TA Global Bhd will soft-launch its latest high-rise serviced apartment development named Amaya Residences in Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor, this month. The development will be located on top of the upcoming DA Central Mall. Both the serviced apartments and the mall will be part of the larger 48-acre Damansara Avenue mixed-use development, which will be developed in two parcels.
Parcel 1 will be spread across 26.55 acres, while Parcel 2 will occupy 21.51 acres. To date, around 11.69 acres of Parcel 1 have been completed. The completed projects in Phase 1 are Ativo Plaza (5.73 acres), Azelia Residence (3.13 acres) and Ativo Suites (2.83 acres). All three have been fully sold.
The final component of Parcel 1 will be a 14.86-acre mixed-use development named Ativo Annexe. Amaya Residences and DA Central Mall are part of Ativo Annexe, which will have other components including offices, a hotel and a wellness hub.
Damansara Avenue is a transit-oriented development, therefore DA Central Mall will have a covered walkway connecting the apartment and mall to the Sri Damansara Sentral MRT station, says TA Global CEO Tiah Joo Kim in an exclusive interview with City & Country.
Urban Resort Homes
With a gross development value (GDV) of RM1 billion, Amaya Residences will feature two 68-storey residential towers with a total of 1,268 units. Each tower will house 634 units. The units will have built-ups of 539 sf to 1,230 sf and are priced from RM553,000 to RM1.35 million. The maintenance fee inclusive of sinking fund is an estimated 45 sen psf per month.
According to Tiah, Amaya Residences’ design concept was inspired by a modern Japanese architectural philosophy — simplicity. “We are aiming to create unique living spaces, with a focus on simplicity and a careful choice of natural materials as well as neutral colour palettes to set the stage for a serene ambience."
“The towers are designed as a series of frames, stacked one on top of the other in a staggered fashion. This creates a dynamic and visually interesting façade, while also providing residents with framed views of the surrounding city and landscape. The height and building silhouette are a statement to the surrounding area and will become a new landmark in Bandar Sri Damansara’s vicinity,” he adds.
The landscape is an essential element of the development, he elaborates. “Although our projects are located in a more urban location, we wanted to give our customers an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. A serene environment is what we are going for, so we designed Amaya Residences as an urban resort surrounded by aesthetic landscapes, similar to a tropical resort.”
He says the landscape will feature indigenous and tropical plants as well as a green pathway with tree groves at the podium level. “Over time, these plants will mature and naturally form a living barrier that both separates the development from its surroundings and enhances the overall greenery of the area. This nature-inspired design philosophy extends to the residential towers’ façade, which showcases a palette of rich, earthy tones.”
The GreenRE-certified Amaya Residences has many green features, including electric vehicle charging stations, optimal thermal design, energy-efficient lifts and LED lighting, a rainwater harvesting system and low-irrigation landscaping.
He further explains that the developer decided to provide more facilities based on feedback from buyers and residents of its previous developments in Damansara Avenue. “We always try to learn from our previous projects, which is why we stay in touch with the joint management body and the management company of Ativo Suites. Therefore, we know what’s popular and which facilities are always fully booked.”
DA Central Mall, on the other hand, will be spread across five storeys, with a net lettable area of 420,000 sf. Tiah says the mall’s façade will also have stone and wood finishes to match Amaya Residences’ exterior.
Both developments will have eight levels of parking bays in total but with separate entrances. Besides offering various retail and dining options to residents of Amaya Residences, Tiah hopes the mall will also become one of Damansara Avenue’s focal points.
Catering to Market Demand
Damansara Avenue was designed to cater to the neighbourhood’s needs, says Tiah. “The entire master plan is well-thought-out, well-planned and well-designed. When you build that big, you have to create an environment where people want to live. You can’t just build a bunch of houses and expect people to live there. So, that’s what we’re doing, building something that would cater to the community in the neighbourhood.”
Amaya Residences was crafted based on the same theory, he adds. “In the past or during my parents’ generation, owning a landed property was the norm. But now, it is a lot more expensive to do that and your lifestyle is pretty much compromised if it is a standalone development.
“I also find that the younger generation is not too keen on that idea anymore. They would rather live in a home that offers facilities that suit their lifestyle and be within close proximity of their workplace rather than living further away from the city.”
(17 January 2024)