measured
much beyond the tangible
– beyond bricks and mortar;
we have a market that
sees quality as a measure
across all aspects. It covers
the whole range from the
location, the address, the
architects, the product
design, the interiors and
finishing, etc.
2 The Edge Top 10
Property Developers Awards
5 Property News
Architecture Design
8 “V” is for Vibrant!
14 The Blue Danube
20 Green and Grounded
21 Bangsar’s Latest. And Best
22 Eco-landscaping that
Plants a New Vision
32 Got Water?
38 Trending Now: The Social Kitchen
42 Redefining Today’s Kitchen
Travel
24 The Tao of Con Dao
Green Design
30 Green Paths for Buildings
Epicure
45 Table Talk
Our Community
50 Realising the Vision
And it goes beyond that into
the emotional connection
that we build with our
customer base – a sense
of aspiration that comes
with seeking and embracing
new ideas, experiences and
perspectives from across
the world.
The focus of is
to bring this brand belief
to life visually through
editorials and features
that speak to you about the
thoughts and opinions of the
personalities that design
our developments, interiors
and landscaping; noteworthy
trends in the industry, tips
and advice on your home,
green initiatives, buildings
that we admire and some
insights as to what BRDB
is doing now and what’s
coming in the future.
On behalf of BRDB, we wish
you a very Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year.
KC CHONG
Chief Marketing Officer
4. Providing
the Good Life
T
he headquarters
of Bandar Raya
Developments
Bhd (BRDB)
in Bangsar can easily
pass for an art gallery.
A slatted wooden divider
unfurls sinuously across
the offce, whose walls are
also covered with wooden
panels that cleverly hide
built-in cabinets.
The walls and divider
are adorned by large
canvases on loan from
the Aliya and Farouk
Khan Collection, the
nation’s largest collection
of contemporary art.
Last year, the group had
sponsored The Aliya and
Farouk Khan Collection
Book, a staggering 10kg
tome featuring 80 artists
in its 932 pages.
The artworks also
feature prominently
inside the office of CEO
Datuk Jagan Sabapathy.
A stack of photographs of
Morocco lienear his desk,
his favourite being a
stunning black and white
rendering of a library in
Casablanca as well as
a colourful reproduction
of the city’s rooftop
tanneries.
This melding of
form and function with
a touch of “la dolce vita”
— Italian for the good
life — is at the heart of
BRDB’s approach to real
estate. The developer
has consistently featured
Bandar Raya Developments
Jagan: We want to tell
the market that we’re
not just guys who
operate at the very top.
We can give you that
same ethos at a mid-
market price too.
among the Top 10 in
The Edge Top Property
Developers Awards since
its inception in 2003.
It was recently in the
limelight for the proposed
sale of its investment
assets, namely Bangsar
Shopping Centre (BSC),
the adjacent Menara
BRDB, CapSquare Retail
Centre in Kuala Lumpur
and Permas Jusco Mall
in Johor.
While BRDB had
earlier accepted an offer
from major stakeholder
Ambang Sehati Sdn Bhd
for the latter to acquire
the properties in a RM914
million deal, the former,
in a surprise move,
decided to call for an
open tender for its assets
after both parties agreed
to cease negotiations.
Ambang Sehati will also
be invited to bid for these
properties. The tender
will be managed by an
independent property
valuer appointed by
BRDB and further
details of the tender
are expected to be
announced in due course.
“The board’s
intention has always
been to enter into
transactions that would
ultimately improve our
shareholders’ value.
We have always been
fully aware that since
this is a related party
transaction involving a
major shareholder of the
company, it would attract
greater interest and
scrutiny from the public
and have taken great
care to ensure the offer
was properly evaluated
and analysed to ensure
the best possible terms
for the company and
our shareholders,” said
Jagan. Regardless of the
nature of the transaction,
the proceeds from the
sale will enable BRDB
to step up its game —
expect a steadier stream
of launches in the future,
Jagan tells The Edge.
The Edge: What are
BRDB’s strengths? How
do you sustain interest in
your products? How do
they stand out
Datuk Jagan Sabapathy:
As a developer, what do
you do? [In the residential
sector], everybody
does the same thing,
whether it is low-end,
midscale, upscale or
condominiums. And there
is a structural element
to both retail and office
buildings.
But at the end of the
day, our primary objective
is we try to compete on
ideas — we think about
the market, about how
we can deliver something
special that will meet
requirements.
And over the years,
I think we have done that.
If you look at Bangsar
Hill — which I think
2
5. 3
started out as one of the
best gated and guarded
developments — it is still
doing exceptionally well.
We did One
Menerung, a suburban
development that
achieved almost RM1
billion worth of sales,
and The Troika, where
the prices were great
and we won a lot of
architectural awards.
At every level,
we try to raise the bar.
That is good but it is also
extremely challenging.
When we come up with
something new, we are
expected to think hard.
We gain inspiration from
things that we have seen
as well, but we have to
do a lot of market
research and think.
We talk about
intelligent design.It
involves substance, which
means we look at layout,
functionality and the little
details like storage and
light.
Then, there is what
I call the aesthetic or
“wow” factor. A lot of our
projects have the wow
factor.
There’s The Troika
near KLCC, but [also
look at] BSC! When you
sit outside BSC, you go
‘it’s a lovely place to be!’
[thanks to] clever designs,
landscaping and use of
materials.
The third part which
I think keeps us relevant
is our belief that whatever
we deliver is to enhance
people’s lives. Whether it
is a home or an office or a
retail centre, [property is]
part of your life.
And so, in many
ways, I think that we
provide people in various
categories with what
the Italians call la dolce
vita — the good life. And
I think we all aspire to
it — doesn’t matter what
market segment you are.
When you look
at BRDB, what’s the
difference? It’s that [the
good life]. Come to BSC —
the cafés, the restaurants
— it’s a lifestyle. It’s a
badly used word [lifestyle],
but what a lovely way to
indulge yourself. I’d like
to think that if you
[explore] our offices, it
says a little bit about us,
and we’d like to think that
we explore the good life.
How would BRDB
improve as a developer?
Where I think we have not
been as good as I would
like us to be is to have
a continuous pipeline of
projects. Some developers
have been constantly
churning out products,
but we have been a little
more sporadic in putting
them out. Partly because
of the comfort of having
BSC and our other
investment properties,
everybody went, ‘Yeah,
on the basis of that,
everything looks good’,
everybody is happy.
Now, those days have
come to an end. We now
need to be able to ensure
that we have a steady
pipeline of projects over
a certain period of time,
and we’re going to have to
be a lot more disciplined
and focused in keeping
the pipeline going. And
our ability to do that has
been somewhat enhanced
because we have been
able to, in the last 12
to 18 months, have a
better balance of land
to work with.
In the past, we
were very much at the
top end, [but] we now
have a balance of top-end
and mid-end projects.
So while the top-end
[market] will be a little
more difficult, I believe
the middle-end will see
more continuous demand.
What are BRDB’s sales
targets for 2011 and is it
on track to meet them?
Naturally, our targets are
always to sell out all our
projects and in the light of
the response we have had
this year, we are doing
very well. Interest and
take-up rates have been
very encouraging and I
believe we are certainly on
track to meet our targets.
In the Klang Valley,
the first phase of
Verdana was recently
launched. This residential
development, comprising
two condominium
towers in north Kiara,
has enjoyed extremely
encouraging response
with sales surpassing
70% within a month
of launch.
The second phase
will be launched in 2012
and the two phases are
on 11.5 acres of land with
a combined GDV of about
RM1 billion.
In Permas Jaya
Johor, we launched
Phases 1, 2 and 3 of
Straits View Residences
which have achieved
sales of 90% to date.
This landed, gated
and guarded development
comprises six phases
which will be launched
progressively from 2011
to 2013.
Elita, the final
block of The Straits
Condominium, was
also launched in the
middle of this year
and has seen a 60%
take-up rate.
These launches
allowed us to bring more
of the BRDB brand and
its creative, innovative
approach to Johor Baru,
paving the way for future
developments down
south.
Any significant projects
we can look forward to?
Moving forward, BRDB
has residential property
developments worth
roughly RM6 billion in
recognisable GDV over the
next three to five years.
BluWater, a gated
and guarded landed
community development
across from The Mines,
will be launched in four
phases through 2011
and 2013. Spread over
48 acres of waterside
land, this development
has a GDV of about
RM700 million.
Also set to be
launched late at the
end of 2011 is our
masterpiece residential
development in Medang
Serai, Bangsar. Set on
six acres of prime land
in Bukit Bandaraya, this
development is limited
to 121 units and will
set new standards in
luxurious living and
exclusivity and will net
BRDB about RM876
million in GDV.
Another premier
project to look out for
are our luxury residences
in Taman Duta, which
is due for launch in late
2012 with a projected GDV
of over RM900 million.
We have also entered
into a joint venture (JV)
with Multi-Purpose
Holdings Bhd to develop
land in Penang, Mimaland
and Rawang. The Penang
JV comprises 80.9
acres of freehold land
to be developed in the
southeast of Penang
near the airport with a
projected GDV of RM600
million. In Mimaland,
324 acres of land are
to be developed into an
environmentally friendly
community set among
natural water features
with a projected GDV of
RM2.2 billion. In Rawang,
265 acres of land with a
GDV of RM1.4 billion are
going to be developed into
landed residential homes
and a commercial village.
These three joint ventures
will be launched at the
end of 2012.
BRDB’s mixed-use
development on 25.5
acres in Subang will
comprise commercial,
retail and residential
components. It is
scheduled for launch in
2012 with a projected
GDV of about RM2 billion.
In Johor, our thriving
township of Permas
Jaya will be hosting
a number of launches.
The third through sixth
phases of The Straits
View Residences, with a
GDV of RM188 million,
are being launched from
2011 to 2013. Elita, the fi
nal phase of The Straits
View Condominium, was
recently launched with a
GDV of RM89 million and
the launch of 3-storey
shopoffices with a GDV of
RM61 million is planned
for later this year.
In November 2010,
BRDB entered into an
agreement with UEM
Land Bhd, the master
developer of Nusajaya,
Johor, to jointly develop
6. 4
BRDB will launch
luxury homes in
Puteri Harbour,
Nusajaya, down
south next year
Puteri Harbour in
Nusajaya as a prime
waterfront destination
for the region. To be
developed in six phases
over seven years, the
111-acre development is
expected to have a GDV of
about RM2.3 billion with
Phase One scheduled to
commence in 2012.
What are some of the
trends in real estate
development that you
have noticed? How is
BRDB addressing these
trends or consumer
demands
BRDB is working the
mid-end. Just like BMW
was happy to run the 7
Series, I think we need
a decent number of
5 Series and 3 Series
[models]. We are very
much like BMW.
We want to sit down
and tell the market that
we are capable, not just
guys who operate at the
very top. We can give you
that same ethos at a mid-
market price too.
What does BRDB plan
to do with the proceeds
from the disposal of
assets?
With the funds from the
divestment of its property
investment assets, BRDB
will settle its debts,
pay a special dividend
to its shareholders
and use the remaining
as working capital to
fund the acquisition of
new landbank and our
upcoming developments.
There are concerns
about a loss of recurring
income following the
divestment of the group’s
investment properties.
Any comments
Despite accounting
for almost 30% of our
property segment’s
total assets, property
investment has
contributed less than
an average of 5% to
our property segment’s
total revenue and profit
after tax over the past
three years.
The divestment
presents an excellent
opportunity for BRDB
to unlock the value of
its investments, reward
its shareholders and
pare down its current
borrowings by up to
60%, improving its debt
coverage ratio and
placing it in a better
position to take on
further leverage
for future property
developments.
It also enables the
group to rationalise and
streamline its resources
to focus on its more
profi table property
development business.
The divestment of these
mature assets will place
BRDB in good stead to
recycle its capital as
well as take on further
leverage for new projects
and to increase its
landbank.
While we may
lose some revenue and
profits from the property
investment division,
plans are already
underway to mitigate
any losses through its
upcoming projects.
Moving forward,
BRDB has residential
property developments
worth about RM6 billion
in recognisable GDV
over the next three to five
years. Given the planned
projects and its recent
acquisitions of land and
joint ventures, there is
a great amount of positive
activity to drive the brand.
What are some of the
challenges the real
estate industry is facing?
Over the years, we have
learnt that expectations
increase. As people travel
more and see more,
people have developed
expectations and want
to experience this in
their own lives. This is
where the real challenge
for developers is and
we keep pushing the
standards.
There was a time
when you could take
stock-standard solutions
and roll them out. You
cookie-cut, it works,
you carry on. Today,
I don’t think you can
do that anymore.
If you look at the
top developers, in the
past fi ve years, they
have raised the bar. And
I think this is part of what
the market requires but
it is also partly due the
developers’ effort to move
things forward. So I think
all round, Malaysian
developers are doing
a fantastic job competing
on ideas. I think we are
doing a fantastic job.
There is also the
issue of skilled labour —
when we train labourers
to deliver products our
consumers expect, they
end up leaving for better-
paying jobs abroad.
This is something we
will have to solve.
What is the outlook for
real estate considering
both the global and local
economic situations?
We have seen
uncertainties in the
market over the years.
We had Lehman Brothers
in 2008 and 2009. Not
long after that, everything
settled down and life
went on. We are seeing
Europe and America
going through a phase
[that is] may be hugely
self inflicted.
But it is an adjusting
phase and at some point
there will be a solution
to Greece, as there will
be a solution to Europe.
Markets will calm down.
The US will have to adjust
its debt level and it will
find a way through it.
It may muddle
through. You read a lot
of the financial press and
the prognosis is probably
stagflation — low growth,
inflation — in North
America. But the rest
of the world is happily
carrying on.
I feel Asia is still in
a good position. It is the
growth story of the 21st
century. I think Malaysia
is well poised, and in the
short term we are going
to see money through the
system. [It takes
time but] the multipliers
[from the large
infrastructure projects
under the Economic
Transformation
Programme] will be in
effect. If you look at what
happened in the Asian
financial crisis, we had
Putrajaya and [other
projects] that kept us
more than afloat.
You are going to
see wages rise because
it is part of government
policy. So that means
middle-class Malaysia
[professionals] will get
paid better and have
money to buy homes —
better homes.
Well, my gut feeling
is that while there may
be some, what I call,
temporary caution, if a
good product comes up
in a good location and is
fairly priced, it will find
a market.
Courtusy of The Edge Property
7. Verdana, a Success
in North Kiara
Troika Sales
Gallery Open
to the Public
Property News
In July of this year BRDB
launched its suburban resort
style development, Verdana
at North Kiara. Facing stiff
competition from nearby
developments in a similar
price range, Verdana’s value,
promise and future prospects
granted it sales of up to
70% in its first month.
Set apart not only by its
architectural and landscaping
designs, Verdana is BRDB’s
first foray into the mid-range
residential property market.
Targeted at the top of the mid-
range market, the development
was almost immediately
acclaimed as a boon to
Dutamas. Investors are already
speculating that Verdana will be
a catalyst in increasing the value
of its surroundings, testament to
the strength of the BRDB brand
and its success in creating
lasting communities.
The Troika, BRDB’s flagship
residential development in
the KLCC district, has recently
opened a brand new sales
gallery to the public.
Located at the ground floor of
the development, the gallery
epitomises luxury living and is
the perfect venue to appreciate
5
Many purchasers of Verdana are those that are currently residing in the area, looking to move to a
newer and more luxurious home, without moving away from the neighborhood they are familiar with.
There are also those looking for a home easily accessible from major thoroughfares, in close proximity
to all that Mont Kiara has to offer, yet away from the crowds.
We are pleased to say that we have effectively met the needs of our customers as well as the investment
community. Many thanks to the existing and new members of the BRDB community that have helped
us make this project a success.
the architectural concept
of The Troika. Limited units
of this iconic residence are
still available.
The Gallery is open Monday to
Saturday between 10am - 5pm.
For enquiries, please call
+603 21617888.
8. 6
The ABC’s
of The Troika
Menara
Brdb’s
Occupancy
Continues
to Increase
The Necklace of the Troika
is set to play host to a brand
new offering in KL’s FB
landscape. ACME Bar Café
(ABC) will offer patrons an
unpretentious venue and
comforting food.
ABC is set to be the premier
casual dining experience in
KL, serving comfort food with
fantastic desserts. Pairing
simplicity with sophistication,
Menara BRDB, the new headquarters of BRDB, is steadily
increasing its tenancy. In recent months, a number of companies
and organizations have moved into the Grade A Office Tower.
Opened in 2010, Menara BRDB presented a unique offering to the
commercial real estate market; a Premium Grade A office space,
directly linked to an up-market retail centre with convenient
access to shopping, dining, banking and entertainment, at a highly
exclusive address.
A variety of tenants now occupy Menara BRDB which include banks,
specialist clinics, media agencies, private equity fund managers
and sporting authorities, with still more to come.
The recently opened food
court at BSC and a free shuttle
bus service to the LRT and
surrounding neighborhood
complete the picture and
ensure that Menara BRDB
is a comfortable working
environment for all.
For more information
on leasing for Menara
BRDB, Troika or any of
BRDB’s commercial
properties, please contact
Maria at 012 9150095 or
Vincent at 017 6647773.
ABC will be a place where close
friends can share good food,
fine wines and great stories.
The Necklace of the Troika
is just one section of the luxury
high-rise development that is
designated for commercial use.
The Necklace, situated at the
base of the three towers, is one
commercial zone and the other
is on the 24th Floor, at the
Sky Lobby.
9.
10. Architecture
Design
And verdant. and vivscious. well, you get the
picture. Choices abound in this spectacular
new retreat in north kiara.
“V” is for Vibrant!
8
11. 9
The majestic Verdana
sits atop the highest
point in Dutamas
Verdana at North Kiara is a luxury condominium development with a
twist. There are no penthouses per se, but instead the largest units
are found from the 1st to the 6th floors. Traditionally, the larger
units in a condominium are found at the top because they offer the
farthest views and it was thought that the most appealing aspect of
a condominium is its view, so those that are willing to spend on the
largest units deserve the view from the highest point. While in many
instances this is true, Verdana is a little different.
One choice, the crème de la crème of Verdana, are the Garden Villas.
Large, spacious units that offer the convenience and security of
living in a condominium with the privacy and accessibility of residing
in a landed home. With the Garden Villa, you have ease of access in
entering and exiting your home; a large amount of space to live your
life as you choose; and most appealing are the perfect canopy views
of Verdana’s landscaping.
Verdana offers breathtaking
views of the Kuala Lumpur
skyline on one side, and
expanses of undeveloped
greenery on the other. Verdana
also offers smaller units for
empty nesters, or large units for
growing families. The morning
sunshine, or the evening’s
sunset glow? It has both. So
what Verdana offers, are choices:
the mesmerizing lights of the
city, or the distant horizon where
the earth meets sky; the scenic
vistas found above, or the lush
gardens seen below.
9
13. 11
One of the highlights at Verdana
is its immaculate landscaping.
There are verdant greenscapes,
burgeoning trees as well as
truly magnificent waterscapes.
70% of Verdana’s site has been
dedicated to open spaces and
recreation areas. When your
home is on the 5th Floor, every
time you look out your window
you are greeted with stunning
views of tree-tops and the lavish
waterways below. Canopy views
are a rare pleasure that most
people seldom experience.
Verdana’s majestic
entrance lobby,
thoughtfully
designed for you and
your guests.
There is something idyllic about
waking up to the rays of the sun
as they glint through whispering
leaves and the sound of rippling
water. The term “resort” has
often been used when talking
about property developments,
but Verdana truly embodies
this term. When viewing
Verdana’s layout, it is easy to
see why. Almost anywhere you
walk through its 5-acres, your
eyes are sure to rest on water
features and greenery. The sheer
magnitude of the landscaping,
3.4-acres of it to be exact,
distinctly contributes to the
impression that Verdana is on a
lush tropical island, instead of
being just minutes away from
the city.
Adding to the feel of being in a
resort is Verdana’s recreational
variety. It is easy to engage in
leisure as well as a healthy
lifestyle with activities for
everyone. An Olympic-length
swimming pool is available for
swimmers to enjoy; for those
looking for more recreational
time in the water there is a
wading pool and a Jacuzzi.
Budding Federers and Lee
Chong Wei’s can be playing
tennis or badminton within
a short stroll from their
Garden Villa.
You’ll be pleased to know that
Verdana’s homes have been given
just as much thought. Garden
Villa units, with thoughtfully
planned layouts that allow for
versatility and freedom in interior
design, give you the choice as
to how your home looks. And
coming in either 2,400 or 3,000 sq
ft, there are a lot of choices to be
made when filling that space.
14. 12
Interiors have
been spared nothing,
from wood and
porcelain floors
to fitted air-
conditioning units,
there is luxury all
around you
In line with BRDB’s reputation
in developing high-end luxury
condominiums, the fittings
and finishings in Verdana are a
reflection of that brand promise.
Porcelain tiles in the living
areas, timber strip flooring in
the bedrooms and marble in the
bathrooms make for comfortable
and fashionable interiors. Each
room comes fitted with air-
conditioning, kitchens are fully
fitted with branded appliances
and cabinets, all bathrooms are
fitted with hot-water systems
and most bathrooms come
with rain showers and marble
finishes. Well-thought-out
features such as extra large
balconies to reduce heat and
air-conditioning usage, and
storage spaces are all present.
As urban life has changed,
so have lifestyles and living
accommodations. One of the
many decisions that have to be
made by home-buyers is ‘House
or condo?’ ‘Landed privacy or
security and amenities?’. As with
many of your choices in life, it
has to be one or the other. But
choose Verdana, and you can
have both and maybe find out
how life can be a lot greener
close to the ground.
16. 14
The Blue Danube
The Danube Island, located in the Danube River, which cuts through
the centre of Vienna, is a both a quiet and a flamboyant place. While
it is an extensive recreational park during most times of the year,
becoming a green recreation relief for the Viennese residents, part of
it is transformed in the summer into a place of bohemian indulgence.
With beaches, including nudist beaches, in the north and south of
the island, and perpetual growth of bars, restaurants and nightclubs
alongside seaside activities like rollerblading, canoeing and cycling, it
is now given an exotic nickname: ‘Copa Cagrana’, alluding both to the
local district “Kagran” and to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana – not bad
for a once prudish corner of Europe.
Every summer in June, Danube
Island hosts the largest open-
air festival in Europe, attracting
up to three million visitors from
around the world and providing
revenues and free TV publicity to
Vienna. Even Madonna recently
played there to an audience of
57,000. Outside of the festival
musical troupes from around
the world play to impromptu
audiences where many shows
are performed by indigenous
performing artists endeavouring
to preserve dying cultures.
When this artificial island was
conceived in the 1970s with its
main infrastructure completed
in 1988 and still continuously
in vienna, the river immortalised by
johan strauss now waltzes to a more upbeat
groove with the opening of danube island.
17. 15
being upgraded, it was unlikely
that the those behind it could
conceive of all of the positive
impacts the island would have
in the journey toward globalising
the centre of Europe. In
retrospection, the popularity of
use exceeded the expectations
of the designers. It is a lauded
example of interdisciplinary
collaboration between
engineers, designers and
the city government.
An aerial view of
Vienna, Austria, with
the Danube Island
in the middle of the
Danube River
19. Danube Island is the result of
the human will to overcome and
control the natural forces around
it. It was formed out of the
creation of a second waterway
to provide flood relief for the city
during the sudden rise of water
levels, where in the past, the
result was occasional flooding.
Indeed there was severe flooding
of the city in 1897, 1899 and
1954 despite various measures
taken to control floods. Out of
several studies, an enactment
was made in 1970 to create
the flood bypass waterway,
termed as the ‘New Danube’ and
construction began in 1972. The
Danube Island was built out of
materials excavated on site to
create the new waterway. During
flood periods, water would be
regulated by means of weirs.
The inlet weir at the upstream
end of the New Danube and
two weirs at the opposite end
downstream maintain the water
level at the New Danube and the
entire Danube valley in Vienna.
River water is filtered through
the island to the New Danube
to remove fertilizers, which in
turn help trees on the island to
grow. At most times, the water
level at the New Danube is kept
constant, resulting in constantly
calm lake-like quality.
Although the actual length of
the New Danube and Danube
Island is 21.1km, the width of the
island varies from only 70m to
210m. The introduction of three
new subway lines improved the
accessibility of Danube Island
and enabled intense activity like
the annual festival. Moreover,
by regulating the water level,
the banks of the river are made
secure. The now flood-free bank
at the mainland on the opposite,
undeveloped side of the river
enabled major development
17
areas for services and industry
as well as new housing projects.
Since the creation of Danube
Island, the population of the
two districts on the opposite
side of the river has doubled.
Recreational activities around
the area increased exponentially
as a result of the river
rejuvenation and during a sunny
weekend at any time of the year,
recreation seekers top the local
population by up to 300,000.
Man-made Lake in Vienna
Multistory apartment
blocks enclose a
man-made lake on an
island in the Danube,
Vienna, Austria.
20. 18
It is of environmental
significance that by planting
trees and bushes along the river,
a new ecological system had
developed with the emergence
of new microcosms alongside
lush flora and fauna. Away
from the bars, restaurants and
areas of gregariousness, the
parks are actually languid and
idealic, where strollers are
seen alongside wildlife like
ducks on the water and birds in
the air. Occasionally, cyclists,
roller skaters, water skiers and
barbequeing families interrupt
the calm atmosphere. To further
enhance family activities, a
5,000 square meter of water
playground and a climbing
park were recently added to
encourage family usage.
The project is exemplary of
holistic planning. Other than
flood control, the project
involved recreational and
transportation planning as well
as the creation of a Danube
Wetlands National Park. It also
spurred the development of
housing, schools, hospitals,
and a second Central Business
District (CBD) containing the
United nations and new business
space for Vienna, which mainly
account for the economic
viability of the project. The
new twin towers by architect
Dominique Perrault, to be
among Europe’s highest towers,
are still under construction. It is
estimated that the entire Danube
River project cost 600 million
Euro whereas the revenue
generated for the city from the
sale of reclaimed land for the
construction of ¾ million sq.m.
of commercial offices, housing,
research centres, schools etc.
is 2 billion Euro, with additional
continuous revenues from
leasing space for sport, leisure
and restaurant facilities.
21. 19
Being a major tourist draw,
Danube Island and its vicinity
have probably become the
most internationalised part of
the city and have been pointed
to as a metaphor for multi-
culturalism. It points to a place
for twenty-first century Europe
that is inclusive and encourages
intersubjective activities that
include contributions from
elsewhere to enrich a place.
Danube Island is more than just
a physical metaphor of a twenty-
first century world – it is also
a narrative of emerging social
attitude that gazes hopefully
working there. Danube Island is
more than a powerful narrative
of both engineering and design
achievements beyond the
physical structures. It is also
a narrative of new social and
cultural outlooks, where quite
overtly, the closed insular world
is being replaced by an inclusive
open one than is evinced by
human activities amidst an
idealised setting.
for new ideas and perspectives
that broaden local world-views,
one that opens up rather than
closes down. Of course, beyond
its technical and environmental
achievements, the success of
Danube Island is measured by
its economic gains, which at the
prosaic end of the scale is also a
valid achievement.
Urban generation is a continuous
process and living areas of cities
are continually transformed.
Being new, transformation in the
Danube Island comprises of new
construction and the maturing
presence of flora and fauna. It
also provides work for the city’s
designers and architects and
jobs for thousands of employees
22. 20
Green and
Grounded
Plans are being laid for an
enchanting, green, landed
residential development in
Seri Kembangan. Designed as
a waterfront community, this
will be BRDB’s newest landed
development in the Klang Valley.
Although there will be
a communal feel to the
development, each unit is
being designed as a bungalow.
Each unit with its own lift,
pool and welcoming entrance
statement, there is a sense
of grandeur to the units. As a
green development, minds
will be set at ease living so
lavishly; each unit is a green
woodland and will be fitted with
environmentally-friendly fixtures
and will take a conscientious
effort to not only blend with the
environment, but enhance it.
The community will be built
around a scenic lake, and as
a second intiative to bring the
community together, there
will be a clubhouse of epic
proportions.
For more information on
the majestic green homes in
Seri Kembangan and to register
your interest, please call our
Sales Marketing Team at
+603 2283 6060 or email
sales@brdb.com.my.
23. As a neighbourhood, Bangsar is regarded as one of the most
attractive in the Klang Valley. Bukit Bandaraya specifically is a huge
attraction for investors, and the premier address for the trendy and
fashionable. Established, prestigious and exclusive, yet difficult to buy
into on the primary market. Till BRDB launches its latest Bangsar
offering, that is.
Bangsar’s
Latest.
And Best
The last parcel of land that
BRDB has in Medang Serai
has been reserved for the
finest, most luxurious and
consequently, the most exclusive
development in the area. It is
low-rise and low-density, but the
pinnacle in all other respects.
Exquisite finishings and lavish
landscaping all brought together
by unparalleled attention to
detail. Expect nothing short
of the ultimate.
To receive updates on the
last word in luxury and to
register your interest, please
call our Sales Marketing Team
at +603 2283 6060 or email
sales@brdb.com.my.
21
24. Cicada’s work displays
imagination, insight and
originality, and their working
process has innovation as its
core. Its commitment to the
environment and sustainability
infuses every project and the
company is passionate about
convincing clients to commit to
beautiful yet sustainable designs.
22
Eco-landscaping
that Plants
a New Vision
Landscape architecture deals
with physical features of the
natural environment for the
pleasure and enjoyment of those
that inhabit the spaces. The
best landscaping works speak
of natural phenomena, using
artistic and scientific principles
in research, planning, design
and implementation. On another
level, it is also a contribution to
the local culture. The resulting
environment becomes a service
to its community, aesthetically
stimulating and a meeting place
for the people.
Like an artist with a blank
canvas, a landscape architect
looks at creating spaces that are
visually inspiring and emotive;
whether they are gardens with
plants and trees, those that
include special elements such as
water features and sculptures,
or hardscapes made up of wood,
stones or metal.
Landscape architecture
essentially takes into account
the characteristics of land, the
requirements of people, and
the fit between them. Because
land and population have such
an undeniably interrelated and
long-lasting relationship, a field
that incorporates the two and
attempts to best marry the needs
of both, needs a refined level
of creativity and innovation.
In the most holistic of
applications, landscape
architecture is a multi-
disciplinary field that can require
the application of geography,
engineering, technology, art,
horticulture, social sciences and
history. When context is given due
consideration, and the correct
disciplines are applied, a single
environment can be crafted to
exhibit diverse meanings.
A beautiful landscape strikes a
balance between clarity of design
and attention to detail. From
the micro to the macro, how
the direction of the sunlight will
affect the growth of plants to the
colour scheme of a wooded area,
there are a myriad of elements
to consider.
Two individuals that have a
thorough understanding of
landscape architecture and how
to piece together elements to
create the most desirable fit
between what their clients want
and what the environment can
provide are Casey Gan and Lim
Swe Ting, founders of CICADA.
Since its establishment in
1993, Cicada Pte Ltd, a design
consultancy specializing in urban
design, planning and landscape
architecture, has accumulated
an impressive collection of
works that have drawn from
the experience of its founders.
it may seem a no-brainer,
but today’s landscape architecture
should also incorporate sound
environmental practices.
top
The Met,
Bangkok, Thailand
25. 23
CICADA’s commitment to the
environment and sustainability
which infuses every project
is remarkable. The firm has
received multiple awards for
recognition in design excellence
and technical accomplishments
for both local and overseas
projects of different scale. These
milestone projects demonstrated
Cicada’s aptitude in handling
projects of different scales
and varying briefs.
Clients include JTC for landscape
master-planning of One North;
landscape design for Hong Kong
SkyCity, which is a large business
and entertainment complex
adjacent to the Hong Kong
International Airport; Shanghai’s
Xin Tian Di which witnessed
the rebirth of an old district
with trendy clubs, restaurants
and boutiques; and the MET, a
luxurious high-rise condominium
located at South Sathorn Road in
Bangkok. Local clients include
the Singapore Indoor Stadium,
Changi International Airport
MRT Station and the Singapore
Management University. The
landscape work on the Alila Villas
Uluwatu project in Bali is a 13.5-
hectare development poised on
an elevated plateau that meets
with limestone cliffs sweeping
down to the ocean.
So who better to take charge of
designing the landscaping for
BRDB’s latest development in the
neighbourhood it calls home? A
new, ultra luxurious low-density
residential development in
Bukit Bandaraya is in the works,
and building on one of the last
tracts of land whilst retaining as
much of the natural greenery as
possible requires a considerable
amount of finesse, clarity and
experience.
Located on a 6-acre plot of land,
the design team has worked
hard to ensure that this project
impacts the environment as
little as possible. BRDB and
CICADA have gone the extra mile
to ensure that the development
exceeds local regulations and
community expectations. Efforts
include going beyond the Dewan
Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL)
requirements in tree planting,
building setback and creating a
green surrounding.
“There is real delight and
peace in immersing ourselves
in projects, finding new
connections and beauty in
unlikely places. It’s also satisfying
to be able to make a difference
to the quality and sustainability
of our built environment that
people will enjoy,” says Casey
and Swe Ting.
Greenery is present throughout
the entire development, from the
point of entry overlooking the
podium with trees and foliage
draped over its edges, to the
planned Linear Park. Designed
with the well-being of the
environment and its residents
in mind, this development will
challenge the conventional
expression of luxury and
sustainability.
left
Alila Villas
Uluwatu,
Bali, Indonesia
Below
W Residences,
Singapore
26. 24
“Soneva.” As in, Sonu + Eva. As
in luxury haven + eco-heaven.
Or, as Sonu and Eva will go on
to coin their pioneering concept,
“Intelligent Luxury.”
Soneva Fushi is soon followed
by Soneva Gili, another exclusive
Maldives property, the island-
nation’s first all-over-water
resort. Prestigious awards and
international recognition follow.
Sonu and Eva expand their
portfolio of properties to
Thailand and Vietnam, and
a second tier of five-star-plus
resorts, from which evolves a
new brand and a new name,
one that within a few scant years
starts popping up in remote
and exotic locales worldwide.
Six Senses. Intriguing as its
name is its Zen-like logo, both
conveying an aura of mysticism.
Intriguing enough to send
and this writer to investigate its
newest resort on the island of
Con Dao, in Vietnam.
A 45 minute domestic flight from
Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao is a
group of 16 islands in the South
China Sea. The main island, Con
Dao is a throwback to another
era. Several, actually. On the
one hand it housed the infamous
penal colony established by the
French Colonial government in
the 19th century – a Southeast
Asian version of Devil’s Island. It
was later helpfully upgraded and
expanded by the US and South
Vietnamese during the Vietnam
War, and was also the site of
the notorious “tiger cages.”
The
Tao of
Con DaoBy Tom West
Looking for the Way to a resort
hideaway that’s both remote
yet accessible? A paradise of
the senses but also a paean to
environmental sensitivity?
Can do.
Travel
It all begins with a love story.
Thrirty-something businessman Sonu. UK-born, Eton and
Oxford educated, meets twenty-something Eva, a top Swedish
fashion model and owner of her own boutique clothing line.
They fall in love, they marry, they travel the world. Sonu
Shivdasani takes Mrs. Shivdasani to the Maldives where they
fall in love all over again – with the pristine beauty of this
Indian Ocean archipelago.
They dream of buying their very own island there and opening
their first hotel property. And not just any hotel, but a high-end
hotel with an equally high-frontier concept. They overcome
considerable difficulties and red tape in obtaining said island.
Their perseverance pays off, and they build a dream hotel there.
In 1995, Soneva Fushi opens.
27. 25
left
Bar by the
Marketplace
night view
Below
Outdoor-Spa-Sala
But that’s all near-ancient
history. These days the few
prison camps which aren’t
padlocked are open to tourists
And thankfully there aren’t
too many of those. Yet.
Or locals, for that matter
(population: approx. 5,000).
Or cars. There’s only one
intersection with traffic lights.
And no taxis. (So go rent a
motorbike! Ten bucks a day,
and one whole gorgeous
tropical island is all yours.).
Con Dao’s only town is a quaint
and quiet burg comprising a few
hotels, shops, restaurants, a wet
market, with tree-lined roads
shading gracefully dilapidated
French Colonial bungalows set
amidst bright gardens whose
moutard-yellow facades seem
to luminesce when the sun hits
them. And not a building over
three storeys in sight. The town
is girt on the ocean side by a
lovely 2 km promenade, and the
water crystal clear.
But the real marine and other
natural attractions – deserted
white sand beaches, jungle-clad
or rocky green Hebridean-like
hills – are ubiquitous on the
70 sq km island. Moreover,
some 80 percent of the island’s
land area as well as surrounding
waters comprise Con Dao
National Park.
In short, Con Dao is an idyllic
tropical island seemingly
caught in a time-warp.
Just the sort of “remote yet
accessible” spot a resort like
Six Senses would covet.
As our bus from the airport
rounds the headland, Six
Senses heaves into view
from the sea side. It occupies
the entire breadth of beach
in a crescent-bay ringed on
three sides by hills. I only
recognise it as such from
previewed online images–
otherwise a casual first-
time observer would likely
not detect a resort situated
there, so seamlessly and
unobtrusively does it camo
into its natural niche.
Indeed, Six Senses Con Dao’s
overall masterplan – from
site layout to individual villa
design, construction, and use
of materials – exemplifies a
level of environmental
sensitivity and innovation
probably unequalled in the
industry, eco-concept
luxury or otherwise.
Leaving a minimal carbon
footprint is a Six Senses
mantra, one that transcends
merely visual impact, to
cover everything from use of
localised building materials
to growing organic produce
in its gardens, to utilising
naturally and locally derived
ingredients, plants and herbs
in its spa product line, to...
well, trust me, it’s a pretty
extensive list.
Six Senses must also be the
only resort group with its own
full-time environmentalist on
staff at every property, “acting
as the conscience of the
company,” ensuring all work
follows the best environmental
practices, from design to food
to treatments.
But this eco-friendly, impact-
minimizing obsession doesn’t
mean skimping on any 5-star
plus luxury requisites. In fact,
the two components
complement each other quite
thoroughly. This, I will come to
grasp, is really the essence of
the Six Senses experience.
The Resort’s 50 villas are nearly
all arrayed in a single long row
fronting the beach, while those
units behind are staggered
and elevated on the natural
slope of the dunes, so that
each commands natural and
unobstructed ocean views.
Villas are either one or two-
storey, in one-, three- or
four-bedroom floorplans, and
all include private infinity pools.
Villa sizes range from 150 sq m
to a palatial 671 sq m. Fifteen
of the units are Residential
Villas and are for sale. To give
you some idea as to the scale
of the larger units, the four-
bedroom Villas, for example,
actually comprise three separate
structures, two on each wing
with a separate bedroom/living
room suite and bathrooms.
Award-winning architectural
firm AW2, led by Stephanie
Ledoux and Reda Amalou,
has made extensive use of
Indochinese hardwood sourced
from sustainably managed
forests, and granite found on
Con Dao island. The Resort was
designed and built to conform
to Green Globe 21 standards,
the worldwide environmental
standard for the tourism
industry. This sustainable
approach to luxury reflects the
brand philosophy of Six Senses,
its Tao, or Way, to put it in a
more appropriate context.
28. 26
The ubiquitous use of wood –
from timber frames to interior
walls to cladding – in the Villas
and other structures is a salient
feature of the Resort, and in
particular its focal centrepiece,
dubbed “the Marketplace,” a
sort of main square consisting
of a collection of single-storey
buildings built to resemble a
Vietnamese fishing village.
Here you will find a conference
room, a library, a dive shop, an
open bar with reclining couches
on a lanai facing the ocean, and
Vietnamese “market,” where
local dishes are prepared,
and the locus for Vietnamese
cooking lessons. The facades of
all the Marketplace buildings
are adorned with authentic door
panels retrieved from traditional
homes throughout Vietnam
that had been demolished –
a striking architectural and
environmental statement.
Just seven months in operation,
the hotel has already garnered
a slew of awards, including Best
Hotel Construction and Design
for Small Hotels in the Asia
Pacific Property Awards 2010
and also the Best International
Small Hotel Construction and
Design at the International
Commercial Property Awards
2010, held in association
with Bloomberg.
Set against the dramatic
backdrop of Elephant Mountain,
the Spa nestles in a separate
building complete with indoor
treatment rooms, outdoor
salas, and yoga and meditation
pavilions. The Spa is actually
a separate branded entity of
Six Senses Resorts Spas.
Every Six Senses resort has its
own Spa with its own unique
character and design, one that
reflects its specific location
and culture. This is reflected
in the choice of building and
finishing materials, the style
of the architecture, size of the
treatment rooms, and the choice
of treatments and products
used in the spa.
As viewed from within the Resort
itself, the design of the individual
Villas and other units as well
as the overall visual signature
is as unobtrusive and “natural”
as when seen from afar. There
is ample open space between
each structure, allowing for
beach, ocean and hillside
views. The design of each Villa
affords maximum sunlight and
ventilation, with huge ceiling-to-
floor windows and sliding glass
doors, with living areas that
open to their own private terrace
garden and infinity pool.
29. 27
opposite
Deluxe bedroom
with ocean view,
bedroom interior
with beach view,
Vietnamese cuisine
by the Marketplace
Top
4 bedroom villa
This fluid merging of outside
and in is perhaps most evident
in the Resorts eateries,
including the aforementioned
Bar, the “Deli’cious” deli, the
“Vietnamese by the Market,
” and finds its most striking
manifestation in the main
restaurant, “By the Beach.”
The name basically says it all.
Here as in the other food and
beverage outlets, Chef Richard
Lee has created a gourmet
paradise with a natural paradise
as backdrop. Sitting outside
or in, diners enjoy what is
undoubtedly the only gourmet
food on the island – and with
surroundings to match.
unique experience of all senses
heightened beyond expectations.
Hence, the Six Senses
philosophy is encapsulated
in the phrase Redefining
Experiences. It is given
further impetus by an easy-
to-remember acronym. Well,
two acronyms, actually. Both
of which are pretty self-
explanatory. And accurate.
At Six Senses, you are
encouraged to take LIFE SLOW.
As in Learning - Inspiring - Fun
- Experiences. And Sustainable
- Local - Organic - Wholesome.
Whatever you want to call it,
Six Senses certainly aims to
provide guests with an all-
encompassing, experience, one
that is both fun yet rewarding,
even serendipitous.
For me, perhaps the most
memorable highlight was to
enter into a Higher Realm of
Consciousness and Oneness
with the Universe through
Total Body Immersion – i.e.,
a dip in the swimming pool,
situated adjacent the beach.
As the waiter, unbidden, came
over with an ice-cold glass
of fresh watermelon juice, I
rested my arms on the side of
the boomerang shaped pool
and surveyed all I could see.
The entire Resort was totally
in nature’s thrall: sun, sand,
sea, forest, hills and sky. There
was no other sign of manmade
anything. The sea was a
mesmerising aquamarine. The
white sand beach immaculate
and empty except for three
picturesque round boats. And
not far from shore, a scrum
of smaller islands dotted the
horizon.
This was a no-brainer. Pool.
Beach. Pool. Be at both. Be
at one. I had, in my own way,
discovered the Way.
The Tao. The Tao of Con Dao.
Six Senses Con Dao’s luxury
and indulgence are rooted in
a larger, holistic experience.
One that, while “indulging”
the five senses, also touches
upon mind and soul, the “sixth
sense” which the name itself
implies. Let us return then to
the logomark itself, a series six
circles or spots, each unique,
and stacked in three levels,
1–2–3, pyramid-style. The Six
Senses corporate brochure
sums it up succinctly:
The pyramid of six spheres
used to identify Six Senses...
represents the philosophy that
is fundamental to the human
experience: the foundation
spheres represent the three
primary senses of sight, sound
and touch. The second level
balances upon this foundation
by satisfying the more acute
senses of taste and smell. The
apex sphere symbolises a sense
of elation discovered only by
balancing the first five – the
30. 28
View to
Appreciate
For a closer look at the
most desirable addition to
the residential options in
Dutamas, please call Janice
at 017 6755715 to make
an appointment.
The Viewing Gallery is not open
without an appointment, but it
is possible to visit the site and
view the gallery through its
glass facade.
Not only does Verdana have a
stunning show unit in BRDB’s
Bangsar Gallery that showcases
two of the unit sizes which
help purchasers gain an
appreciation of the site at which
Verdana is located, and a better
understanding of its accessibility
and features.
Located on the plot of land
upon which Verdana is to be
built, opposite the French
International School in Dutamas,
the Viewing Gallery overlooks
the exact area that Phase 1
of Verdana will occupy.
32. Green
Paths for
Buildings
30
Green Design
2 Indoor Environment
Quality (EQ)
Achieve good quality
performance in indoor air
quality, acoustics, visual
and thermal comfort.
These will involve the use
of low volatile organic
compound materials,
application of quality air
filtration, proper control
of air temperature,
movement and humidity.
3 Sustainable Site Planning
Management (SM)
Selecting appropriate
sites with planned access
to public transportation,
community services, open
spaces and landscaping.
Avoiding and conserving
environmentally sensitive
areas through the
redevelopment of existing
sites and brownfields.
Implementing
proper construction
management, storm
water management and
reducing the strain on
existing infrastructure
capacity.
4 Materials Resources
(MR)
Promote the use of
environment-friendly
materials sourced from
sustainable sources and
recycling. Implement
proper construction
waste management with
storage, collection and
re-use of recyclables and
construction formwork
and waste.
5 Water Efficiency (WE)
Rainwater harvesting,
water recycling and
water-saving fittings.
6 Innovation (IN)
Innovative design and
initiatives that meet
the objectives of the
GBI. Under the GBI
assessment framework,
points will also be
awarded for achieving
and incorporating
environment-friendly
features which are above
current industry practice.
The GBI rating tool provides an
opportunity for developers and
building owners to design and
construct green, sustainable
buildings that can provide
energy savings, water savings,
a healthier indoor environment,
better connectivity to public
transport and the adoption
of recycling and greenery for
their projects and reduce our
impact on the environment.
GBI is developed specifically
for the Malaysian-tropical
climate, environmental and
developmental context,
cultural and social needs.
Why Green Building?
• Green buildings are
designed to save energy and
resources, recycle materials
and minimise the emission
of toxic substances
throughout its life cycle.
• Green buildings harmonise
with the local climate,
traditions, culture and the
surrounding environment.
• Green buildings are able
to sustain and improve the
quality of human life whilst
maintaining the capacity of
the ecosystem at local and
global levels.
• Green buildings make
efficient use of resources,
have significant operational
savings and increases
workplace productivity.
• Building green sends the
right message about a
company or organisation
– that it is well run,
responsible, and
committed to the future.
What are the key criteria
assessed by the Green Building
Index (GBI) rating?
1 Energy Efficiency (EE)
Improve energy consumption
by optimising building
orientation, minimizing
solar heat gain through the
building envelope, harvesting
natural lighting, adopting
the best practices in building
services including use of
renewable energy, and
ensuring proper testing,
commissioning and
regular maintenance.
The Green Building Index (GBI)
is Malaysia’s industry recognised
green rating tool for buildings
to promote sustainability in the
built environment and raise
awareness among Developers,
Architects, Engineers, Planners,
Designers, Contractors and the
Public about environmental
issues and our responsibility to
the future generations.
33. 31
What Say An Expert?
Green architect, Ken Yeang
suggested the principles of
eco-mimicry, which means,
imitating the eco-system. His
architecture and masterplans
propose to maintain linkages
and connectivity between the
man-made environment and
the surrounding’s eco-systems.
For example, Yeang and
Ivor Richards’s book ‘Eco
Skyscrapers’ create provocative
designs for restructuring
the urban fabric, which are
unrealised but yet influenced
architecture over the last
four decades. It presents
a compelling argument
for sustainable high-rise
architecture which provides
opportunities for multifunctional
brief and a multi-disciplinary
approach to architecture.
There are features in the book
that integrate engineering with
architecture. These include
twisting floor plates that overlap
and vertical green gardens
which are carved out of the plan,
spiralling landscape that climbs
the building and stacked natural
ventilation for cooling. Lift cores
and service shafts are used as
shading defences against the
sun.
The green walls and planted
courts achieve biodiversity
which are essential components
in Yeang’s buildings as are his
belief in the inseparability of
engineering and architecture.
The vertical courts that cut
through the building’s section
create a far more complex
environment than conventional
high-rise structures.
Yeang offers an alternative to
conventional design approaches
and suggests changes to
arrive at a sustainable future.
He proposes that this can
be achieved by adopting the
environmentalist’s stance
that places environment over
aesthetics. Carbon footprints
affect a locality’s ecology whose
eventual disposal has to be
accommodated somewhere
in the biosphere and for this
reason, building is more than
just an assemblage of materials.
Non-Residential vs Residential GBI Rating Tools
Non-Residential Residential
Evaluates the sustainable Evaluates the sustainable
aspects of buildings that are aspects of residential
commercial, institutional and buildings
industrial in nature.
Emphasis is placed on Emphasis on sustainable site
energy efficiency and indoor planning management,
environmental quality as these followed by energy efficiency.
have the greatest impact in
the areas of energy use and
well-being of the occupants
and users of the building
Impact: minimization in the Impact: encourage
areas of energy use and developers and home owners
well-being of the occupants to consider the environmental
and users of the building quality of homes and their
through better site selection, inhabitants
provisions of public transport
access, increased community
services and connectivity,
as well as improved
infrastructure.
Non-Residential GBI Residential GBI
Certified Buildings: Certified Buildings:
• Bangunan Suruhanjaya • Ken Bangsar
Tenaga • Cascades
• 1 FirstAvenue • First Residence
• Menara Worldwide • Rhombus
• Menara Felda • Sime Darby Idea House
• Sarawak Energy Berhad
In another book ‘ECODESIGN:
A Manual for Ecological
Design’, he offers clear
suggestions in the design
and the building of green
sustainable architecture.
The intention is to produce
and maintain ecosystem-
like structures and systems
whose contents and outputs
integrate benignly with the
natural environment, with
built-forms and systems that
function sensitively with the
locality’s ecology as well in
relation to global biospheric
processes, and contribute
positively to biodiversity.
The intention is having
structures and systems that
are low consumers of non-
renewable resources, built
with materials that have low
ecological consequences
and are designed to facilitate
disassembly, continuous
reuse and recycling. At the
end of their useful lives
materials can reintegrate
seamlessly into the natural
environment. Each of these
aspects is examined in
detail through design and
planning.
35. 33
The inspiring
architecture of
Sanctuary Cove
Waterfront living is a lifestyle
choice that transcends cultures,
language and social settings,
evidenced by an increasing
number of highly successful
waterfront developments
around the world.
Although waterfront living in
an urban environment is cited
as a phenomenon of the 20th
century, in fact its roots go
back to the very earliest days of
human existence. The reality is
that people have always settled
where land and water meet. It is
the source of food and potable
water, transportation, irrigation
for crops and, in more recent
generations, agricultural and
manufacturing economies. As the
idea evolved so did the demand.
However there is no template for
the ideal development.
Had he lived in the 21st and not
the 18th century, Coleridge’s
sailor would have looked at his
situation from a very different
point of view. While the elements
can be unforgiving, they can also
bestow a quality of life that an
increasing number of people are
looking to enjoy.
36. 34
One of the most important
drivers for people looking to
secure a place with water
frontage is the relatively
short supply.
Although close to 70 percent of
the Earth’s surface is covered by
water, (the oceans hold about
96.5 percent of that), there is
only a relatively small amount of
land with direct access to water
in close proximity to major cities
and regional centres.
Most of us want human
interaction. To achieve that,
property developers have created
projects which combine, to
varying degrees, residential
development with commercial
and communal infrastructure.
Conceptually, this delivers the
best of all worlds: a secure
environment in which to live
independently, to work, to
socialise and be entertained;
all of which is connected to or
inspired by water.
right
HYATT Regency
Sanctuary Cove
37. 35
Top
Aerial view of
Queensland’s Sanctuary
Cove development
The advantages of buying into
a waterfront development are
compelling. You join others
who share your values, and the
economies of scale help to
deliver a lower-priced product
with a great number of
supporting services than would
be available to the person
building in isolation.
Not everyone can afford to buy
into a waterfront development,
but then not everyone wants to.
It is arguably the new paradigm
in lifestyle properties. The
offspring of the marriage
between land and water are
numerous and include an
unencumbered relationship with
Nature (waterbirds in particular
are common at many of these
developments), and the ability
to enjoy recreational activities
literally at one’s doorstep.
38. 36
These include fishing, swimming
and water sports generally.
Because of the relative scarcity
of these developments, they
are considered among the most
prestigious and valued in the
property market. Owning a
“piece of paradise” has other
consequences as well.
These are among the most
sought-after developments for
investors, with outcomes that
tend to be more resilient in
times of economic stress while
delivering higher returns than
the market average in times of
prosperity.
Anecdotal research suggests
that people who live here tend
to pursue a healthier lifestyle
because of access to services
and facilities, be they introduced
(e.g. gymnasia) or those
available within the natural
setting such as beaches, river
walks, golf courses (in many
developments) and so on.
MiraBay, Florida, United States
The concept of waterfront living
may not have been born in the
United States, but its people
have embraced it more than any
other. Florida in particular, with
its attractive year-round climate,
is one of the most popular
places in the country for gated
communities by the water.
One such development is
MiraBay, which is located
close to the Gulf Coast cities
of Tampa, Sarasota and St
Petersburg. It will have 1,900
villas, townhouses, homes and
custom estates on completion
in 2012. MiraBay is set around a
135 acre saltwater lagoon and
abuts a 1,000-acre mangrove
forest reserve.
Typical of the US model is the
emphasis on community living.
The development began with a
10,000 square foot clubhouse for
social and recreational activities
and a full-time activities director.
In other cultures this would
sound more like a retirement
village; not so in the US.
Cerros Sands, La Playa de
Cerros Maya, Belize
At the other end of the scale is
a more modest development
in Belize (formerly British
Honduras). Although this is a
well planned, gated community,
most of the value-added
elements such as a marina,
fitness centre and resort
facilities, are still to be built.
Potential purchasers are
being asked to buy into the
developer’s ‘vision’. While that
may be a stretch for some,
there is no doubting its position.
Cerros Sands is located on
a magnificent beach along
Corozal Bay and the Caribbean
Sea beyond. The area is rich
in history with Mayan ruins
close by. In more recent times
it was the playground of
Caribbean pirates of the
17th and 18th centuries.
Entry-level prices are very
attractive. It comes down to
whether the purchaser is
prepared to align his or her
‘dream’ with the developer’s
‘vision’.
39. 37
Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast,
Australia
At more than 1,100 acres,
Sanctuary Cove is a well-
endowed gated community that
was the first development of its
kind in Australia. The capital,
Brisbane, is less than one hour
away by car and Coolangatta
Airport is 40 minutes to the
Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya,
Malaysia
Puteri Harbour is one of
Malaysia’s premier waterfront
precincts. Located 30 minutes
by car from Singapore and under
three hours from Kuala Lumpur,
it is an integrated waterfront and
marina development covering
nearly 690 acres on the Straits
of Johor.
The project is slated for
completion by 2021, although
90% of the main infrastructure
is already in place. It combines
waterfront living, dining,
entertainment, the arts and
culture and the one defining
element that savvy investors
and seachangers the world
over are looking for: luxury.
It is also a model for
sustainability. Its ‘green’
credentials are among the
highest of any comparable
development in Asia.
The development will include
prime waterfront residential
properties, a commercial
development of shops and
offices, a transportation hub
including a terminal for water
taxis and ferry services, bus
terminal, tram and LRT station,
and a marina offering berthing,
chandlery and accommodation
facilities for boaters, yachters,
charter operators and water
sports operators.
In November 2010, BRDB
entered into an agreement with
UEM Land Berhad, the master
developers of Nusajaya, Johor to
jointly develop Puteri Harbour in
Nusajaya as a prime waterfront
destination for the region. To
be developed in 6 phases over
seven years, the 111-acre
development will be an upscale
mixed use marina development
with Phase 1 scheduled
to commence in 2012.
Top
Security is a feature
of most waterfront
development,
Demand for homes of
Sanctuary Cove has
never been greater,
The Ideal Caddy?
Kangaroos join golfers at
the Sanctuary Cove golf
course
south. It is a completely
self-contained residential
environment with a dedicated
shopping centre comprising
85 shops and commercial
offices as well as entertainment
facilities, together with deep
water marinas that allow for
super-yacht access and two
golf courses.
Currently, there is a
permanent community of
3,000 people, and up to 500
more who are guests at
the five-star Hyatt Regency
Sanctuary Cove.
Sanctuary Cove is still
a work in progress. On
completion in 2027 –
around 40 years after the
first sod was turned –
the development will
boast a total of 1,900 lots.
40. 38
Trending Now:
The Social Kitchen
Luxury kitchens are not just about high-tech gadgets.
Interior architect Selina Tay of Collective Designs Ltd, tests out
her coveted bespoke kitchens with her own cooking skills.
She tells MONICA GWEE what’s red-hot and happening in social
hub kitchens right now.
41. IN THIS Facebook age of
instant gratification and zapped
communications, just about
the only relaxed luxury is a
delicious meal enjoyed at leisure
and in great comfort and style.
It explains the rising demand
for fabulous, highly individual,
bespoke kitchens in the finest
contemporary homes.
Interior architect Selina Tay,
principal designer at Collective
Designs Ltd in Singapore, has
been fine-tuning her uncanny
knack for delivering dream
kitchens in some truly special
private residences designed,
renovated or completely
re-built by her.
She highlights in this interview,
the sharp and smooth elements
that are now trending in the
hottest luxury home kitchens.
39
42. 40
One-touch apps
High-tech is not just for
iphones, the same tactile use
of functional design has invaded
sleek kitchens. They may
not seem a big deal but they
transform everyday rituals into
fingertip work. Consider drawers
that open with one-touch ease
and one-touch flip cabinet tops
for starters. Handsome looks
and hidden mechanisms aside,
these automated touches are
ergonomic and introduce new
levels of kitchen safety.
Then, there is Tay’s current
favourite: Gaggenau’s down
draught “hood”, a sexy
combo of design genius and
extraction efficiency. The down
draught technology extracts
cooking fumes through two
apertures on either side of
the hob, dispensing with the
conventional overhead hood.
The breakthrough technology
may mean space constraints
at counter level, but the home
cook gains overhead storage or
a clear space for some of the
sleekest kitchen profiles around.
“Homeowners in Asia are still
wary of colour, they still like
all-white kitchens, or a
combination of white and wood,
they think it’s more enduring,”
Tay says. “But a colour kitchen
can be one of the most visually
dramatic and individual aspects
of a home,” she suggests.
“I’d love to see more colour
used to make kitchens more
personal and special.”
Gadget central
Some homeowners are so
gadget mad, their kitchens
are simply showcases for
culinary mod cons - even if they
never actually cook. Certainly,
kitchen gadgets are the rage,
but in Tay’s thoughtful and
functional kitchens, sensible,
multi-purpose gadgets and
appliances are key. These
include “clean” induction hobs
with down draught extraction,
and self-cleaning ovens and
appliances.
Tay, a serious cook who
regularly orchestrates large
family feasts and dinner parties
at home, has a fine sense of
what works and what doesn’t in
a cooking kitchen. “Some people
still find a microwave essential,
but I prefer the steam oven as
a healthier alternative to cook
and heat up food,” she says.
She highlights the popularity
of two appliances that have not
yet caught on here: ionisers that
sanitise plates, and Gaggenau
ovens fitted with plate warmers,
both ideal for busy kitchens
which serve as social hubs
for their owners.
“What is fantastic to have
in your kitchen if you can fit
it in, is a walk in pantry with
a chiller, it really beats having
two fridges,“ Tay says. Asian and
gourmet food aficionados will
immediately appreciate a well
organised pantry for canned
and dry foodstuff, fitted with
a chiller solely for fresh chilli
or herb pastes, delicate dry
spice rubs, soup stock, fine
condiments, special oils, dried
shrimp, fresh noodles or pasta -
all the delicious raw ingredients
of the tropical foodie. The walk
in pantry + chiller is ideal for
large households or cooks who
like to use ingredients sensitive
to high humidity spoilage, and
who have to stock up in bulk.
43. 41
The missing mojo
Tay works with property
developers and more often,
with homeowners unhappy
with their cookie cutter
condominium kitchens.
She thinks many developers
try too hard to squeeze in the
wet and dry elements of the
typical Asian style kitchen
and satisfy the space needs
of neither in the process.
“I love open plan, dine-in
kitchens, but when the space
design is poor, the result is
often very cook-unfriendly,”
Tay explains. She thinks kitchens
with statement islands are
often installed for showflat
impact rather than practical
use, for example.
“It becomes really ridiculous
because such kitchens are
usually too large for the space,
or not designed for real cooking
or entertaining. It’s just for show.
You soon discover you can’t
fit in a decent sized fridge,”
she points out.
“I often have to dismantle
such kitchens entirely and start
re-thinking the space from
scratch so the space is better
divided between wet and dry
food prep, and the whole kitchen
is more usable and flows into
the rest of the home,” she says.
Lighting is another bugbear
with her. She favours the exciting
options now offered by LED
lighting. Her kitchens typically
feature thoughtful task lights -
directly over the sink for rinsing
or washing up, lights lined
in cabinet drawers, recessed
lighting, and indirect and
overhead lighting.
Tay’s own home kitchen with
its stone work tops, enjoys a
magnificent central island where
huge family feasts are prepared
and where countless guests
graze in and around the kitchen
and the adjoining dining area,
leading to the open plan living
area and the pool.
The open plan concept kitchen
works best for homes where
good food and shared dinings
the heart of the home. “I love
dine-in kitchens. They are family
and social spaces all in one. A
breakfast counter, an island - it’s
so convenient and social,” she
says. “You can prepare food, eat,
read the newspapers, watch a
cooking video - just really relax.”
In many ways, the easy, natural
flow and blurring of living space
between kitchen and the rest
of the contemporary home is
the defining feature of the best
new, luxury kitchens. They are
fabulous enough to show off and
fastidiously functional.
These gorgeous kitchens are
the new social hubs - flexible
and desirable destination dining
and entertainment hotspots
right at home. Talk about home
comforts.
Photo credits:
Pictures from Selina’s Dream
Kitchens by Monica Gwee,
Epigram Books, and Collective
Designs Ltd photo archives.
Selina Tay: Profile
The serious cook and trained
carpenter in Selina Tay combine
formidably in her approach to
interior architecture. In every
house, apartment, retail store,
hotel and development she
has designed, Tay’s favourite
spot remains the heart of any
residential space: the kitchen.
One of Singapore’s favourite
interior architects, Tay believes
a happy home begins with its the
kitchen. Her stunning bespoke
kitchens in her remarkable
residences, are rooted in
extreme functionality; every
one of them geared towards the
individual needs of the people
and families who use a Selina
Tay kitchen. Counter worktops
are lowered or raised according
to the cook’s height, appliances
and materials are selected
for high performance and low
maintenance.
Tay’s current focus is integrating
more effective home recycling
methods for tropical kitchens
and homes, using design
initiatives involving more
environmentally friendly
materials and construction
approaches.
45. 43
Kitchens have come a long way from
just being a place to prepare and cook a
meal. Interior designer David Winter of
Red Zephyr Studio shares his thoughts
on this evolution.
By SC Chua
Mention the word kitchen and an
image where a family’s meals
are being prepared comes to
mind. A simple layout – sink,
cooking and preparation area,
and in Asian countries like ours,
both wet and dry sections. No
fuss, no frills.
But mention the word kitchen
to interior design David Winter,
and his image is a little more
grand than the conventional
kitchens we have come to know.
“A kitchen may be a kitchen but
it is in how you put it together
that makes it very special,” he
shares. So what does a ‘special’
kitchen mean to him? “One that
is based on an open-planned
concept, is interactive and very
communal.”
It should come as no surprise
why Winter views kitchens
as such. His interior design
company, Red Zephyr Studio, is
behind some of BRDB’s high-
end development projects such
as The Troika, Bluwater Estate
and Taman Duta, which define
living spaces as more than just
what you see. When it comes
to kitchen spaces in these
developments, Winter and his
team work closely with selected
kitchen designers and planners
to give potential owners a space
they can be proud of. “Often, the
kitchen is left as a last option,”
says Winter. “What we want to do
with our projects is to plan the
kitchen so that it sits within the
living and dining spaces.”
The idea of a seamless interface
is what drives most of the
planning and design of these
kitchens. This very much meets
the current trend of homeowners
who are spending more time in
these areas. Winter attributes
it to how the food industry and
cooking experiences have altered
over the last couple of years.
“More wives and husbands don’t
mind getting into the kitchen to
do some of the work themselves
now,” he says. “In fact, it can be
a show-stopping entertainment
for some to cook and entertain
their guests. It is also not
uncommon for those living in
high-end apartments to invite
celebrity chefs to cook for one of
their dinner parties.”
With this in mind, kitchens have
become somewhat like a ‘stage’.
Walls and doors should not cover
these spaces; instead the kitchen
should encourage interaction
with what’s out in the living and
dining spaces. To do so, Winter
believes it is all about extending
the design philosophy of the
living and dining spaces into the
kitchen as well. “For example,
if the kitchen is an open space
within the dining and living area,
the finishes should extend into it.
The floor finish can run through
these areas to create this
seamless environment. If there
are special wall features being
used, such as timber panelling,
I would also carry these into the
kitchen environment as well.
You can also have large doors
that can open all the way back
so that you can get that sense
of interaction. But you can also
close it off if you prefer a more
private space. Or use a glass
door all the way to the ceiling
so that there is visual access for
both you and your guests into
each other’s spaces.”
Winter also believes that lighting
will help make kitchens more
interactive. Isn’t that pushing the
design element a little too far
for a space that hardly requires
mood setting? Not according to
Winter. “Most people think that
you walk into a kitchen, you turn
the lights on, do whatever you
want and then you walk out. So
why would you need different
lighting options for a space like
that? The lighting should only
be functional for cooking time,
right? The kitchen doesn’t have
to be brightly lit all the time. You
can definitely cater for some
mood lighting.
“Also, a lot of kitchens now have
extended countertops for eating
on. Why not put a beautiful light
fitting and have it over the eating
area so that it is more attractive
to sit there and eat? Because we
now have kitchens that are open,
the last thing you want is for a
brightly lit kitchen to distract
you,” says Winter.
What about the functionality and
practicality of a kitchen? Let’s
face it – if you can’t function in
a kitchen, then it shouldn’t be
called one. To help achieve that,
Winter refers to the working
triangle. “You need to be able to
stand where you are and access
the fridge, the cooking area and
the prep area easily. Positions
of sinks and countertops must
allow for set-down space on both
left and right. The same goes
for working on the cooktop as
well as the refrigeration area.
Practicality should always come
first. Everything else later.”
Enough about the kitchens he’s
worked on, what about Winter’s
own kitchen? “I love to grill
and have BBQs. My kitchen
opens to my backyard so I can
cook outside and eat inside.
I am currently in the process
of extending a counter to the
exterior so I can cook and serve,”
he says.
We’d sure would like an invitation
to that kitchen, David.
48. 46
Tell us, what are some of your
best experiences when it comes
to wining and dining?
There was a barbecue party in
Mendoza where we were in the
Andean mountains, enveloped in
mist and we feasted on the most
amazing asado and empanadas,
all washed down by delicious
Malbec wines. Also, a simple
but lovely meal at this place
called simply The Danish Camp,
which was in a village called
Willington in Bedfordshire. It
was located next to a Viking Age
archaeological site where the
food included simple but tasty
An
ImPRESSive
Performance
There is no doubt about
it – Diana Khoo is a true-
blue foodie. She even has a
food journal, where in it she
writes her experiences of all
the places she has ever dined
in! “Yes, I am aware that not
many people have a food
journal, but what can I say,
I love food,” says Khoo.
As the editor-in-chief
for luxury magazine, The
Peak, Diana has had the
opportunity to travel to
many exotic destinations in
the course of her work, and
with that comes some pretty
amazing dining experiences.
“My previous stints which
include editing the now
defunct Wine Dine
Magazine as well as writing
the weekly wine column
for The Edge’s Options
pullout has firmly stamped
my all encompassing love
of good food and drink,”
she enthuses.
finds out what some
of Khoo’s more memorable
dining experiences are
as well as her take on
what makes a cuisine
unforgettable.
fare like homemade Stilton and
celery soup, scampi and chips, or
‘tipsy’ melon and grape cocktail,
all of which may be paired with
the local ales, bitters and lagers.
I also had a wonderful girls’
getaway to London this spring
and we made it a point to dine
extremely well every day, from
scoring a table at Dinner by
Heston, Heston Blumenthal’s
new London outpost to try his
famous Meat Fruit and roast
scallops with cucumber ketchup
to eating Nobu’s ethereal sea
urchin tempura and enjoying The
Berkeley’s truly girly Pret-a-
Portea, where we dressed up and
donned fascinators to make the
most of the experience. Mad but
fabulously fun!
You must have some rather
exquisite experiences as the
editor-in-chief of The Peak.
Care to share?
I am certainly very blessed as
work enables me to enjoy many
priceless experiences, from
enjoying tuna fresh off the bone
at the Shiogama Fish Market in
Japan to drinking Clos du Mesnil
right in its cradle of creation
at the Krug maison in Reims,
Champagne. Most recently, it
was being able to taste The John
Walker, quite possibly the most
exquisite expression of Johnnie
Walker Blue Label, paired with
an equally amazing meal at The
Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire
in the company of the whisky
house’s great Master Blender
himself. Life doesn’t get much
better than this.
46
49. 47
What is your idea of the
perfect dining experience?
A beautiful coming together
of the three Cs – company,
champagne and cuisine.
What is the perfect wine to you?
Any particular favourite?
My great love is champagne and,
although I have yet to meet
one I didn’t like, Krug would
be my all-time favourite for its
incomparable finesse and finish.
For wines, a chilled Marlborough
Sauv Blanc is a great way to wind
down a long day with, although
I do enjoy a good juicy red or
an elegant Burgundy as well.
There are many but somehow
Chambolle-Musigny’s The Lovers
come to mind.
What is the best way to enjoy
a meal?
Having a great appetite – not
just for the food but also for
conversation, life and laughter.
When hosting a dinner party,
what is the formula for a night
to remember?
Aside from the food and drink,
the company is all-important.
Nothing makes food taste better
than being able to share it
with friends.
What do you think of The Press
Room? What stands out?
I love coming to The Press Room
primarily for its great steak
tartare. Not many places in
Kuala Lumpur serve it, let alone
serve it well.
Food is best enjoyed with
the people you love.
Care to share your thoughts
on this?
Undoubtedly!
starters
Crab Cake with
Remoulade Sauce
Seared Foie Gras with
Poached Pear
Seared Scallops with
Creamy Leak Sauce
and Fresh Tomato
main course
Fettucine with
Shredded Duck and
Mushroom
Black Cod with
Pea Sprouts
Pan Seared Spring
Chicken with Vegetables,
Fresh Herbs and
White Wine
the menu
dessert
Chocolate Mud Pie
Gateau Opera
Where is your favourite city
when it comes to food? Why?
Perhaps it is the laws of
attraction but I always find some
gem at which to dine in every
place I travel to. Japan is always
lovely and Singapore is the new
star when it comes to sheer
choice for fine dining options.
But I do love Madrid and its easy,
languid approach to revolving
the day around one’s meals.
You breakfast on warm churros
dunked in hot chocolate, followed
by a languorous lunch. Then it
is a quick siesta before a long
night out, which would invariably
include perfecting the art of
tapeo – where one moves from
bar to bar in order to sample its
best tapas and sherries. All this
before an equally decadent meal
which, for me, would have to
include melon with jabugo ham
and some wonderful cheese
to finish.
Established as an interpretation
of a vintage European brasserie,
The Press Room emphasises on
simple Anglo-French brasserie
food made from the finest
ingredients. You’ll surely be
impressed by its extensive (and
we mean, extensive) wine list, as
well as other beverage choices.
From soups to salads,
sandwiches to pastas, roasts
and grills to classic desserts,
The Press Room believes in
making your dining experience
truly memorably not only with
its food but also the classy and
unpretentious ambience. Check
out too a daily changing plat du
jour and other seasonal specials.
With its convenient location right
up front of Bangsar Shopping
Centre, it is the ideal location for
a cuppa or a reunion with friends
over a bottle of wine or two.
The Pressroom
Lot G110 Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285 Jalan Ma’arof
Bukit Bandaraya, 59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2095 8098
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50. 48
From looking at your Facebook
fan page, half of the interests
you have listed are food related
– bread butter pudding, sashimi,
even brussel sprouts! Would
you call yourself a foodie?
Some people go for golf.
I go for food. I enjoy good food
and good company during my
time off. That is why I have a
good appreciation for food. It has
become quite instrumental to
my stress-free environment.
Since you listed sashimi as a
favourite, what is your favourite
fish of choice?
I have to say salmon. I know it
is mundane but it is the classic
of every sashimi. That said, I
do consume a variety of other
cuisines, like Chinese, Malay,
Indian and European.
You also listed macrobiotic food
as an interest. Do you prescribe
to this philosophy closely?
In some areas I do. When I was
introduced to macrobiotic food,
I liked the idea of how food can
be crafted and organically done
on a vegetarian base. There are
days where I consume healthy
food so I don’t indulge in just
one type of food throughout the
week. Imagine having bread
butter pudding every day!
It is all about balance. If you take
your body as a one-week body
rather than a day body, you will
know what you need in order to
keep healthy. Say I have a big
juicy burger on Monday. Then,
on Tuesday and Wednesday, I go
macrobiotic. Gym on Thursday,
and then I am done. All the bad
thingsI have consumed have
been reduced.
Are you adventurous when
it comes to eating?
Does it mean trying different
food all the time or going out
there to look for food? I am of
the latter sort; I enjoy travelling
for food. For example, there
is a seafood restaurant in
Pandamaran, Klang that serves
the best dishes. But to get there
is a nightmare. You have to go all
the way to Klang and then look
for this unique restaurant, which
is in a house where the food is
cooked by the family, generation
after generation.
Or Ketinggi, have you heard of
it? It is a banana leaf restaurant
in the middle of Lebuh Ampang.
You’d be surprised at the people
who eat there; at lunchtime
you’d bump into bankers who
have come all the way to eat
here. It serves the best daun
pisang rice, right in the middle of
the concrete jungle. You eat on
park benches and share a long
table with everyone.
48
Although a corporate figure
that needs little introduction,
here’s a very brief one for
those of you who have been
hiding under a particularly
secluded rock for the past
decade. Dato’ Sri Shazalli
Ramly has a career that is
filled with milestones; from
Unilever to British American
Tobacco to ASTRO to ntv7 and
most recently, Celcom Axiata.
Not only a master marketeer
A Japanese
Date with
the Dato’
and seasoned CEO, Dato’
Sri Shazalli is also well-
known for his musical talents
and magnetic personality.
To find out how food fits
into his enigmatic life,
caught up with
Dato Shazalli over a delicious
spread of Japanese food
at BSC’s Kuriya.
51. 49
Kuriya Japanese
Restaurant
T2, 3rd Floor
Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Ma’arof
Bukit Bandaraya
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2093 9242
When you are not making waves
in the business world, how do
you spend your time?
I have two other hobbies – one is
obviously music and the other is
photography. And since we are
talking about food, I try to involve
those two hobbies with food.
When it comes to photography,
I like taking pictures of food.
I try to learn the techniques of
food photography.
When it involves music, I try to
find places where you can enjoy
music or participate at the same
time. Unfortunately, there aren’t
a lot of choices locally. But I
do enjoy the busking scene in
Damansara Uptown. I would
request for songs from Bob
Marley, Eric Clapton, and the
buskers would be very happy
to play it for me. I guess they
just enjoy seeing someone
appreciating their music.
And of course, the tips help too!
How did you get into music?
Who are your influences?
My father played the violin
with a band. I was brought up
in an environment where I would
hear the violin all the time.
My first instrument was a guitar
but for some strange reason
I didn’t like it. I then moved
towards percussions. In school,
I was known as the drummer.
I actually considered making a
career out of it but after a while,
I thought drummers wouldn’t
make that much money.
I have a drum set in my
office. I jam with some bands
occasionally. We even have
the CEOs band – there’s
Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar,
Dato’ Seri Idris Jala, Ahmah
Izham Omar and Dato’
Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa. We
perform together, and our last
performance was
at a Media Prima charity event.
My greatest influences would
have to be The Beatles and Eric
Clapton. Though I have to say, I
do like Amy Winehouse and her
style of music. And now, I listen
to Adele. She has that kind of
style as well.
What is your take on Kuriya and
the meal you just had?
The sashimi is very fresh, which
is very important in Japanese
food. That is my favourite for
today; you can’t go wrong with it.
One of the great things that
BRDB has done is to offer many
food and beverages choices
in Bangsar Shopping Centre. I
hope that establishments like
BRDB will bring in more dining
experiences and food outlets.
As a top tier CEO, what are your
golden rules for entertaining?
I always say when you are
entertaining a client or whoever,
you have to customise to the
individual. That is my golden rule
for entertaining: customisation
beyond anything else. You come
second. He or she comes first.
I will customise my taste to
my guest, my preferences to
his or hers.
the menu
Three Kinds of
Combination Appetizer
(thin-shaped jelly,
Chinese seaweed with
sour sauce and scallop
in homemade sauce)
Avocado with
Tomato Salad
Sashimi Mori-Utage
Australian Wagyu
Beef Steak
Final thoughts: Food is…
Absolute peace of mind. I used
to be gung-ho when pushing
for my career. But then I slowly
realised how you don’t need to
separate the things you do while
working. For example, ladies
go to the spa to unwind. Well,
I figured it out over time that the
things you do over breakfast and
lunch can actually give you the
bits and pieces to relax.
This is why I look forward
to meals. They give you that
absolute peace of mind. The
wrong thing to do is to have
a bowl of rice in the middle
of a boardroom meeting. The
more time you use to do things
together than to separate them,
the more time you will have for
yourself.
Kuriya, which means
‘aristocratic kitchen’ in
Japanese is inspired on the
idea of preparing food for
important guests. With its range
of authentic Japanese cuisine
featuring seasonal ingredients
airflown fresh from Japan,
Kuriya spoils you with its choices
of exquisite Japanese food.
Set in a cozy yet luxurious
setting, Kuriya at BSC will
indeed be a memorable
dining experience.
49
52. 50
World Vision Malaysia (WVM)
was set up in 1997 as a
Support Office of World Vision
International, an international
Christian relief, development and
advocacy organisation dedicated
to working with children,
families and their communities
worldwide to reach their
full potential by addressing the
root causes of poverty.
As a member of World Vision
International, WVM is committed
to promote the transformation
and development of lower
income communities and to
provide relief to those afflicted
by conflicts and/or disasters.
The primary role of WVM as a
Support Office is fund-raising.
Our
Community
50
Realising
the Vision
Through its varied awareness
and fund-raising partnerships
with individuals and
corporations, WVM is able to
reach out to the poor, both local
and overseas, working with
them to build a sustainable
future for their children, families
and communities through the
provision of access to health
care, water, nutrition, basic
education, and economic
transformation.
We support the WVM by working
with them to build sustainable
futures for their children,
families and communities. World
Vision focuses on these three
main areas:
• Community Development:
Through child sponsorship,
Malaysians contributed RM
20,905,393 to give a hand
up to children in need,
ensuring that they and their
community have access to
basic necessities including
clean water, improved
nutrition, basic health care,
education and economic
development.
• Advocacy:
Through the 30-Hour
Famine, over 14,500
Malaysians learnt about
urban poverty and raised
RM 1,287,440 for children
and communities in China,
India, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Myanmar, North Korea
and Thailand.
• Emergency Relief:
RM 758,801 was raised
to help disaster-struck
communities in countries
such as China (drought),
Haiti (earthquake),
India (floods), Indonesia
(earthquake), Laos (typhoon)
and Vietnam (typhoon).
Additionally, WVM regularly
holds exhibitions and conducts
presentations to promote
greater awareness and
understanding
of specific issues afflicting
the poor and marginalised.
Among the issues are HIV/AIDS,
Protection of Children’s Rights,
and Discrimination and Abuse
Against Women.
53. 5151
World Vision Malaysia also
partners like-minded local
non-governmental organisations
to reach out to Malaysians.
Among them are:
• United Voice
• Shuang Fu Disabled
Independent Living
Association
• Beautiful Gate Centre for
Disabled Persons
• Harvest Centre Berhad
• Malaysian AIDS Council
• Malaysian Care
• PS The Children
• Pusat Kebajikan Good
Shepherd - PKGS (Sabah)
• Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak
Shemariah
• Lawas Project
• Kuching Autistic Association
• Tenaganita
• Yayasan Sin Chew
Retirement Village
Welcoming 15 years
of good heart
World Vision began operations
in Malaysia in 1997 with the
objective of raising funds for,
and awareness of impoverished
children and communities
globally. Today, with the
support of many Malaysians,
World Vision Malaysia funds
33 ADPs (Area Development
Programmes) in 12 countries.
The number of children
sponsored by Malaysians
stand at more than 46,000
children! The year 2012 marks
a significant milestone for
World Vision Malaysia as we
celebrate 15 years of service
to children and communities
around the world.
World Vision and BRDB
at the Kangayam Area
Development Area (ADP),
India
In support of World Vision’s
15th year anniversary, together
with their campaign of ‘We See
Change’, we would like to share
with you the touching stories of
our milestones . BRDB has been
sponsoring five children from
World Vision Area Development
Programme in Kangayam,
India since 2006. The children
are between the ages of 4 to
14 years.
Kangayam is an urban slum
located in Coimbatore City
in Tamil Nadu State of India,
about 2,400km from New Delhi.
The major issues faced by the
community were poor sanitation,
low income, poor infrastructure,
high alcoholism, lack of drainage
facilities and a 40% high school
drop-out rate. Average income of
the families ranging between Rs.
1,000 (RM7) to Rs. 1,200 (RM8)
per month.
Through Child Sponsorship,
monthly contributions from
BRDB are pooled together
with that of other sponsors
to be invested in long-term
development programmes that
will give the sponsored children,
his/her family and community
access to life’s basic
necessities including:
• Clean water
• Health care
• Food Agriculture
• Education
• Economic Development
By addressing these basic
issues, World Vision and BRDB
hope to break the cycle of
poverty and give sponsored
children the opportunity to
have a brighter future.
Together, BRDB and
World Vision See Change
“Nothing happens unless we
dream” has been phrase the
communities in Kangayam
who thirst for change. BRDB
has been equally inspired by
the changes that have taken
place. We acknowledge that the
journey of transformation is an
on-going battle but it’s worth
every effort because lives of
those in need are turned around
for the better, children are given
the opportunities to grow up as
children. World Vision and BRDB
are partners in this journey –
together, We See Change.
Poornima
Veeramani
Sanjaykumar
Subramani
Nishar
Ashrappali
Nikesh
Anbazhagan
Maheswari
Perumal
