There is a reason city folk love to go on holiday far away from the hustle and bustle. It lies in the ability to leave the stresses of the concrete jungle behind, in exchange for a quiet, lush green sanctuary. Then resting and recharging, before returning, ready to seize whatever life has to offer. With an exclusive landed home at Horizon Hills serving as your luxury hideaway, you can make this your reality.
Set on high ground, replete with gentle, rolling hills, Horizon Hills lives up to its name. The premium, freehold multi-award-winning matured township is situated in the reputable Iskandar district of Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Owning an accessible holiday home at Horizon Hills means you can flit to your refuge in a short drive across the highway, via the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link Highway or Johor–Singapore Causeway.
Horizon Hills is fully connected and accessible via the major highways (Coastal Highway, Malaysia-Tuas Second Link Highway, and Perling-Pasir Gudang Highway North-South Highway).
As a resident of the most sought-after development across the Causeway, take pleasure and relish in the security and sense of space as you stroll through the low-density neighbourhood. Come sunrise and sunset, be treated to spectacular, golden views wherever land meets sky.
Developers’ Background On Horizon Hills
15 years have been put into the development of the project. Built to be the perfect embodiment of luxury meets sustainability, Horizon Hills is set a world apart from its competition.
The coveted mixed-development has a total of 6,000 units and sprawls across 1,200 acres of land. To date, the joint venture between two of Malaysia’s renowned property developers, Gamuda Land and UEM Sunrise, has delivered 4,000 homes.
International projects developed by UEM Sunrise include Marina One (Singapore), Duo Singapore (Singapore), Aurora Melbourne (Australia), and Conservatory Melbourne (Australia). Notable projects by Gamuda Land include OLA Residences (Singapore), GEM Residences (Singapore), 661 Chapel Street (Australia), Gamuda City (Vietnam), and Celadon City (Malaysia).
An Upscale Mixed-Development, Set A Class Apart Contemporary Design Concepts And Facilities
Horizon Hills remains an unbeatable prospect with its location, amenities and facilities, environment, and product quality. Many conveniences and amenities are available within and surrounding the township. These include:
Shopping malls (e.g. AEON Bukit Indah, Mall of Medini, and Paradigm Mall)
Entertainment and lifestyle options (e.g. Legoland and Puteri Harbour)
Education facilities (e.g. EduCity, a multi-campus student hub that houses
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, University of Reading Malaysia, University of Southampton Malaysia, Marlborough College Malaysia, Raffles American School)
Medical facilities (e.g. Columbia Asia Hospital – Iskandar Puteri, Gleneagles Hospital Medini Johor, and Kensington Green Specialist Centre)
Restaurants and eateries
The elite residential enclave has 11 impressive precincts, each with its own unique identity and characteristics. For occupancy, each home requires only minimal renovation upon purchase. The upscale township offers fully gated and meticulously planned, quality homes with an exclusive membership to the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club – the first of its kind.
At the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, residents have access to the private, 18-hole par 72 designer golf course, starring classical bunkering with sweeping sand faces, unique island greens and island fairways with natural green buffers. Thanks to its standout features, the course bagged the ‘Best Maintained Golf Course’ and ‘Best Greens’ by ParGolf People’s Choice Awards 2020.
Residents are not limited to playing golf at the country club. They can swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pool or let their children splash about in the kids’ pool. For those who prefer to work out on land, they can use the gym or fitness studio. Alternatively, get competitive with friends over a game of tennis, badminton or table tennis at the various courts and halls.
Horizon Mall: Hitting A New Milestone And Catalyst Development At Horizon Hills Aside from the existing contemporary design concepts and facilities, Horizon Hills is proud to introduce a new catalyst development – Horizon Mall.
Set to be an exciting and innovative space, Horizon Mall will have 150,000 sq.ft of shopping and dining options and a playpark.
Adhering to the theme of sustainable luxury, Horizon Mall has a biophilic, energy-efficient design. Constructed according to the architectural principles of openness and lightness, natural light streams into and fresh air gently circulates throughout the building. Indoor plants complete the interior.
Horizon Mall will be located in the heart of Horizon Hills, giving residents easy access to a vast array of F&B and retail concepts. The mall is within walking distance of Horizon Golf & Country Club and Invictus International School.
Invictus International School is a co-educational international school, based in Singapore. The educational institution offers a quality curriculum across kindergarten, primary and secondary levels.
The proximity to these various facilities positions Horizon Mall as the ideal rendezvous point for families. When Dad finishes his round of golf and school has ended for the kids, they can meet Mum after her day of shopping at the family’s favourite restaurant at Horizon Mall. The best part is after a long, fulfilling day, home is just a 10-minute commute away.
Living In Horizon Hills Where Nature Meets Luxury Living
For those seeking a clean and healthy environment to live in, going for Horizon Hills, the greenest township in the Johor Bahru district, is an obvious choice.
Combining the best of architectural innovation, master planning and landscape design, the green outdoors blend seamlessly with contemporary architecture, with open-plan interior layouts that complement Horizon Hills’ natural, undulating terrain.
Only 40% of the 1,200 hectares of the land area is slated for development, while the remaining 60% is reserved for facilities and various green spaces. Additionally, 60,000 trees have been planted throughout Horizon Hills’ neighbourhoods and roadsides, alongside waterways which cool the environment. This translates into a pristine, preserved secondary forest, which has been softscaped, allowing indigenous species to thrive.
To let residents move through the township easily, 13km of cycling lanes and 30km of jogging and walking paths thread through Horizon Hills.
Alongside these ‘car-free’ paths, the 200-acre golf course, wellness community facilities, nearby commercial hubs (i.e. Horizon Avenue, Gateway Commercial Centre) and upcoming Horizon Mall and Horizon Square allow Horizon Hills to be a self-contained, sustainable township.
At Horizon Hills, the pursuit of creating a Shangri-La where luxury and nature can co-exist in harmony for generations to come is evident in its design. By listening to and respecting the flora and fauna that came before, the biodiversity in Horizon Hills flourish. In turn, residents can live in a symbiotic relationship with nature, delighting in the best of both worlds.
Taking Safety Seriously At Horizon Hills
Thorough planning goes into designing the safety measures employed at Horizon Hills. The premium development is known for its stringent two-tier and three-tier security systems, with CCTV cameras lining the fencing along the property’s perimeter. An around-the-clock, 24-hour dedicated guard patrol is also available, should residents require assistance.
For further peace of mind, panic buttons and video intercoms are dispersed throughout the well-lit, well-planned roads in the cul-de-sac neighbourhoods to foster a sense of security among the community.
In recognition of these safety features, Horizon Hills has been awarded and recognised as having the “Best Safety Feature Development” in the StarProperty Awards.
Other industry recognitions include:
The Edge Malaysia-PEPS Value Creation Excellence Awards in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018
Gold Winner for Malaysia’s Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2020 by EdgeProp
‘Best Landed Development (Malaysia)’ and ‘Best Township Development (Iskandar)’ at the 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia)
Honour Award, under the ‘Developer Category – Landscape Master Plan Awards’ category by the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) 2022
Upcoming Launches At Horizon Hills In 2022 All Horizon Hills freehold units are eligible for Malaysians and foreigners. Upcoming launches in Horizon Hills include:
Bungalow Homes
The upcoming 24-unit launch of Bungalow Homes marks the final release of the premium living unit type. Previously, the limited exclusive two- and three-storey Bungalow Homes from the earlier launch were sold out.
Adjacent to Sireh Park, homeowners can spend evenings and weekends hiking the surrounding walking trails and parks. Front views of the greens can be seen from the Bungalow Homes’ windows, and the owners of these distinguished homes will receive free membership to the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club.
Super Link Homes
Enveloped by greenery and within walking distance of an abundance of green spaces, these new Link House units are situated in the low-density, boutique precincts of Link Homes. Choose from four types of designer homes, each with outstanding façades and each with a land area of 26’x75’.
Of the 105 units available, only eight units have sweeping golf course views. Regardless of whether you score a view of the green, homeowners will receive free membership to the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club.
Buying A Home At Horizon Hills, Iskandar
Despite the economic slowdown brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for units at Horizon Hills remains resilient. The higher-than-average prices at Horizon Hills have not dampened interest either, with Horizon Hills reporting strong take-up rates.
What is more, there have been consistent take-up rates, showing that savvy buyers are willing to pay more for a premium lifestyle across the border.
Each of the many unit types is designed for and tailored to various lifestyles. Whether you intend to make a Horizon Hills property your home base for your growing family or serve as your weekend retreat, you will likely find a unit suited to your tastes.
THE Horizon Hills township in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Baru, will see the establishment of an international school by the year 2023.
Open to kindergarten, primary and secondary-level instruction, it will carry the Invictus International School brand and occupy 1.7ha, with a gross floor area of approximately 203,875 sq ft.
Construction of the campus will be carried out over three phases, with the first phase expecting completion by next year.
The building of the school is part of a collaboration involving three companies: Horizon Hills Development Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between UEM Land Bhd and Gamuda Bhd; CES Horizon Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd; and Nusajaya Greens Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UEM Land.
The collaboration will benefit a projected population of 18,800 by 2022, as well as more than 80,000 residents in surrounding communities.
Long-term good quality of life and capital growth is derived from towns situated at good locations, well master-planned with great gathering places that bring the community closer together, as well as facilities and amenities that meet their needs, Gamuda Land chief executive officer Ngan Chee Meng said in a press release.
UEM Sunrise chief operating officer (Southern) Zamri Yusof said the establishment of an international school with Invictus’ pedigree is a pull factor for the demographics in the township, particularly families and owner-occupiers.
Chip Eng Seng Corp executive director Tan Tee How said Invictus provides a pathway to academic success for those who set their sights on admission to internationally-renowned universities.
“Through a nurturing environment that encourages innovation and lifelong learning, Invictus focuses on the fundamentals of learning and the individual learner, ” he added. The school, which was first established in Singapore in 2015 and has campuses in Hong Kong and Cambodia, is set to take in up to 1,500 students in stages.
It will adopt the UK Cambridge curriculum, from pre-school levels up to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the Cambridge International A Levels (Advanced Levels).The school will be located next to Horizon Hills’ south entrance, accessible via Persiaran Selatan Horizon. Launched in 2007, the Horizon Hills township is 70% completed to date and is targeted for full completion by 2027.
The RM7.2 billion Horizon Hills township in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru, first launched in 2007 is targeted for full completion by 2027.
According to the developer Horizon Hills Development Sdn Bhd, the township is 70 per cent completed to date.
With about six years left before its full completion, the company continues to add value for capital growth.
Horizon Hills Development, a 50:50 joint venture between UEM Land Bhd and Gamuda Bhd, has entered into a collaboration with CES Horizon Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd, and Nusajaya Greens Sdn Bhd, to construct a built-to-suit school (K-12 international school) within the township.
Nusajaya Greens, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UEM Land via Bandar Nusajaya Development Sdn Bhd, is the registered owner of the land on which Horizon Hills is sited.
The built-to-suit school will be operated by CES Horizon Sdn Bhd under the “Invictus” international school brand. Courtesy image
According to Horizon Hills Development, the school will be operated by CES Horizon under the “Invictus” international school brand and will offer kindergarten, primary and secondary-level instruction (up till year 12).
The campus will occupy 4.14 acres in Horizon Hills, with a gross floor area of about 203,875 sq ft.
Horizon Hills Development will develop and construct the campus over three phases, which CES Horizon will lease under a 15-year term, with an option to renew for a further 15 years.
Construction of the first phase is expected to complete in 2022 and the campus is expected to open its doors in 2023, with a capacity of up to 1,500 students in phases. It will adopt the UK Cambridge curriculum, from pre-school levels up to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Cambridge International A Levels (Advanced Levels).
“When we get the places right, the town works. To Gamuda Land, long-term sustainable value in terms of a lasting good quality of life and good capital growth is derived from towns situated at good locations, well master-planned with great gathering places that bring the community closer together as well as facilities and amenities that meet their needs,” said Gamuda Land chief executive officer Ngan Chee Meng.
Ngan said in a statement that Horizon Hills was planned with all the right key places – the workplace, play place, shopping place, park place, and the learning place, ensuring the sustainability of the town well into the future.
This collaboration with CES Horizon that brings Invictus International School’s recognised brand of education to Horizon Hills will benefit a projected population of 18,800 by 2022, as well as more than 80,000 residents in surrounding communities, he said.
Chip Eng Seng Corp executive director Tan Tee How said the school has plans to explore Chinese, Malay, and other languages for students as life skills.
Once completed, Horizon Hills will comprise 6,000 residential units.
The township includes 11 residential precincts and a 150,000 sq ft clubhouse, commercial and office components, as well as an 18-hole, 200-acre international championship course.
JOHOR: A sustainable town is one that provides a comfortable living environment that continues to reward the community well into the future. Horizon Hills is one prime example of Gamuda Land’s commitment towards creating a good town where the community can enjoy long-term sustainable value in terms of a lasting good quality of life and good capital growth.
With more than two decades of experience in town-making, Gamuda Land certainly knows what makes a desirable town. These are derived from towns and developments at good locations, a well-thought-out masterplan, sustainable green environment, mindful town management and maintenance as well as great gathering places with strategically placed facilities and amenities to sustain the community.
Listening to what the land has to say
“When we first came here in 2007, we thought hard about what will make this place unique? Based on our experience of in making good towns, we apply our town-making principles. One of it is listening to what the land has to say, where we study how the land rises and falls, allowing nature to flourish and dictate the masterplan. That inspired us to create Horizon Hills, with homes overlooking the golf course that are undulating and lush,” said Jim Woon, general manager of Horizon Hills.
To-date, 70% of Horizon Hills has been developed, and it is home to over 55,187 trees with a wide range of plants as well as the nesting habitat for birds and other little creatures. This has earned Horizon Hills stripes for being a green township where biodiversity resides symbiotically with modern urbanity. It came as no surprise for the township to win several property awards including the StarProperty Awards 2020 – The Southern Star Award (Excellence). For its thoughtful masterplan, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) named Horizon Hills as Iskandar Malaysia’s “Most Liveable Residence.”
Homes at Horizon Hills are surrounded by lush greenery
When we get the places right, the town works
Beyond the beautiful landscape, Horizon Hills is mindfully crafted with the community’s convenience in mind. The home place, play place, park place, learning place, working, place eating and shopping places are thoughtfully brought together plus strategically laid out to be well-connected and accessible even by walking or biking.
“One thing for sure, the Covid-19 has invoked our inner appreciation towards green living environments, where the time saved by working from home would be optimised and used for working out in the park.”
“This is where good town management plays a role. With all precautionary measures in public spaces towards Covid-19 well taken care of, like registering visitors, constant upkeep and sanitisation of facilities, residents can enjoy peace of mind while jogging or cycling in the park,” said Jim.
He added that despite Horizon Hills being more than a decade old, the masterplan is future proof for seamless integration of new technologies such as the Gamuda Land mobile app thereby making maintenance of the town easier.
Horizon Hills’ homeowners can enjoy free membership to enter the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Move-in ready
Those who are on the lookout for a new property would benefit from the overnight policy rate cut by Bank Negara and stimulus packages offered by the government and the developer. Horizon Hills is running the Earns programme that offers low downpayment, cash rewards for home furnishing, a golf club membership and more, which is applicable to both completed and ongoing projects.
Launched in 2018, The Cove precinct in Horizon Hills comprises cluster, semi-detached and bungalow homes that are now completed. Only Semi-detached homes are still available. They are move-in-ready with a built-up size of 3,400 sqft, 4+1 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and prices starting from RM 1.8mil.
Not only is Horizon Hills known for its mindful masterplan, it has also earned multiple recognitions from Edgeprop.my for being a well-maintained and sustainable town that stands the test of time. With proper maintenance, the value of this development can be sustained over time.
In the pipeline
Horizon Hills will be launching the Northwood precinct with 20 limited units of 3-storey semi-detached homes. Each home features built-up size of 4,700 sqft, with a land size of 40ft x 80ft, fitted with 5+1 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms befitting multigenerational living.
Northwood semi-detached homes feature a sophisticated façade design.
The show unit for Northwood precinct is now completed and ready for preview. Visitors can enjoy a close-up experience and they will find much thought has gone into the design of Northwood semi-detached homes.
Not only are they aesthetically appealing with sophisticated façade design, but the homes are sturdy, functional and sustainable. Featuring premium materials and finished with grandeur ground floor and high ceiling, noise and heat insulation windows and sliding doors, as well as built-in video intercom, panic button, solar-powered water heating system, rainwater harvesting system and more.
This precinct is located at the prime area of the freehold Horizon Hills, closest to the amenities in Iskandar Puteri – namely commercial centre, Educity, healthcare centre and more. Yet it also enjoys high exclusivity with beautiful panoramas of the surrounding gardens and rolling hills.
For more information, please visit Horizon Hills Sales Gallery or call 607-2323433. Interested buyers can also get in touch to find out about the project from the official Horizon Hills’ website at www.tech.ilmgroups.com/web/horizonhills
EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award 2020: Gamuda Land
Gamuda’s expertise in construction and engineering as well as infrastructure building has no doubt impressed many, but beyond that, the company’s innovation and skills have also been proven in property development.
“The townships that we build must be able to stand the test of time and are easy to maintain. Our mission is to create homes that people could grow up and grow old in,” Gamuda Land CEO Ngan Chee Meng says.
In line with this mission, Ngan stresses that the company wants to maintain for good Gamuda Land’s signature of clear lakes with natural landscaping in its townships.
To make such a promise is a daring move but he is confident the company could fulfil the commitment as sustainable design has already been its aspiration even from day one of project planning.
“To achieve the objective of sustainability, the township must be able to stand the test of time but also benefit the environment and not only for the users. Building properties that people want and are easy to maintain are always in our mind,” he adds.
In EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020, Gamuda Land received the EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award. At the same Awards, the developer’s projects The Cove @ Horizon Hills received the Gold in the below 10 years non-strata residential category while Horizon Hills won Gold in the EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award 2020 category. Horizon Hills in Johor is developed jointly by Gamuda Land and UEM Sunrise Bhd. Another project The Robertson in Kuala Lumpur won Silver in the below 10 years strata residential category.
Gamuda Land received EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award 2020. From left: EdgeProp Malaysia executive editor Sharon Kam, Ngan, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, EdgeProp Malaysia editor-in-chief and managing director Au Foong Yee and EdgeProp Malaysia director of business and product development Alvin Ong. (Photos by Low Yen Yeing/EdgeProp.my)
Marked by the identity of a green environment, Gamuda Land’s townships are displays of vast foliage that is not just well-curated landscapes but with every plant in the right place to create a harmonious sanctuary.
“Listen to what the land tells you,” says Ngan, emphasising that this is not simply a catchy marketing line, but that every township has actually been designed in a different way based on what suits the soil and weather.
The company even has its own nursery to grow suitable trees for the townships even before the projects were introduced to the market. The 17-acre nursery in Sungkai, Perak so far has planted 265,000 matured trees to serve such needs.
“We study the environment and soil to understand the suitable plants for different developments and also to create a balanced ecosystem for the townships,” Ngan reveals.
Gamuda Land has also invested in research and development on biodiversity and is looking to work with the government to set up a research centre focusing on creating a balanced ecosystem for the environment.
Jade Hills in Kajang is also award-winning project by Gamuda Land. (Photos by Low Yen Yeing/EdgeProp.my)
This is in line with the company’s objectives of building sustainable townships, including for its latest project – Gamuda Cove in southern Klang Valley (along the Elite Highway and opposite Cyberjaya).
This 1,530-acre development will be divided into a few districts comprising residential and commercial developments, a 23-acre Discovery Park, a 60-acre Central Park with three lakes and a new water theme park.
With so many different elements in a township development, creating a balanced ecosystem is important to ensure the success of the project as it’s conceptualised as a “nature sanctuary”, leveraging on its location adjacent to the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands.
Emphasising transparency
To ensure the company could keep its promises, transparency of every process is important so that every property could be delivered on time, with high quality, at the controlled cost and without wastage, stresses Ngan.
This includes the project tender process, where everything is conducted in a transparent way through real time bidding. Hence, only contractors that have the skill set, knowledge and reasonable price will win the award.
“It’s not just pricing, we are looking for contractors who could fulfil our strict requirements and specifications. Take building wiring as an example, we have strict requirements to follow as we are constructing using IBS (industrialized building system). The wiring must follow the calculated route, otherwise it will not fit.
“Even for urgent works, at least three bidders are required before the contract is given out,” Ngan discloses.
With the system being continually improved, the company has seen the rate of variation order dropping to 2% last year compared to 5% previously.
Ngan: To achieve the objective of sustainability, the township must be able to stand the test of time for the environment and for the users.
Lessons learnt
Gamuda Land’s journey as a property developer was not always smooth-going. One hard lesson was from Bandar Botanic, its first green master-planned township in Malaysia. The development has been fully completed with a total of 8,593 residential units having been handed over to date.
Since Bandar Botanic began construction until it began handing over by phases from 2004, the 1,242-acre freehold township in Klang, Selangor had won numerous awards for its township planning. However, things had taken a dive when the sewerage system in the development’s first phase – Ambang Botanic 1 broke down in 2009, leaving the township with a foul stench from sewage overflow. Naturally, Gamuda Land was blamed by residents for the dysfunctional system.
The system was progressively approved, compliance-tested and subsequently taken over by the local authority in 2005, but it began to malfunction over the years. Despite the fact that the development had been completed and handed over to the local authority, the company had to come up with short-term solutions like manually de-sludging the sewage while it facilitated meetings between the Residents’ Association and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to look for a permanent solution. Finally, all parties agreed on rectification works to upgrade the sewerage system.
Ngan says this incident emphasised that with the right attitude in problem solving, enhanced communication as well as skills and knowledge, the problem could have been solved earlier.
Trees planted in Gamuda Land’s townships are grown in its own nursery.
“The incident also reminded us the importance of quality property and facility maintenance. It cost us 10 years and millions of ringgit to fix the problem. We have taken this as a lesson and have taken up the responsibility of managing the common property and facilities of the townships developed by us,” Ngan points out.
Gamuda Land is the property development arm of the 44-year old Gamuda Bhd. It has developed at least 11 townships and nine vertical communities in Malaysia and overseas. As at July 2019, the company has delivered 45,907 properties. It takes pride in its township planning, facilities management and infrastructure development, leveraging on the group’s expertise in construction, engineering and IBS.
Below 10 years non-strata residential Gold: The Cove @ Horizon Hills
Managing and maintaining a community made up of homes with individual titles (and keeping it top-notch) is no walk in the park. For a start, non-strata properties lack the regulation and uniformity of their stratified counterparts.
Still, The Cove @ Horizon Hills rises to the occasion and proves that despite being a landed non-strata development, it can be managed efficiently and sustainably as well.
This year, at the EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020, The Cove received the Gold award in the below 10 years non-strata residential category. The township also struck Gold in the EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award 2020 category. In 2019, D’Suites @ Horizon Hills had bagged the award in the below 10 years multi-own strata residential category.
The development is part of the 1,228-acre Horizon Hills township in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, which is jointly developed by Gamuda Land (the property development arm of Gamuda Bhd) and UEM Sunrise Bhd.
Horizon Hills was first launched in 2007 and more than 70% of the development has been completed to date. The township management team, Horizon Hills Property Services is a subsidiary of Gamuda Land.
From left: EdgeProp Malaysia director of business and product development Alvin Ong, Gamuda Land Bhd COO Aw Sei Cheh, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and EdgeProp Malaysia editor-in-chief and managing director Au Foong Yee.
The freehold landed non-strata residential development sits on a 33-acre site with a total of 225 units to be built over six phases. As of February 2020, four of these phases are completed, and has seen an 80% take-up rate. The project consists of link homes (2- and 3-storey), semidees (2- and 3-storey), as well as bungalow units.
There is no compromising on security despite the encumbrances on a non-strata development.
“One of the most challenging aspects in managing [The Cove] would be in ensuring security. In order to achieve our target of zero break-ins, we equipped the development with various tools such as CCTVs, double barrier entry/exit systems and a guard patrolling system. Additionally, there are other measures such as bi-monthly security audits as well as annual audit to ensure that all SOPs are complied with. We also employ in-house security personnel to oversee and support the outsourced security guards by conducting fitness trainings and joint meetings, including daily roll-call briefings,” says Horizon Hills general manager Jim Woon.
The other challenge would be the undefined maintenance and management period by the developer, he adds. “Unlike strata developments where the developer is required to form a Joint Management Body within 12 months of delivery of vacant possession, there is no such requirement in an individual-titled development. Often, owners in these developments are contented to leave matters concerning maintenance and management of their community to the developer, or through their appointed property manager,” notes Woon.
Preventing problems and avoiding excesses
Another challenging aspect is the area of responsibility and jurisdiction. “We build rapport and maintain good relations with the local council so that any issues arising from responsibilities and jurisdiction are addressed expeditiously by them, and where there are gaps, depending on criticality, we will step in as the property manager to fill them in,” says Horizon Hills general manager (township and facilities development) Victor Tay.
The Horizon Hills luxury enclave has ample greenery and houses a private 18-hole par-72 designer golf course.
Similarly, he attributed The Cove’s zero break-in achievement in 2019 on the property management’s good relations with the police. “They have been instrumental to our success and their regular presence in the township serves as a good deterrence for crime.”
He further notes that non-strata developments typically require less contribution from owners as the amenities are maintained by the local council.
“Typical costs associated with such developments are security, cleaning and landscape maintenance. The only caveat is, for high-end developments, where residents have higher expectations, the costs involved may be similar, or even higher than those of strata properties,” explains Tay.
Additionally, Horizon Hills also works closely with the local council by helping the latter monitor and report on its contractors’ performance. “By ensuring that its contractors perform consistently, we are able to keep our supplemental services at an optimum level and avoid excesses,” says Tay.
Hence, he notes that all spending is tracked on a monthly basis to ensure that the community’s outlay is within budget. Any unbudgeted expenses will require strong justification with approval from the management.
In an effort to reduce expenditure, the management has installed solar flood lightings for the perimeter fencing around The Cove, replaced shrubs on some sections with those that are cheaper to maintain and set up a compost yard to reduce waste management expenses — at the same time producing natural fertilisers.
“We have also digitalised our procurement process from sourcing to approval and awarding, to ensure that we obtain the best price/value for any products or services at all times. Other conventional work processes such as submission of proposal or recommendation papers to the management for the purpose of obtaining approval is also done online to increase efficiency,” adds Tay.
Sustainability and innovation moving forward
Speaking of composting, The Cove adopts a unique approach in reducing its expenses with this environmentally-conscious effort.
“Our composting initiative utilises garden waste and leaves collected from the precinct, as well as from our township. These are then brought to our composting yard to be turned into compost which can then be used as soil conditioner and to a certain extent, fertiliser.
Tay: We build rapport and maintain good relations with the local council so that any issues arising from responsibilities and jurisdiction are addressed expeditiously by them, and where there are gaps, depending on criticality, we will step in as the property manager to fill them in.
“This effort benefits not just the community, but the climate in many ways. The community does not have to fork out transportation and dumping fees, while the climate benefits from less carbon footprint,” offers Woon, adding that a large space is needed for the garden waste and placed far enough from the residential area to avoid any unpleasant odour.
Since 2019, Gamuda Land has progressively introduced Gamuda Land Mobile Application to all its developments including Horizon Hills. The App is an integrated platform for enhanced home ownership experience, where residents can enjoy conveniences such as pre-registration of visitors, making payments and provide feedback.
The year would also see a further digitalisation of conventional property management procedures via software. This is to ensure all common areas are adequately supervised and attended to by staff and their productivity can be tracked in real time.
Woon: The group is also on course to increase utilisation of technology and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) where possible to deliver our services and add value and convenience to our community with less human intervention.
“The group is also on course to increase utilisation of technology and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) where possible to deliver our services and add value and convenience to our community with less human intervention. For instance, we are actively exploring AI security systems. This will enable us to reduce staffing cost, which takes a significant sum out of the community expenses,” says Woon.
EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award 2020 Gold: Horizon Hills
It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon when we took a tour of Horizon Hills in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru. The sun was beaming ruthlessly, but there was still a refreshing breeze to provide some respite, making us thankful for the nature-rich surroundings.
Horizon Hills, a 1,228-acre freehold township jointly developed by Gamuda Land and UEM Sunrise Bhd, dedicates 35% of its land to green lungs and water features. To promote a low-carbon lifestyle, the developer has planted about 55,187 trees within the township to date. The trees supply fresh air and reduce the surrounding temperature for almost 25,000 residents living within and nearby. With greater awareness on global warming, this quality has become an important pull factor for people to live in Horizon Hills.
“One of our main tenets of sustainability is to be responsible in combating climate change,” Chief Operating Officer of Gamuda Parks Khariza Abdul Khalid notes.
Gamuda Parks is a sustainable landscape initiative launched by Gamuda Land in May 2018 to look after the design and maintenance of parks within its townships and developments.
From left: EdgeProp Malaysia executive editor Sharon Kam, Khariza, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and EdgeProp Malaysia editor-in-chief and managing director Au Foong Yee.
The township’s effort in preserving nature and battling climate change through landscape planning has earned it Gold of EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award 2020, an award of EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020.
In addition, a project in the township The Cove @ Horizon Hills also won Gold in the below 10 years non-strata residential category. In 2019, D’Suites Condominium @ Horizon Hills bagged the award in the below 10 years multi-own strata residential category.
“We are thankful to our team for believing in and staying true to our town-making principles of thoughtful master planning. The awards validate our dedication to good town-making,” Khariza says.
With a gross development value of RM7.2 billion, Horizon Hills will house about 6,000 residential units upon completion. Currently, it is 70% completed, with a total of 4,598 completed units and a commercial centre, a clubhouse and a 178-acre golf course.
An asset not to be sacrificed
When planning landscape at the township, the team is mindful against sacrificing nature for man’s convenience, Khariza shares. As a result, a major portion of the natural landscape has been retained when functionality is added to the places.
Khariza: We are mindful that a healthy ecosystem that attracts a rich biodiversity is healthy for human living as well
“Listening to what the land has to tell us guides our aspirations to design thoughtfully,” she points out. “We are mindful that a healthy ecosystem that attracts a rich biodiversity is healthy for human living as well.”
Horizon Hills boasts a natural habitat with a diverse range of flora and fauna. Among them are six vulnerable species trees and eight endangered ones as stated under the IUCN Red List.
“Not only would flora and fauna appreciate unadulterated nature, but people too. It has been proven that by staying in an environment with more natural elements such as greenery or water features, people are less susceptible to anxiety. There is also a link between greeneries and reduced risk of various illnesses,” Khariza elaborates.
“The flourishing of nature within Horizon Hills is an affirmation of the overall health of the landscape. By preserving nature, clean air and cooler temperature within the township is something everyone living nearby can enjoy,” she adds.
Horizon Hills dedicates 35% of its land to green lungs and water features.
It is certainly a challenge to keep a vast area of green-scape lush and healthy, as a massive amount of water is required for irrigation. Although we live in a country not short of water resources, Horizon Hills has not taken this for granted.
Water-bodies have been retained and now cover 83 acres in Horizon Hills, making irrigation easier and more cost-efficient. The ponds, lakes and meandering streams also provide scenic vistas and a cooling effect to residents staying nearby.
“As an added bonus, the water-bodies also serve as a natural feature to accentuate the difficulty level of the golf course,” Khariza points out.
Stingless bees were introduced to Horizon Hills.
In addition, rainwater harvesting systems have also been installed across various phases at Horizon Hills to reduce ground water consumption for landscape irrigation.
For its golf course, grass species have been carefully selected based on drought tolerance as well as weather and disease resistance to create an easy-to-maintain turf. Coco fibres are also placed at the bottom of all shrubs to reduce the need for watering and to curb weed growth.
Doing things the natural way
Horizon Hills also plays a part in preserving the broader environment by eliminating the use of chemicals in landscape maintenance. For one, the township uses garden waste to create natural compost for bio-fertilisers.
“Besides doing good to the environment, this has also saved us cost from buying chemical fertilisers. Trips to dispose waste could also be reduced, consequently bringing down our transportation cost and carbon footprint,” Khariza enthuses.
Apart from this, salt is used to control weeds instead of herbicide, while neem oil is used as insecticide in sensitive areas across the golf course. Another initiative the township carries out is bee cultivation, to encourage pollination without having to use chemical fertilisers.
Khariza shares that wild bees that pose danger to humans were one of the main challenges faced by Horizon Hills. Instead of resorting to insecticides, the township has chosen sustainable methods to tackle this problem.
“We introduced stingless bees, and so far, they have been effective in driving away the wild bees. The stingless bees are harmless, and as added benefits, their honey can be harvested, besides being used to pollinate the flora around the area,” she highlights.
PETALING JAYA (June 27): Property developer Gamuda Land was named a recipient of EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award 2020 at EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020 this evening.
How a property developer overcomes problems and challenges will show its mettle and Gamuda Land certainly proved this when it went all out to solve the sewerage problem at its first master-planned township Bandar Botanic in Klang, Selangor. Despite having handed over the township and the sewerage system to the local authorities, the developer had remained determined to ease the residents’ discomfort and eventually helped find a permanent solution 10 years later.
The award was in recognition of its commitment to ensure the liveability of the townships it has built. The award also recognises developers who are committed to building developments that are designed and built for sustainable and best-in-class property management. The development must also meet the needs of the present and future. Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd was also a recipient of EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award this year.
Gamuda Land CEO Ngan Chee Meng in his acceptance speech said it is honoured and humbled by the award.
“I would like to thank our customers for being the center of our motivation and to our employees and staff who made this award happen.
Horizon Hills was one of the Gold winners of the EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award 2020
“It is all about the people and the environment, and as a responsible town maker, we always plan and create things around these two themes. We also subscribe to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a group and that shows the direction which we are heading,” said Ngan.
Meanwhile, several Gamuda Land projects were in the limelight at EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020 with The Cove at Horizon Hills in Johor taking the Gold in the below 10 years non-strata residential category while Horizon Hills itself won a Gold of the EdgeProp-ILAM Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Award. Horizon Hills is a joint development with UEM Sunrise Bhd.
The Robertson project in Kuala Lumpur emerged with a Silver in the below 10 years mixed development (entire) category.
Ngan: I would like to thank our customers for being the centre of our motivation and to our employees and staff who made this award happen. (Photo by The Edge)
Winners of EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed and Sustainable Property Awards 2020 were announced at a virtual awards ceremony with Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin as guest of honour. The event was hosted on EdgeProp Malaysia’s Facebook page on the evening of June 27.
The Awards was organised by EdgeProp Malaysia with partner Nippon Paint Malaysia and supporting partners Panasonic Malaysia and KipleLive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Packet Bhd.
