#Special Focus* The Glades changing the way people live and work

THE Glades is a premium gated residential enclave in Putra Heights, which is adjacent to Sime Darby Property's (SDP) other thriving and hugely successful developments, Subang Jaya and Subang Heights. The 1,800-acre township has a gross development value of RM1.2 billion.

Launched in 1999, the 56-acre development consists of 80 bungalows, 48 cluster villas (semi-detached), 56 courtyard villas (superlink), 78 cluster homes (townhouse) and two luxury condominium blocks.

About 30% of the area is landscaped, with manicured hedges, vertical gardens, trellises and creeper grass.

SDP has launched 222 homes at The Glades, of which 45% have already been taken up. The phases that have been launched include half of The Residence (bungalows), The Encore (semidees), The Ensemble (superlinks) and The Mews (town houses).

The developer plans to launch the last two components of the township — the South Brooke and North Brooke condominiums — after the completion of the LRT track, which should be about three years down the road.

Exciting times are ahead in the real estate market. After all, the extension of the light rail transit (LRT) and MRT project are already changing the way developers plan and shape their townships in the future. Upon completion, this is expected to spur property prices and change the way people live and work.

One of the LRT stations along the extended Kelana Jaya line will be located just 750m from the main entrance of The Glades. In addition, Putra Heights' main integrated station will be where the Star and Putra lines converge.

SDP noted that an LRT line would be on the cards. The Glades was conceived with the LRT in mind, but it was not oriented towards it. There was too much uncertainty involved three years ago, according to the developer. A lot of interest has been generated in properties in the Putra Heights vicinity since work started on the track.

Upon completion in 2019, the transport adjacent development (TAD) township is expected to attract 478 households with a total population of 4,000. The first four components of the township will be completed by the end of the year.

The Glades Plaza, which is located opposite the township's main entrance, is accessible to the public. SDP plans to retain ownership of the mall, which has a net lettable area (NLA) of about 30,000 sq ft, and will begin looking for tenants soon.

The group is also considering providing buggy rides to the station for its customers. There is already a dedicated track for the vehicles along the perimeter of the township.

The exclusive residents-only clubhouse is inspired by a luxury tropical resort environment and will house various amenities, including a 50m infinity swimming pool, tennis courts, a gym, yoga deck and an open terrace that overlooks the waterways.

The Glades is equipped with security features such as perimeter fencing, CCTV surveillance, visitor management, IP home alarm, IP intercom and building management.

The township is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet it is easy to reach. It is accessible via six main routes — the North Klang Valley Expressway, Konsortium Expressway Shah Alam Selangor, South Klang Valley Expressway, Expressway Lingkaran Tengah and Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong.

Life is in the details

It became apparent that The Glades' tagline — Life is in the details — was aptly chosen when the developer delved deeper into the finer details of the township's planning.

Clearly, no expense was spared to achieve the expected results. In line with SDP's vision of being a leader in sustainable communities, every idea was carefully considered to foster sustainable living and connectivity between technology, community and nature.

The township is home to a plethora of smart features, such as integrated home automation, centralised water filtration, liquified petroleum gas, fibre-to-the-home infrastructure for high speed broadband connectivity, IP Intercom, video IP phones and centralised monitoring. WiFi access is available in all the common areas.

The Glades is the first township with an automated waste system, whereby common household waste can be disposed of via designated chutes. The waste is transported through a vacuum system, via underground tunnels, to a collection station. The process is efficient and clean, effectively eliminating the need for garbage trucks.

LED lighting will be an important feature in the township. Hence, the entire township will be lit with only LED light bulbs. Besides being energy-efficient, LED lighting provides better light distribution. It also has a lower maintenance cost and longer life span.

The township will also incorporate a range of green practices. Using a carefully-selected range of aquatic plants and fishes, it was able to create a natural and sustainable ecosystem in the waterways.

Other eco-friendly practices and facilities available in The Glades include rainwater harvesting, solar water heater and solar energy generation, double-volume and green-tinted windows for heat reduction and a recycling depot.

The developer also hopes to cultivate a strong community spirit in the township, via its cluster and courtyard design.


This story first appeared in The Edge weekly edition of Aug 19-25, 2013.