Cantara Residences sets a new standard for sustainable, connected living in Ara Damansara.
AS one of Malaysia’s most distinctive developments, Cantara Residences is the bridge that connects people to the lifestyles they dream of.
‘Cantara’ means ‘bridge’ in Arabic and this is reflected in its design philosophy, which is to be a residential development that
nurtures connected communities through a thoughtful blend of modern comfort, green features, excellent amenities and great accessibility. This won it many admirers and allowed the project to be fully sold out.
Located in Sime Darby Property’s award-winning Ara Damansara township in Selangor, it is an area landmark thanks to its architecturally iconic and gravity-defying Sky Bridge that connects its quartet of 23-storey towers.
Cantara Residences' Sky Bridge is recognised by The Malaysia Book of Records as ‘The Longest Residential Sky Bridge’ in the country.
Measuring 168m-long, the double-storey Sky Bridge was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as ‘The Longest Residential Sky Bridge’ in the country shortly after Cantara Residences was completed in May 2020.
Winning the Best Residential Mid-Rise category at the Malaysia Property Award 2022 adds another feather in Cantara Residences’ cap and is a testament to the project’s outstanding premise.
Connecting communities
Established on a 7.12-acre parcel, Cantara Residences has redefined Ara Damansara’s skyline. Its four residential towers are laid out in a staggered position so the 888 serviced residences within enjoy better privacy. Units are sized from 646sq ft to 2,077sq ft and are oriented true north-south.
These clever design choices effectively minimise heat generated by direct sunlight and mitigate the heat island effect common in urban high-rises.
Cantara residences features 3.2 acres of common facilities set within a refreshing urban forest.
Cooler homes are not only more comfortable to live in but also help residents save on energy bills as there is less need for constant air-conditioning. Sliding louvres on corner units provide extra shade while low-emissivity glazing is used all around to reduce ultraviolet (UV) light.
These, along with the extensive use of photovoltaic panels on the rooftop, contribute to Cantara Residences’ lower energy consumption. Additionally, it also encourages its community to adopt low-carbon lifestyles and use of electric vehicles (EVs) with the provision of on-site charging stations.
As a lush, landscaped haven designed to nurture sustainable growth, Cantara Residences features 3.2 acres of common facilities set within a refreshing urban forest contributing to 200% increase of greeneries from the start of the development.
The greenery is spread across the resort-styled podium on Level 6 and atop the iconic Sky Bridge on Level 18. As the latter also houses duplex units and penthouses, it quickly earned the nickname ‘the Living Sky Bridge’.
The Sky Bridge also serves as a breathtaking backdrop for wellness and recreational facilities. There is a gym for residents to work out and breezy spaces to enjoy panoramic 360° views of the Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya skylines.
This sustainable and innovative approach to design won the project GBI Gold accreditation and also underscores Sime Darby Property’s passion to set new engineering benchmarks. Indeed, the company is well known in Malaysia and has a long history of delivering high-quality projects.
Head back down to Level 6 and one can bask in another sanctuary of rejuvenation and wellness. The resort-inspired facilities here include an infinity pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, aqua gym, reflexology path and multipurpose hall, to name a few.
Innovative design
Cantara Residences, which also has 13 retail units on the ground floor, was designed and built using cutting-edge techniques to ensure safety, durability and comfort.
As Ara Damansara is located under the flight path of planes from Skypark Subang Airport, any structure is subjected to a maximum height limit of 122m by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
This pushed the architects and development team to get creative to achieve the desired development plot ratio. They incorporated some of the residential units on the outer flanks of the car park podium and others in the cantilevered Sky Bridge.
Such structures would have been wishful thinking several decades ago. However, modern reinforced concrete, steelworks and computer modelling have allowed for construction buildings that would withstand the test of time.
Cantara residences was designed and built with sustainability, demonstrated by its GBI Gold accreditation.
The use of Starken autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) bricks and reinforced lightweight concrete wall panels not only eased the construction process but gave it similar strength to conventional brick walls. These also had higher green ratings.
The support of Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) also enabled Cantara Residences to be built faster, and with better quality and less impact on site surroundings.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) solutions were also crucial as it provided the design team with clear views of the physical and intrinsic properties of the development in 3D.
The technology allowed for seamless aligning of structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects, ensuring that potential problems were identified long before the first brick was laid.
Despite the intricacy of Cantara Residences’ design, it successfully obtained a QLASSIC score of 82% in August 2020. This again underscored Sime Darby Property’s commitment towards quality in its developments.
Excellent location
Residents enjoy unparalleled convenience and connectivity as Ara Damansara is a matured township situated near major expressways and a vast network of rail lines, making it easy to access other parts of the city and beyond.
Cantara Residences is a transit adjacent development (TAD), being less than 500m from the Lembah Subang LRT station. Also close by is the Ara Damansara LRT station.
Other nearby amenities include Sime Darby Medical Centre Ara Damansara just 3km away, Subang Skypark Terminal at 5km and Kuala Lumpur city centre within 13km.
The township itself has everything to offer without being excessively crowded. Ara Damansara’s landed homes, low and high-rise residences and commercial properties are all developed around dedicated garden precincts and commercial centres.
From luxurious resort-styled villas to stylish serviced suites, retail outlets, recreational centres and offices, it is a conducive backdrop to enjoy the good life.
Cantara residences allows residents to live, work and play – with nature at the heart of their experiences.
The latest addition here is Maya Ara Residences. Launched in October 2021, its open units with built-ups ranging from 764sq ft to 1,055sq ft and a starting price of RM594,800 are 100% taken up.
The excellent take-ups for both Cantara Residences and Maya Ara Residences are further testament to the township’s outstanding appeal.
Sime Darby Property remains committed to growing the award-winning township, guided by its purpose to be a Value Multiplier for People, Businesses, Economies and the Planet, as well as a vision to advancing real estate as a force for collective progress in harmony with natural resources.
Keep an eye out for its upcoming launch this year. It will be another freehold with purely residential title development in Ara Damansara.The low-density project with three- to four-bedroom layouts will suit buyers from all walks of life. It has good access to the neighbourhood’s retail offerings and within walking distance to Lotus’s Hypermarket and Oasis Square.
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