Source : Star Property
Properties from a Feng Shui perspective: Part 258
By David Koh and Joe Choo | September 14, 2012
Harmony in the hills
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In our Environology tour of the Klang Valley, we constantly highlight the importance of landform in town planning. The ancient Chinese sages understood this principle and advised people on how to choose a suitable piece of land and utilise it.
The objective is to create an environment where properties such as palaces, homes and businesses can derive beneficial energy which is conducive for long-term success. This objective has not changed in the millennia that followed up to the present day.
We were recently invited by a client to evaluate a piece of property he was eyeing and we were surprised by how good the landform turned out to be. The development is located in Cyberjaya, outside the Klang Valley and would normally be excluded from our tour. (For Google map reference, log on to maps.google.com.my and search for “Kuala Lumpur”.)
However, since the crux of our series of articles is to highlight landforms, earth energy and how they affect properties and their occupants, we would be remiss to ignore such a good example of an ideal landform. Cyberjaya was touted as a futuristic IT-themed city that would be the hub of the Multimedia Super Corridor and Malaysia’s Silicon Valley. It even boasts having a university – Multimedia University – that aspires to be the country’s version of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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The topography of the site; the land is surrounded on three sides by high ground, and enjoys a gentle gradient.
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Intelligent cityThis intelligent “city” was intended to be a private-sector project with the government indirectly involved through government-linked corporations. Several large multinational companies set up operations in Cyberjaya to take advantage of its proximity to Putrajaya and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The pot is also sweetened by a tax incentive in the form of MSC status.
However, soon after its opening ceremony in 1997, the Asian financial crisis struck a blow to the ambitious project before it could gather momentum. Some players pulled out and the government was forced to step in as a stakeholder.
Many technology companies also appealed to the government to extend the Multimedia Super Corridor over a bigger geographical area, citing limited resources and difficulties from the financial crisis. Thus, the “super corridor” stretches from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre to Cyberjaya, with Cyberjaya as the centre for growth.
The development of offices, commercial facilities, call centres and so forth slowed down and affected demand for housing. With limited options, existing residential properties became scarce and expensive, prompting many to seek alternative accommodation in nearby Dengkil, Salak Tinggi, Serdang, Puchong and Kajang.
The situation appears to have turned the corner and several developers are now launching new housing projects in Cyberjaya. Not all, however, are targeting lower-priced homes. In keeping with the vision of Cyberjaya as a modern, technology hub a la California’s Silicon Valley, some of these projects are designed with prestige and luxury in mind.
Symphony Hills
The site that impressed us is located in Symphony Hills, developed by UEMLand, one of the members of the Setia Haruman consortium that is the master developer of Cyberjaya.
Symphony Hills is a landed strata development targeted at the luxury market. Most of the homes here are priced in the seven-digit range. The master plan calls for the homes to be built in clusters, with beautiful gardens and a floating clubhouse. True to its Cyberjaya calling, houses here will also be connected to the world via a smart and comprehensive fibre-optic backbone.
According to the developer’s website, the development comprises several parcels, each with its own theme and design, including lush gardens. Combined with trees lining the roads or boulevards, 35% of Symphony Hills, on average, is covered with greenery. The houses are designed with living areas facing green gardens.
Most of the green areas and gardens will be managed and maintained as common facilities by a management corporation. It is all high-tech, with a gated and guarded community and state- of-the-art security systems. What struck us about Symphony Hills is its surrounding landform. The entire parcel of land is surrounded on three sides by high ground, and enjoys a gentle gradient. The slope comes to a stop at a man-made stream on which the “floating” clubhouse will be located.
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The master plan calls for the homes to be built in clusters.
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Linear clubhousePart of this “floating” clubhouse (it will stretch across the entire breadth of the development) has already been built and it currently hosts the sales office. It is built on a raised platform and visitors walk along a boardwalk to access the facilities.
Earth energy originates from high ground and flows downhill until it reaches a medium of different rigidity, such as rivers, lakes and seas. Direct energy is powerful and can overwhelm the occupants of properties that face it head-on. This is why it is not advisable to build homes that face uphill.
When the earth energy meets another medium, in this case the stream on which the clubhouse sits, it is reflected backwards and deflected along the banks of the river. This makes the energy gentler and more homogenous. If the river is curved, it forms an embrace (or concave) on one bank and an elbow (convex) on the other. The concave side is considered the better or more conducive site because the rebounding energy is directed towards a focal point, using the concave as a parabolic dish.
This pool of gentle, homogenous energy is conducive for life and success. Properties should be aligned to tap into it for best results to the occupants.
For more information and viewing of Symphony Hills, contact Koon at 010-2868 100 or koon@espriestate.com
