K Residence, Jalan Ampang
UPDATE DEC ‘06: You can find recent site progress photos of both the Meritz and K Residence HERE.
If you drive along Jalan Ampang recently, you would have noticed this black, new (but not really new) shopping centre right across from Suria KLCC. It’s called Avenue K, and it’s located right above the KLCC LRT station (there is an underground walkway across the road to KLCC). The 8-storey shopping centre (including one floor of exhibition area) has been opened for a few months now, however the place is eerily empty, devoid of tenants, except the smaller basement 1 and basement 2, where the LRT station is (The shopping centre construction was stalled a few years in the late 90’s due to the Asian financial crisis).
We have no idea why the place is not attracting the tenants, since the location is good with the best amenities the city can offer. But the developers have big plans for this place, they are planning two condominiums to be built above the shopping centre. One of it is a service apartment, which they plan to launch in the near future. The other is a high-end condo launched some time back, called K Residence.
Most KLCC condos have one determining market factor – KLCC view or no KLCC view. The only condos assured of a permanent view of the twin towers are the ones developed by KLCC themselves, like the Binjai and more coming (like the Four Seasons).
The only other condo that can boast of this permanent view is K Residence, unless one fine day someone builds another condo right smack at the centre of Jalan Ampang. Nothing is impossible these days. However, as the competitor salesperson mentioned, it’s too close to the twin towers to really see anything. Its like standing 2 inches away from Da Vinci’s Last Supper but you can’t see the whole picture (ok, bad analogy…)
At 50 storeys, and 180 units available, there are many, many type of unit available for sale, with 8 basic layouts (11 if you count the minor variations).We won’t go into details here, as it would be best to see the layout for yourself to select the best one. Some are duplexes and triplexes, some are super-large penthouses, most are single floor units. The largest is about 10,000sq.ft. The smallest unit is a 2-bedroom 1,213sq.ft units that have an excellent direct view of KLCC. It’s actually quite cosy, but relatively to the other units, it looks cramped (but of course it isn’t). Because of the oval-ish shape of the building, some units are nicely shaped, others are strangely ‘L’ shaped. Bad. Bigger units have up to 5 rooms.
Another interesting feature is that there is a terrace all around the perimeter of the unit (where it’s the edge of the building) that acts as a continuous balcony. This is not reflected in the show unit, where they built the glass wall all the way to the edge. We also encountered a few other things in the show unit but not shown in the specifications, its best to check it yourself.
At the time we viewed the place, most of the units facing KLCC have been taken up. This place also boasts of being designed by the renowned Ms. Ann-Li Koh and Mr. Yasumichi Morita, although we have never heard of them. But that’s probably because we’re not Architects.
As part of the whole package of ‘KL’s largest living room’ package, they are offering personal concierge service and 24-hour valet parking, satellite TV, broadband internet access, and other full condo facilities like childcare centre gym, laundry services, swimming pool, landscaped are. Not to mention the 8-storey shopping centre. And that big one across the road. And that all-important LRT station just below. That would the most valuable one. The podium floor, which is the roof of the shopping centre, acts as the common facilities for the condo.
The price basically reflects the excellent facilities. It starts at RM750psf to RM1000psf, depending on the view.
Anyway, with a shopping centre below the K Residence, and the convenience of a LRT station, and fantastic amenities make a good argument to buy this place, above the tough competition all around this place. The Meritz is just a stone’s throw away.
| Project Name | K Residence |
| Location | Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur (KLCC area) |
| Description | 50-storey condominium on freehold commercial land (situated above existing Avenue K shopping centre & KLCC LRT station) |
| Price | from RM1,162,000 to about RM2,798,000 (from about RM750psf. to RM1000psf.) |
| No of units | 180 units (penthouse units available) |
| Unit size | 1,404sq.ft to 3,510sq.ft (penthouses from up to 10,656sq.ft) |
| Launch Date | currently available |
| Expected Completion | December 2007 |
| Developer | KL Landmark Sdn. Bhd. (Partnership between Hongkong Land Ltd. & City Properties Sdn. Bhd.) |
| Contact | 03 – 2163 7333 |
| Website | www.avenuek.com.my (not much to see there…) |
if i can afford to buy that expensive condo, is an LRT station important to me? i’m sure will be going to places in my expensive car..hehe…(dreaming of getting a unit)
Comment by sherrina — November 7, 2005 @ 1:23 am
true, but rich people also need the LRT for their maids and drivers, etc.
Comment by Administrator — November 7, 2005 @ 1:49 am
I doubt rich people will think about how their maids and drivers get to work. Maids, inevitably are live in Philippinos / Cambodians / Indonesians anyway. The close access to LRT may be important to wealthy (not crazy rich) people in HK, but it’s hardly the case in Malaysia.
As for the reason Avenue K is not filled is because they demanded a very high rental, few incentives to move in like other shopping centers and crazy picky about the tenants they approved. I heard that if you could afford their rent you might as well be in KLCC itself.
Anyway, that whole freaking Avenue K project was revived because a certain someone said the unfinished building was an eyesore to KLCC, so it’s not like the owners are pressured to fill it to get income.
Comment by IB — November 7, 2005 @ 4:57 am
for details of the designer and architect for K residence and avenue K luxury shopping mall contact zlg design
Comment by ZLG Design — September 26, 2006 @ 6:24 am
UPDATE DEC ‘06: You can find recent site progress photos of both the Meritz and K Residence HERE.
Comment by Administrator — December 16, 2006 @ 1:35 pm
Dear administrator, I appreciate your help in reviewing “Berjaya Central Park”. Thanks.
Comment by Stanley — May 18, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
I work in the twin towers opposite. Ave K lack of people going shopping compared to klcc. Unless its lunch time and then theres alot people in food court
Comment by lim — May 20, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
at that price, they are catering to a very niche market. however i can see the price going up in the long term. KL is still a very affordable city compared to other south east asian cities like singapore, ho chi minh or bangkok. nothing beats this location, with or without LRT.
Comment by sinleong — May 27, 2007 @ 5:31 pm