Vibrancy, community engagement and easy accessibility are the essences of good placemaking.
Offering delectable Malaysian food and family-friendly activities, Discovery Park is set to be Malaysia’s new tourism hub.
A town can mean so many different things to various group of people. What is foremost, a town is about special places and great placemaking. “The vibrancy, the community engagement, easy accessibility to the place and ability to allow people to connect with each other and with nature are essences of good placemaking,” said Ngan Chee Meng, CEO of Gamuda Land adding that people create emotional connection to a place and are more likely to care for or take shared responsibility for the well-being of a place they enjoy.
What makes good placemaking?
From having a carefully planned infrastructure and connectivity system to a central park that is Gamuda Land’s hallmark in all its township developments, to creating places where the community can come together and get to know one another, such as a clubhouse, a town-square, community gardens and more, Gamuda Land’s township master plans are thoughtfully designed to incorporate placemaking elements for the community.
The Buzz.ar at twentyfive.7: Connectivity & accessibility
The Buzz.ar is a community gathering space in twentyfive.7, Kota Kemuning.
Started as a community gathering events space through its popular Quayside Fiesta held once every three months, the space has gradually evolved into The Buzz.ar, featuring a pet-friendly park, Aurora Rhythms, a playful waterscape with a musical water fountain, cafes, F&Bs, pet care centre, interactive children’s play area and lakeside activities such as water sports, cycling and jogging. The Buzz.ar will be seamlessly connected to the Quayside Mall when it opens later this year.
“We inject a breath of excitement into the space in hopes of reaching out and engaging with residents, as well as bringing the wider communities together,” explains Ngan. He added that the key to successful placemaking lies in the execution and implementation of the masterplan to ensure these places are well-connected and can be easily accessed by the community.
The twentyfive.7’s Buzz.ar is thoughtfully planned with a host of recreational elements and various conveniences to bring the community together.
Gamuda Gardens’ Central Park: Where people & nature can come together
Anyone who has visited Gamuda Gardens would have been awed by the majestic waterfalls in its central park. It feels like one is stepping into a different world where you are surrounded by lush greenery in a forested environment, feeling serene and calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.
“The central park forms the heart of Gamuda Gardens. It is designed as the central community gathering place where neighbours can just hang around and get to know each other better. Ultimately, when we stay in a neighbourhood where people know one another and look out for each other, we know we are living in a safer neighbourhood,” Ngan added.
Gamuda Gardens’ 50-acre Central Park, replete with majestic waterfalls and lush greenery, forms the heart of the community.
Nestled within the Central Park is the Adventure Playland. More than just the ubiquitous slides and swings, this playground has zipline and rock-climbing elements that will appeal to families and children. The Central Park is also one of the few parks in the Klang Valley that is pet friendly.
Paws Playland is an off-leash space specially earmarked for pet lovers to have fun times with their furry friends. One can find basic agility equipment for pet training as well as a pet playground and a pet gathering place. The latter, which will be unveiled in soon, boasts water spouts so pet owners enjoy a splashing time with their fur babies.
A long jogging path that winds its way across five cascading lakes and the town’s waterfall, canopied by lush trees, make the park an enviable spot to go for a walk, jog, a run or even a cycle. The park is also seamlessly connected to the Waterfront Village, where one can easily grab a bite or run errands before heading home.
Gamuda Cove’s Discovery Park: Vibrancy
Touted as Malaysia’s new tourism hub that is filled with exciting activities, delectable Malaysian food and family-friendly facilities, Discovery Park features the first in South East Asia Cove Aerobar, ArcHIVE Food Hall, Blastacars Drift Karts and more.
Home to several unique attractions and new experiential activities, Discovery Park is developed according to Gamuda Land’s long espoused town-making principles that resonate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, in building an integrated and sustainable township for its communities. The crown jewel of Discovery Park is the Cove Aerobar where passengers will be ascended to 35-metres high to chill out. It is a revolutionary way to enjoy the panoramic sight of Gamuda Cove and its neighbouring Paya Indah the top.
ArcHIVE Food Hall features a collection of retail shops, al fresco cafes and dining options. This social hub for shoppers and foodies is where families and friends can hang out and catch up with one another. All the crafty items and food such as satay, laksa Johor, mee rebus and durian puffs found here are carefully handpicked to serve up a truly Malaysian experience. The Adventure Park is where visitors can get their fill of adrenaline rush with Blastacars Drift Karts that is currently open to public. A purpose-built ropes course with more than 50 obstacles spread over 2-storey plus an ATV and motocross track is currently being put in place to hype up the Adventure Park.
Jade Hills’ Origami Park: Towns that stand the test of time
The eight-metre high Origami Crane is the icon for Jade Hills’ Origami Park.
Gamuda Land’s town-making efforts continue to take place in its existing townships such as Jade Hills. A newly opened 3-acre pet friendly Origami Park featuring a jogging and cycling path around gentle slopes and a children’s playground is laid out in the township to cater to the residents and community surrounding Jade Hills.
Origami Park also caters for community events with ample run-off spaces that can accommodate food trucks or bazaars. In addition, the key focal point of the park is the eight metre high Origami Crane which serves as a landmark and icon for the park. Lit up at night with fairy lights, the park provides a vibrant atmosphere for the community.
“Placemaking is about creating a point of differentiation for the community in every township. Each public space is given their own brand of unique components according to the township’s personality,” Ngan further elaborates. “When we get the places right, the town works,” Ngan concluded.
