This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021
Gamuda Land is set to launch Gardens Square, its first commercial hub, in its Gamuda Gardens township in Klang Valley North on Dec 4.
Gamuda Gardens assistant general manager Wong Siew Lee tells City & Country in an email interview that Gardens Square is an outdoor commercial square or hub with an emphasis on open spaces and connectivity in line with post-pandemic retail trends, which will include al fresco dining alleys and a central plaza for events and activities fronting the 50-acre pet-friendly central park.
“Gardens Square leverages the township’s growing residential and recreational components, as well as its Xploria placemaking initiative [a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces], with amenities such as the Big Bucket Splash water play park and a horseback riding trail by 3Q Equestrian,” she says.
With a gross development value (GDV) of RM198 million, Gardens Square occupies 6.7 acres and has a total built-up area of 291,766 sq ft. It will feature a total of 133 two- and three-storey shops and office lots with built-up areas ranging from 617 to 6,686 sq ft. Slated for completion in 2023, the office lots are priced from RM450,000 and the shops are priced from RM1.1 million.
Gardens Square offers primary road frontage, with a catchment population of 340,000 residents. The shops and office lots will be suitable for investors, business owners and start-up entrepreneurs. “We will allocate 25,000 sq ft in Gardens Square for an established grocer and F&B (food and beverage) operator to ensure continuity of convenience for residents and owners of Gamuda Gardens,” says Wong.
Gardens Square is an expression of one of Gamuda Land’s core development principles that states: “When we get the places right, the town works.” “We mindfully plan our townships to bring the right places together, centred on a commercial/town square where people can connect with each other, nature and the community,” Wong notes.
She explains that the design concept of Gardens Square is inspired by European architecture and uses red brick, steel and glass elements to convey an aesthetic of effortless sophistication, drawing from contemporary cosmopolitan enclaves such as Covent Garden in London and Tribeca in Manhattan, New York.
According to the developer, the commercial hub’s byways are enhanced by shaded canopies and glass surfaces for the shoplots, creating an interplay of shadows and sun while providing thermal comfort. The shops will also feature 4.5m ceiling heights to maximise natural light and ventilation.
Wong says Gardens Square is built with sustainability in mind, embodying Gamuda Land’s increasingly sophisticated approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles under the Gamuda Green Plan 2025.
“Some of the sustainable features will include car-free lanes that emphasise on walkability and bike-ability to reduce urban transport emissions, photovoltaic panels to deliver renewable energy, electric-vehicle charging stations in basement parking zones to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport, as well as the integration of greenery and landscaping, which provide covering from the sun and rain while cooling ambient temperatures,” says Wong.
While recent lockdowns have naturally affected visitor footfall in commercial spaces, the developer’s forward-looking approach has positioned Gardens Square to cater for healthy and safe consumer engagement post-lockdown.
“Commercial spaces are undeniably changing our approach. Chief among these is a focus on new forms of safety precautions and conveniences, balancing consumers’ desire for social interaction with their need for a safe shopping experience,” says Wong.
In the new operating landscape, she believes commercial spaces can become destinations that offer not only shopping choices but also leisure activities and community engagement to ensure not only their own vibrancy and sustainability, but also that of the surrounding communities. As such, Gardens Square has introduced new retail and F&B brands to the area, offering residents and visitors more options.
“By providing a well-balanced tenant mix catering for consumer needs in the new norm, as well as large and open community spaces for residents and visitors to come together and connect, Gardens Square is expected to drive demand and footfall in the area,” says Wong.
Launched in 2017, the 810-acre Gamuda Gardens has a total GDV of RM10 billion and will have seven precincts comprising landed homes, high-rises, corporate offices, shopping malls and shoplots.
Nearby amenities include AEON Mall Rawang, SJK(C) Kundang, SK Seri Kundang, Straits International School, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Kundang Lakes Country Club and Tasik Puteri Golf and Country Club. It is easily accessible via the North-South Expressway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway and Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway.
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