Likas Indah – New Landmark for KK

Kota Kinabalu’s new live, work, play destination

THE stage is being set for Kota Kinabalu in Sabah to elevate itself to an international-class commercial arena, with plans recently unveiled for a 50-acre commercial development called Likas Indah.

“It is being carefully planned with the intention of giving the State a new concept in township development,” said Mior Zawari Hassan, principal architect for Akitek Suria.

“The project will integrate shopping, working, living and leisure components in one place, complemented by a luxury condominium, five- star hotel, business centre, office tower and shopping centre.” To be located just five minutes’ drive from Kota Kinabalu city via the Tun Fuad Highway, Mior said he expects it to draw businesses wanting a 21st Century environment to operate in.

Other landmarks in the Sabah State capital, such as the Likas Sport Complex, Yayasan Sabah, Wisma Innoprise and University Malaysia Sabah, are also five minutes from the site.

“Likas Indah is envisaged to have a Gross Development Value of RM390 million and take 10 years to complete,” said Mior of the development that will change the skyline of Likas as well as the lifestyle of Kota Kinabalu’s residents.

Private developer Rimdaya Sdn Bhd will undertake the project in joint venture with Sabah’s Ministry of Local Government and Housing. It will have four distinct zones to be constructed in several phases.

Envisioned to be the “most comprehensive development in Sabah”, a unique feature of the project will be pedestrian bridges and water transport facilities linking all four zones, making Likas Indah a well-connected, self-contained township.

Besides the water transport to ferry public from one zone to another, there will be water sports activities in a lake within the development, which will also boast lakeside restaurants and a large amphitheatre next to a shopping centre that will be one of the township’s tourist attractions.

What is especially interesting is that 20 per cent of the 50- acre site will be filled with water.

“It’s a very interesting site, so we felt we had to retain its water features,” said Mior.

“Because of the nature of the environment, we were able to incorporate a large lake, which will be a highlight of the development, complete with a scenic bridge that will link it to the main highway.” Zone One, comprising a 250-unit, 20-storey luxury condominium, will be launched later this year or early 2007.

Built-up sizes for the units will range from a generous 2,000sq ft to 4,000sq ft, and will feature three-plus-one bedrooms designed with attached bathrooms.

Exclusivity will be the name of the game, with occupants enjoying the ultimate in privacy as one lift will service just two units per floor.

Priced at RM600psf, Mior said a unit will cost from RM1.2 million to RM2 million.

“The 24-hour security service being planned for the township will be first class, to suit the modern lifestyle that is promised,” he added.

There will also be no shortage of parking facilities, thanks to the proposed plans that provides every unit with three car-parking bays.

“All the units will face the Likas Bay and the South China Sea,” said Mior, adding that the yet-to-be-named condo is anticipated to attract “upmarket investors and local businessmen” as it will be the “only one of its kind” in Sabah.

Besides the condominium, Zone One will also accommodate a 540- room, U-shaped five-star hotel to address the shortage of top-tier hotels in Kota Kinabalu.

According to Mior, all corner units in the hotel will be presidential suites, and all rooms will have balconies.

On the reason for the hotel’s curved shape, he said it is in response to the shape of the lagoon and to facilitate the creation of the internal water features.

“We wanted to capture the effect of softness as well as make it dynamic,” Mior said.

“We do not want the building to appear stiff and rigid, so we have done away with square shapes.” “We will also steer it away from resembling a concrete jungle by using glass faades to create a modern effect and plenty of shading devices above the roof.

“The swimming pool will be on the rooftop, enabling guests to appreciate the view of the lagoon when they swim.” A pedestrian bridge connecting the hotel to the shopping centre (and all other zones) will enable guests to enjoy a leisurely bout of shopping.

Zone Two slated for launch in 2008 or 2009 will comprise a six- storey staggered shop-office with 1,081 car-parking bays while Zone Three, scheduled for 2010 or 2011, will carry the crown jewels of Likas Indah – a 40-storey office tower and a three-storey shopping complex.

According to Mior, Zones Two and Three fit in nicely with local needs and aspirations as “demand for quality modern shop-offices, offices and retail space is rising in Kota Kinabalu”.

“The `rocket’ shape office tower, which will be the tallest in Sabah, will be eye-catching and can be another icon for Sabah, besides the well-known Mount Kinabalu,” he said.

“In Sabah at the moment, there is no building higher than 25 storeys, so this development will be a new landmark for the city.

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Tagged as: 50- acre, Likas, Rimdaya Sdn Bhd, University Malaysia Sabah, Wisma Innoprise, Yayasan Sabah