By Melisa Ng | Sep 9, 2010
Photographs courtesy of YTL Land & Development
SOHO living in Centrio, Bangsar
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| Modern landscaping: Done by renowned landscape architect Ng Sek San, the lush landscape gives the overall development a distinct aesthetic statement |
With the advent of information, communication, technology (ICT) and the new culture of working, which includes flexible working hours, limited service workers, and service-based business, the small office home office (SOHO) concept has become a hit among young entrepreneurs and executives.
For YTL Corporation, its SOHO concept came about following their Land & Development Sales and Marketing team’s research, which revealed that an increasing number of young people are looking for living spaces that offered greater flexibility. As the younger generation assumes more economic power and becomes more entrepreneurial, they tend to seek a place where they can work and live out of. The research also revealed that a majority of them are from the service industry, where work will require them to be always on-the-move, with no need for big office spaces. They are also looking for their first home, hence they will be drawn to a concept that allows them to work from home.
Designed differently
Inspired by the rising popularity of SOHO units in New York where warehouses are transformed into unique and tastefully designed SOHO units, Centrio in Pantai Hillpark, Bangsar, pulls together modern spaces to deliver a new way of working and living. The architectural design of Centrio was kept consistent with the overall Mediterranean theme of Pantai Hillpark, which since year 1991 has created a distinct identity for the entire development. It also transformed the overall Pantai Dalam area which was previously known as the backyard slum of Kuala Lumpur.
Sporting a modern twist that appeals to the younger target audience, it is also designed to maintain the low-rise, low-density feature of the other Pantai Hillpark developments. Centrio features a unique façade for each unit. Inside the SOHO suites, innovative layouts blur the lines between bedroom and boardroom while courtyards and sun-dappled gardens outside allow moments of inspiration to illuminate one’s day.
Baldip Singh, an award-winning architect who heads the architects and interior design team at the YTL Design Group, noted that the design of the buildings were inspired by everyday living that are still, constant and modular. “It is easy to create interlocking units that can be repeated to continue a linear formation or composition, but yet present an “ever-changing façade”.
“One might ask, what does that mean? (laughs) Well, for example, when you look at a row of mailbox or a line of pipes, it looks linear and still, yet it is in fact made of individual units that are bonded together, creating a linear formation. The same concept applies to Centrio, where it's actually made of identical units but arranged differently to present an ever changing façade,” Singh explains.
Individuality is the key promise of Centrio. Its SOHO suites reflect homeowners' demand for clean open spaces that can be interpreted and designed according to their desire. Depending on the layout, each SOHO unit offers double volume space, stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious rooftop gardens, illuminating skylights and open sundecks on the rooftop.
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Uniquely designed: Each SOHO unit boasts double volume space, stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, and spacious work and play area
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Comprehensive facilities and modern landscaping
Centrio’s SOHO suites come with a host of amenities such as a lap pool, rooftop garden, a gymnasium that overlooks the pool, a fully equipped business centre and shared conference rooms, which make the work and home experience seamless and enjoyable.
The development also features separate access points for residential, office and retail spaces for greater security and privacy. Furthermore, the lush modern landscaping, orchestrated by renowned landscape architect Ng Sek San, serves to enhance the overall development’s value, while making a distinct aesthetic statement. “As a developer, YTL Land is very adventurous and has given us a free reign on the design and look of the development. Usually when we get the free reign, something unusual will happen,” says Ng.
Award winning development
Centrio’s appeal and value was recognised recently when it clinched four awards at the CNBC Asia Pacific Property Awards 2009, for 'Best Mixed Development' and 'The Architecture Award' under the Commercial category and 'Best Architecture' and 'Best Property Marketing' in the Residential category.
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