Property Malaysia

Right after Aman Kiara and Hijauan Kiara, Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau’s Bukit Kiara Properties (BKP) have now launched the Verve Suites, another upmarket innovative product in the Mont’Kiara area.

For our write-up on the Dato’ Alan, you are advised to read our review of Hijauan Kiara last week. Since Verve Suites is located right next to the earlier Hijauan Kiara, most of the comments on the location and accessibility are also applicable here. Anyway at the risk of repeating ourselves, here is a paraphrase of that posting:

Most people who are familiar with the Mont’Kiara condo scene will be familiar with Hijauan Kiara. This is the second project for Bukit Kiara Properties (BKP), the first being Aman Kiara. This is actually just across the road from here, it is a gated and guarded community of 19 bungalows and 12 units of duplex condovillas, it was completed 9 months ahead of schedule and has since sold out.

And regarding Dato’ Alan Tong and his son NK Tong,

BKP is led by Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau and his son NK Tong. Most of you would know Dato’ Alan to be the Malaysian ‘Condo King’ having built Sunrise to one of the most prestigious names in Mont’Kiara. Currently, in his own company BKP, he is targeting the niche luxury market in the same stomping ground. Our associates who have worked with Dato’ Alan before speak very highly of him, a very caring, innovative and driven person.

For this project, the developer Bayland Sdn. Bhd. and BKP will be managing the place.

The difference about the Verve Suites from the Hijauan Kiara and most of the other projects around here is that it is a serviced apartment on a commercial title. And the developer has opted for the studio apartment concept. Studio means that they are targeting young working professionals who do not want the traditional 1000sq.ft. large apartment with 2 or 3 rooms (and thereby offering a different product from the competition). So what they have is one bedroom only, with the usual domestic units – living, kitchen, bath. We’ll go into the unit design later.

Four towers. One soul.

They have Vox Tower, Viva Tower, Vogue Tower and Vibe Tower. Up to 33 floors, set on a 3 storeys shopping centre. There is also an adjoining shopping block, giving more retail space. Parking is in the basement.

And the common facilities is the big marketing point for the Verve Suites. There is a huge 55,000sqft Vertigo Lounge, which acts as a lobby / clubhouse / living room / recreation area for residents and their guests. Since studio units do not have much space for entertaining guests, this common area serves that purpose. Not only that, they have a sky gym (offering a full glass panoramic view of Mont’Kiara), theaterette, pool tables, business centre, Jacuzzi and steam rooms, F&B outlets, and much more. The entire Vertigo Lounge is lavishly designed to impress, with water features, split level decks and the works, to make up for the lack of space in your living unit. BKP have definitely left no stone unturned to make this THE top drawer choice, and we were duly impressed.

On the podium level at the base of the towers, there are the usual facilities like large swimming pools, gym, tennis and badminton courts, playground, all surrounded by lush landscaping. Somehow, these things have come to be expected accessories of any luxury condo in the city already.

Each of the 4 towers have 8 units per floor, which is may not be very exclusive, but bear in mind this is mainly because the units are small. There are 4 unit types available, from 633 to 861sq.ft. As we mentioned, the units are single-roomed, with the exception of one type with a small guest room. Another type has a study, which may be converted to a bedroom. All the units come fully furnished, with one of 4 different interior decoration themes with fancy names (I forget their names). You pretty only have to buy a TV, your utensils, and clothes and you can practically move in.

They have incorporate some nifty ideas to make the place compact. Part of the kitchen is concealed behind a sliding wall. Some units also have a sliding door to enter the bedroom, and from the bedroom to enter the bath, you just have to slide open one of the built in wardrobes. A little like a secret room. Nice touch. The shower is sunken just like in Hijauan Kiara.

With this new addition to the overcrowded and jaded Mont’Kiara /Sri Hartamas luxury condo market, it adds a different dimension and creativity to it. They are actually targeting a different niche from the rest - the hip, mobile, young working professionals and the investors looking to rent out the the former group. I doubt there will be too many older couples and family units looking to buy. Serviced apartments may not be appealing to some quarters, especially one that is intergrated with a shopping centre, but with the facilities and add-on feature BKP is offering, they are really sweetening the deal.

You are encouraged to check out the following reviews of the other developments in the vicinity.

Changkat View
Hartamas Regency 2
Kiara 1888
Kensington Park
Kiaraville
Kiaramas Ayuria
Hijauan Kiara
The Verve Suites
Tiffani by i-ZEN
Boulevard Tower, Solaris Dutamas
Mont’Kiara Meridin