Modern buyers demand homes that meet current standards, blending old-world charm with new-world convenience.

New demands require thinking out of the box

Malaysia’s housing boom saw many homes being built like Tetris blocks across the country. But when it comes to generic homes, creativity is not expected. They are simply functional, with nothing particularly exciting about them.

In many new landed home developments today, developers attempt to tweak certain aspects to gain an advantage over similar projects. However, with rising construction costs and looming land scarcity, even garden spaces have been shrinking as homes become tighter and more compact especially in urban areas.

While efforts have been made to enhance modern designs, compromises are inevitable. For instance, to compensate for the lack of natural lighting in intermediate homes, developers offer larger windows. However, this results in a loss of privacy with floor-to-ceiling windows, making curtains and blinds a necessity. To compensate for the heat built-up in many established housing estates, air-conditioners are used instead of being able to enjoy the free flow of cool fresh air.

Generic designs make generic homes

These space configurations and subsequent sacrifices result from the rigid, template designs that persist despite the drastic lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic. The Covid-19 outbreak has transformed how people eat, work, wash, attend classes and interact as families. Consequently, today's homebuyers seek houses with features that accommodate these newly adopted habits and essential daily functions.

To maximise functionality without compromising comfort, modern home designs need to be thought outside the box. Some inspirations can be drawn from traditional homes, such as those found colourfully dotting the states of Melaka and Penang. These homes, with their delightful air wells, allow sunlight and fresh air to ventilate right into the centre of the house. The key is taking workable ideas and transforming them into a modern context.

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by Gamuda Land.
Modern buyers demand homes that meet current standards, blending old-world charm with new-world convenience.
What features do you want in your future home?

A seamless blend of greenery with good interiors

Another issue is the reduced frontage garden space, which is often sacrificed to make way for driveways, necessitating a more seamless integration between greenery and parking convenience. In many housing areas, rows upon rows of houses with minimal greenery create a concrete environment, leaving little space for children to run and play. While some estates include children's playgrounds, they are often far from home, requiring parents and guardians to accompany children during playtime rather than watching from the comfort of their homes.

Post pandemic, it is also noted that the recreational areas in homes  where families, young and old, gather to spend time together are also compromised. Can these issues be resolved?

Renovations make it better, not good

Moreover, out of all landed homes, it can be said that terrace homes are the most stiff in terms of design configuration. The interior space is simply too narrow that creativity tends to be limited. The never-changing design simply cannot keep up with ever-changing lifestyle needs. It was even found that despite renovations and modifications being made to terrace homes, the number of bedrooms would always remain the same. Sometimes, growing families will be forced to move out, but then why are they paying such high prices for a landed property that cannot even comfortably accommodate a family? Wouldn't it be great and timely for developers to innovate a winning design that addresses all the shortcomings?

Developing holistic homes

Since 1995, Gamuda Land has been developing holistic townships, ranging from Kota Kemuning and Valencia to Gamuda Gardens, Gamuda Cove and twentyfive7, creating living spaces with environmental sustainability and community at the heart of their operations. 

As a leading property developer, Gamuda Land develops homes tailored to Malaysians' needs, addressing evolving demands with innovative design and sustainable architecture. What elements do you consider important in your future home? Scan the QR code or click on this link (https://forms.office.com/r/Y4bX0xKB3E) and take the Gamuda Land survey to let us know how we can build better homes to suit your needs.

This article was brought to you by Gamuda Land.

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