Developers urged to think out of the box

PETALING JAYA (Aug 21): Property developers must think out of the box to cater for the needs of the industry and younger generation.

In the session entitled: "Perspective and aspirations of younger property market leaders" at 18th National Housing & Property Summit today, Eupe Corporation Bhd's group managing director Datuk Beh Huck Lee (pictured, left) said the traditional model of construction needs to change.

"We need to look at technological advances which provide higher precision and ease of control," he added. "For example, the industrialised building system is good for the environment and lessens the need for foreign labour but we don't use [the system] that much."

He also noted that there is a need for customisation, as there is greater pressure on developers to depart from the "one-size-fits-all" approach.

For Country Heights Holdings Bhd, group CEO Dianna Lee (pictured, right) said the group is breaking the boundaries of property and wellness industries as health is the powerful trend currently.

She noted that every industry is rushing to be associated with wellness as it targets the general population.

"With the increase of different diseases, people are desperately looking for a solution," she added. "And so, we are converging health and property sectors together by building properties that are actually good for your body."

For example, if a buyer's DNA test shows that he has a lower score in his osteoarthritis trait, a property unit with fewer steps will be introduced to him.

Country Heights Holdings is developing the 1,000-acre, RM1 billion-Mines Wellness City in Seri Kembangan, which is envisioned as a one-stop wellness centre that will tap the healthcare and medical tourism industries.

Meanwhile, Mah Sing Group Bhd's senior general manager for business development and investments Jane Leong noted that the factors that drive future growth include a young demographic, shrinking household sizes as well as shifts in lifestyle and mind set.

"The younger set prefer living with convenience at their doorsteps, and they are willing to pay for the lifestyle and experience," she said. "They also would like to do something different for the community such as [in the area of] sustainability."

She added that by combining all these factors, developments will trend towards mixed developments, with a focus on sustainability.

The 18th National Housing & Property Summit was held by Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (Asli) at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa. This session was moderated by Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd CEO Ishmael Ho.