Property Malaysia

Let me see, when did we first visit Lake Edge? It had to be in 2000, when they were still carrying earthworks filling up the 12 acre area - that was long before they launched anything an the name Lake Edge hadn’t been coined yet. Then when the first phase was launched we went again, those days the concept of development hadn’t really been shown fully yet. But the show house was done up, and of course the talking point back then was the Australian style living - glass windows everywhere, super contemporary design and fenceless homes.

Fast forward to 2009, we re-visited the place recently, and the difference is telling. Most of the phases have been completed and residents have moved in, the lake that give the place its name is there for all too see. And the open and modern concept of homes is also the first impression you get when you enter the place. That, and the very impressive security.

Surrounding the area, things have spruced up a bit. Gone are a few of the old factories and warehouses, and they have closed up the access road that leads connects to Lakeside Residence by Glomac, thereby reducing the traffic along the access to Lake Edge. They’ve also hoarded up the other side of the road nicely, obscuring the works going on there to rehabilitate the pond.

As for the entrance and exit into Lake Edge, there isn’t much to change, you still have to go through the shoplots beside Tesco (the landmark is the large furniture centre here along LDP). The slip road entering LDP is still narrow and can sometimes cause a long line of waiting cars. In the interim years traffic along LDP at peak hours has increased tremendously, not only along here all the way up to the Sunway toll (especially in the mornings) but in the other direction in the evenings. What more now that the new shoplots and IOI Mall extension is completed. What more when the massive Setia Walk is completed.

But then again, this is the price Puchong folks have to pay for progress and development in their backyard. But Lake Edge is a little different from all the scores of projects that have sprung up in this locality in the last four to five years. Of course the price of YTL’s project makes it stand out (waaaa-aaaay out) but let’s not forget, not many other projects in the city even at this price has the audacity to execute their masterplan this way. In short, you’re paying not only for the prime location in downtown Puchong (is that a contradiction by itself?) but mainly you are paying for the living environment that they have come up with. To see it, you just have to come to Lake Edge to experience what they mean.

But coming to Waterville, there are a couple of phases to this latest unit available, those who have bought the earlier phase are targeted to move in some time later this year. And they are opening up more units, located closer to the clubhouse and represent some of the last few remaining phases in Lake Edge for sale. They have been promoting this phase quite heavily ever since the show unit was completed in November of last year. The name Waterville (if you haven’t figured it out), doesn’t denote its proximity to the lake although some units are quite close to it, but rather it refers to a small lap pool in your own compound. Actually we weren’t really so wowed by the lap pool, for the price range i believe SP Setia offers a lot better in that sense, but of course its a nice touch if you can indulge some cash for landscaping to make it look awesome.

The basic plot of the unit is on a 40′ x 85′ space, although its hard to envision the space when there are no fences or markers to denote where your land end and where the road reserve (or your neighbour’s plot) starts. But I’m there’ll be some purchasers refering to the plan in their S&P when they get their keys and see their house. Waterville is a two and a half storey unit with a build-up of at least 4,117sq.ft. But the thing with Lake Edge homes is the design concept that sells it, you don’t really see big spaces every where, you just somehow wonder where the 4,117sq.ft. goes to.

As you enter the unit you are greeted by the dining and kitchen (a concept that Bandar Bukit Puchong 2 tried to execute for their Parkville homes, not to mention Putrajaya) and the living room is at the back with a view of the surrounding garden and aforementioned lap pool.

On the first floor are 3 bedrooms, each with their own ensuite bath (and outdoor shower, we might add) and balcony. There is actually no family room here. On the top floor, is the master bedroom, and the other half of the floor is taken up by the open roof terrace.

Most of the walls are covered with full length glass windows, necessitating lots of curtains and blinds if you’re not a fan of natural light or value your privacy. There are isn’t much walls as you can tell from the facade, and if you want to make the most of the design of your unit, there is substantial landscaping to be done, not to mention cabinets and countertop to emulate what they have done in the show unit.

Like we said, you need to see it to appreciate Lake Edge in its fullness of execution, and simply because there isn’t any other development here in Puchong. So we come to the pricing. It starts from RM1.6m onwards up to about RM2m for the corner units. Being so different, there isn’t a yardstick to compare it to, but what you’re paying for as we mentioned earlier, is the location and concept. On the downside you don’t have much space for a two and a half storey unit compared to a conventionally designed layout, but conventional isn’t what they were aiming for. We basically like this design better than the earlier double storey phase, and now you are purchasing into a maturing development where the landscaping is already completed. This project sits of leasehold land.

YTL are a major conglomerate in Malaysia in diversified interests. For review of another project by their property arm, you can check out The Saffron in their Sentul East development.