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HSB Development’s latest project looks to cater to the changing lifestyle needs of today’s family units

IT is not very often that a project with a difference comes along. Developers tend to think of aesthetics and lifestyle and as a house purchaser, we get sold on this. Developers also tend to build for those who are in their prime, who are able to lead an active lifestyle.

There is nothing wrong with these pursuits, from the developer’s or the buyer’s point of view. But there is a need to look further into the future because there will come a time when medical, social and physical support services are needed. This may be childcare services, or assistance for the elderly. These needs are very real and it takes a doctor-turned-developer to think of this.

Concepts for the future

Dr Y C Lim, chairman of HSC Healthcare Sdn Bhd, went into property development with his partner Dr Soo Chee Siong and set up HSB Development Sdn Bhd.

Their serviced-apartment project is located in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya diagonally across Sime Darby group’s Seri Pilmoor. The residential portion, known as AraGreen Residences, will occupy 7.5 acres.

Adjacent to it will be the commercial portion AraGreen Village. This portion will be located on 1.2 acres and comprises two buildings offering childcare and nursing services for the elderly. These services will be housed together with medical and physiotherapy service providers while the second tower will offer food and beverage outlets, convenience stores and other amenities. There will also be serviced-apartments here.

Says Dr Lim: “AraGreens development is based on three pillars – a multi-generational home living concept, health and wellness concept and a green sustainable concept.

“We wanted to go beyond the horizons of healthcare services by building a community in which multi-generation families get to live together without compromising on privacy. There need to be designs and features to cater for both children and the elderly,” says Dr Lim.

Dr Lim says very often when a developer considered a health and wellness project, the focus was only on the hardware. It was the soft components that needed to be incorporated into the property and a lot of thought needed to go into this soft part of it.

“It is more than having wider doors that allow a wheelchair through, or stretcher-friendly lifts,” he says.

The physical, psychological and emotional aspects plus the support and care services must all come together to make the health and wellness concept possible.

With this in mind, HSB has introduced the “dual key” concept which is designed for families to stay together “under one roof” but separately.

“A typical dual key home will have an ancillary unit annexed to the primary or main larger unit with separate entrances,” explains HSB Developement CEO Seth Lim.

“This is especially appealing to families as they have

Article source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/21/business/11140550&sec=business