As green buildings continue to grow in popularity with consumers, The Seed @ Sutera Utama in Johor Bahru is adding to the trend. However, at The Seed, the effort goes beyond landscaping or design: residents are expected to donate their time and effort as well, according to The Star.
General Manager Steven Shum says the expectations on residents is not about being selective or snooty, but is a reflection of the genuine commitment and passion for the environment of the development.
Expected to be fully complete by 2015, the development has an estimated value of RM700 million (US$235.4 million), with 1,230 units spread over 19.02ha. Some of the offerings are truly magnificent, such as the nine storey Boutique Suites. Unit floor space is as high as 2,390 s ft and prices top out at RM1.1 million (US$370,000). Of course, size and cost aside, the true allure is the environmental slant of the development.
“We don’t only preach on green-related issues to our buyers but we also practice the green building initiatives in the construction of the houses,’’ Shum says.
The green initiatives include using pre-mixed reinforced concrete with the effective micro-organisms (EM) glass panels to allow sunlight in and harvesting rainwater to water and clean the gardens.
Shum says it is proven in Japan that by mixing concrete with the EM, the concrete become water-repellent and thus prevents sick-building syndrome which is common in Malaysia.
Similarly, he says each household is expected to play their part as the “green community” by separating rubbish such as plastic, glass, paper into their respective bins.
Shum adds each family will be provided with a container for them to discard their food waste to make compost and the compost will be used as fertiliser for the communal gardens within the projects.
“We want to bring back the communal living or the kampong spirit in the good old days where everyone basically knows his neighbors,’’ he says.
Shum says this can be achieved via activities organised such as get-together parties for residents in celebrating festivals, birthdays or weddings.
He says as for the communal garden, each block will have its own piece of land where residents can set-up a garden committee to plant vegetables or fruit trees on the plot.
Shum says residents have their own freedom in managing their communal gardens but must adhere to organic farming by not using chemical ferlitisers and use rainwater to water the plants.
He says residents can harvest and share the vegetables or fruits among themselves or exchange them with residents of other blocks or maybe they can set ad-hoc make shift stalls to sell the produce.
“Living in a gated and guarded community does not mean that ones have to mind their own business for the sake of privacy; our objective is promote esprit de corps,’’ says Shum.
