This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 19, 2022 - September 25, 2022

IJM Land Bhd will unveil its latest residential development — Arena — in its Seremban 2 township on Sept 25. The 3,800-acre township, comprising residential and commercial developments, was launched in 1995.

Arena has a gross development value (GDV) of RM78.89 million and comprises 96 two-storey link homes. It occupies an eight-acre tract in the centre of Seremban 2. The freehold and individual-titled residential development is expected to be completed in October 2024.

In an email interview with City & Country, IJM Land senior general manager (central region) Datuk Hoo Kim See says: “The name ­Arena itself evokes a sense of activity, where a healthy, active community is encapsulated within an equally lively and vibrant neighbourhood.”

Arena comprises intermediate, end-lot and corner units, with built-ups ranging from 2,381 to 2,733 sq ft and land sizes of 22ft by 65ft. Prices range from RM701,820 to RM1.086 million.

According to Hoo, the concept of Arena revolves around comfort, socialisation and recreation. He says: “The enforcement of home confinement has resulted in various 

adaptations where home designs are concerned, and these variations need to account for our lifestyle, which demands flexibility, connectivity, functionality and mobility.

“For instance, the open-plan layout allows for seamless connection between the living room, dining room and kitchen area, providing more flexibility to the occupants. The spaces are well designed to ensure activities flow smoothly and effectively, from one zone to another.

“For those who work from home, the design, which is based on the home office concept, provides versatility as well as privacy. Social space has also been designated as a common area with an open-plan concept in mind, allowing the right amount of interaction and visual contact as expected in a contemporary home lifestyle.”

Hoo also notes that the installation of exterior glazes will allow sufficient daylight to enter the homes and reduce the need for artificial lighting, and the wide-open layout would provide better ventilation.

The design takes a minimalist approach that adds a beautiful, ultra-modern conservative style to the façade, owing to its slim framing and reinforced concrete ledge beam, he says.

“Unlike most link homes, the car porches in Arena are completely covered, protecting vehicles from the eroding effects of rain and sunshine. Also, note that tiles layer the ground from the car porch until the driveway. The windows and sliding doors are fitted in powder-coated frames to exude a sense of luxury. For added security, a digital lock guards the home, which is governed by a smart system. Water pressure is maintained throughout the building by having a pump system in place.”

Arena is a guarded neighbourhood with a security system and CCTV cameras. The maintenance fee is still being finalised.

Hoo takes pride in the response that Arena has received so far. He says: “The project is open for registration of interest and the response has been very positive. This is because Arena addresses most of the pain points of house buyers, especially those who are looking to upgrade their houses. Growing families are particularly aware of the importance of having a larger living space since this allows their children to move about, explore and have fun.

“[With that,] we are targeting upgraders, second-house seekers, first-time home buyers, families with children and parents, as well as multigenerational buyers.”

Nearby amenities include the Seremban 2 Uptown Avenue, Centrio, One Avenue and The Plazo for F&B and entertainment; hypermarkets and malls such as AEON, Lotus, Mydin, NSK Trade City and Palm Mall; as well as medical centres such as Columbia Asia Hospital, KPJ Seremban Specialist Hospital, SEHAT Healthcare Centre and Klinik Kesihatan Seremban 2. The neighbourhood is also near the 15-acre City Park, the 30-acre Hill Park, the Seremban 2 Clubhouse and a sports complex.

Hoo also notes that Arena has easy access to the Kajang-Seremban Highway (LEKAS), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) and North-South Highway, as well as the toll-free road linking to KLIA and KLIA 2.

Although Arena has not been launched yet, Hoo remains optimistic about its future. “The sales process [for Arena] is far from complete, but our previous experience with IKON @ Centrio, [the two- and three-storey lifestyle shop development], which achieved an 86% take-up rate, points towards Arena repeating the same feat. Every carefully planned project is bound to be successful and Arena was the product of meticulous planning, designing and construction,” he says.

Arena will be the last residential launch in Seremban 2 this year, according to Hoo. “However, [there are] exciting projects ahead as we prepare for residential and commercial launches for next year, including a luxury residential development,” he says.

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