Mediterranean architecture sets Marrakech LakeView TwinVillas apart from the others

If you are shopping for a housing property investment thats different in looks, check put Kota Seriemas.

You are right if the name rings a bell. This is no new township but a development that started four years ago.

And what exactly is happening at Kota Seriemas, which is in the victim of the vicinity of the PNB Corporate Park, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Sepang?

The developer, golden Hope Development Sdn Bhd, has unveiled a new residential enclave of over 25 acres known as Marrakech Lake View Twin Villas, comprising semi-detached houses incorporating Mediterranean elements from Morocco.

Work on Marrakech, which is phase eight of the 2,800 acre Kota Seriemas freehold township development, has started and the development says it is schedule to be ready in February 2006. There are altogether 91 units of semidees and they come in five designs. These homes have a gross development cost of RM28.33 million and a development cost of RM21.17 million.

Priced from RM228,888 to RM505,814, the units fronting the lake cost an average of RM20,000 more. Though the layout of Marrakech is similar to that of a gated community, it is not gated.

According to the developer, free security services would be provided for the first two years, after which the developer would assist in the forming of a residents committee to oversee the security needs.

THE MOROCCON CONNECTION
Why Morocco, one may ask.

Golden Hope Development general manager Mohd Shukor Nasir tells City & Country they wanted something different as most Mediterranean-themed housing development usually have names reminiscent of the south of France or Italy.

When the named Marrakech was proposed, we felt that the named would be liked by our target market,says Mohd Shukor, adding that the Moroccan history, which revealed that there are four imperial cities in the country, namely, Fez, Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes, After comparing the cities, Marrakech was chosen because of its beautiful architecture.

The Marrakech homes feature full-height windows, cengal-wood pergolas, spacious terraces and open gardens that evoke the eclectic architecture of morocco, which is based on African, Islamic and Spanish influences.

Enhancing the Mediterranean-influenced façade are the distinctive horseshoe arch windows, zillige wall tilling of several designs and Juliet balconies, says the developer. Zillige tiles are geometric designs of mosaic tiles that adorn the floors and walls of Moroccan courtyards, houses and fountains while the horseshoe arch windows are common in Mediterranean architecture. By adding all these features, we unveil the charms of Marrakech,offers Mohd Shukor adding that the zillige tiles, which are synonymous with Morocco, have attracted a lot of interest among potential buyers.

Since its launch in March, mohd Shukor says, 80% of the 91 units has been sold.

ABOUT KOTA SERIEMAS

Located within the Klang Valleys southern corridor growth area, Kota Seriemas is a 40-minutes drive south of Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressways Nilai interchange, to the KLIA via the KLIA-Kota Seriemas dedicated highway and near Cyberjaya and Putrajaya, the developer adds.

So far, 689 housing units in different enclaves have been sold.

The enclaves include LakeView Homes, GrowHomes and Parklink Homes comprising bunagalows and 2-storey link houses with old Malaya/colonial, Balinese, traditional malay and Mediterranean/Europe themes.

To create a livelier atmosphere at the back lanes of the various enclaves, herbs have been planted, according to Mohd Shukor.

The entire development is built around a green environment. The concept, he stresses, is enhanced by 19 acres of recreational park interspersed with eight man-made lakes-which is part of the companys garden-living in the greater airport city development concept.

to reflect the environment, we call our phases laman followed by a flowers name such as bakawali and kemboja instead of justplain phases followed by a numeral, he offers, adding that the developer is targeting those living or working the greater KLIA region.

ABOUT THE DEVELOPER

Golden Hope Development Sdn Bhd is 60% owned by Island & Peninsular Bhd (I&P) following the recently completed rationalisation exercise between Golden Hope Bhd and I&P.

Golden Hope development has a lankbank of 12,000 acres in Kota Seriemas, Bangi, Kuala Langat, Morib and Johor.

Some 400 acres have been development, leaving 2,400 acres, which will keep the oper busy for another 15 years. Total gross development value of the entire development is RM2.5 billion, Mohd Shukor says.

As for the developers track record, Mohd Shukor says:We have over 20 years as we worked closely with Negara Properties when we were part of the Golden Hope Group.The people running the place are still the same as before the rationalisation.

Projects that the company is involved in currently include a beach resort in Morib, which is scheduled to be ready by march, and the Puteri Nursing College, a feature of the Kota Seriemas development.

For more details on Kota Seriemas, call (03) 8739 9339