Natural lighting and seamless connection to nature bring a sense of wellness into the home.
AS we journey through life, our housing needs naturally evolve, reflecting the changing landscapes of our experiences and responsibilities.
The homes we choose and the neighbourhoods we live in significantly shape our daily lives and overall well-being.
For many growing families, selecting a home in a desirable neighbourhood is about more than just finding a place to live – it’s about creating a lifestyle that balances convenience, safety, and quality of life.
Future home buyers consider factors such as proximity to good schools, access to healthcare facilities, availability of recreational spaces, and a sense of community.When it comes to the home itself, thoughtful layouts are essential, especially for the increasing number of multigenerational families.
According to the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM), 15% of Malaysia’s population will be over the age of 65 by 2050.
There is a growing demand for homes designed with functionality in mind, featuring accessible and adaptable spaces that support evolving needs.
Ease of living
Like many Malaysians in their late 40s, Sharmini Nathan has taken on the role as her mother’s primary caregiver, while also sharing her home with her widowed elderly aunt.
“When my husband and I first bought our little flat in Petaling Jaya, it was just the two of us, but as my responsibilities have grown to care for my family, we now wish for a more spacious home,” she says.
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Many families are opting to live in multi generational homes, creating the need for flexible layouts. - 123RF
Her mother suffers from dementia, a condition that affects her ability to remember and perform daily tasks independently.
“Through my research over the years, I’ve learned that sunlight greatly helps improve the mood of dementia patients.
However, many homes in Malaysia are not designed to have ample natural light or good airflow,” Sharmini explains.
Having a home with smart design would benefit not only her mother but also Sharmini herself.
Being a caregiver, as she points out, has its own stressors.
“Taking care of my mother and aunt is a responsibility I am privileged to take on, but I also need to take care of myself,” she says. Having a quiet, tranquil garden with plenty of greenery where she can settle down with a book provides her some well-deserved time to herself.
Sharmini, who takes both her mother and aunty on frequent trips to the hospital for checkups, finds that living in a township replete with good amenities ranks highly on her list.
With her husband frequently away for work, she often finds herself managing things almost single-handedly.
“Living in a township affords me the time I would not otherwise have to take my mother and aunt for their appointments and get groceries without having to endure heavy traffic,” she adds.
Sanctuary for life
Aishah Kamarudin’s parents moved in with her a year ago into the double-storey home she shares with her husband and two children.
With ageing parents and growing children, having a flexible layout for a spacious home is at the top of her wishlist.
“They used to be quite lonely living on their own. My mum and dad love being at home with the children now, so it’s good for them.
Living in a township can be beneficial for growing teens who can gather and enjoy recreational activities outdoors with their peers.
“At the same time, I also see them struggling with having to walk up the stairs to their bedrooms every night,” she reveals.
Having a home that accommodates flexible layouts would enable Aishah to design a space for her ageing parents on the ground floor.
“Having a flexible layout choice, means eliminating the need for them to trudge up and down the stairs when they want to go to their rooms, use the bathroom or kitchen.”
With both parents at home, having an extended family coming over is the norm.
For Aishah’s family, this usually means spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
“What can I say, we love our big cookouts!”
Right now, Aishah says, the men and children catch up in the living area, while most of the women chit-chat over the stove while whipping up decadent meals.
“For a large family like mine, I’d prefer if we had a spacious kitchen and an open-layout living area where we can all catch up and cook together, like we did back in our kampung,” she says.
As a full-time working mother of two young girls, Aishah also considers security to be paramount.
Living in a gated community with top-notch security, she says, will offer her some peace of mind when she’s not home.
But safety for Aishah isn’t only confined to security.
“My two girls are very active, but I am quite hesitant to let them cycle around as our current home sits quite close to the main road,” she says, adding that traffic-free roads would be ideal.
Greener pastures
Brenden Mah, who recently relocated home to Malaysia with his wife and teenage sons, is currently renting a three-bedroom apartment in Kuala Lumpur.
Mah, an educator, says the move to a high-rise has been a big adjustment for his family, who lived in British Columbia, Canada, for over 10 years.
The picturesque westernmost province of Canada is known for its wealth of wildlife, sweeping greenery, rugged mountains, and dramatic coastlines – and the Mah family made the most of it during their time there.
“As a family, we spent a lot of time in the great outdoors in Canada.
“Every weekend we would go cycling, hiking, or kayaking,” he says, adding that the home he hopes to purchase in the future is in a suburban area surrounded by green spaces.
“My children are used to being outdoors a lot, so living in an apartment in the city currently feels a bit boxed up, and I can sense they miss being able to cycle outdoors and be close to nature.”
Also high on Mah’s list is a township with excellent infrastructure and connectivity.
“My sons are in their early teens, so having the option of good schools nearby is a plus point,” says Mah.
He adds that living in a township with all the amenities nearby allows them to spend more time as a family instead of taking long commutes.
Mah stresses that his children are still acclimating to life in Malaysia, and it’s crucial for him that they settle in a welcoming neighbourhood where they can forge connections and establish a sense of community.
Built to last
Since 1995, Gamuda Land has been shaping townships, creating homes for Malaysians from diverse backgrounds.
From Kota Kemuning and Valencia to Gamuda Gardens, Gamuda Cove, and twentyfive7, their focus remains on environmental sustainability and building strong community connections.
As one of Malaysia’s leading property developers, Gamuda Land prioritises addressing the changing needs of future homebuyers, by challenging traditional norms and incorporating innovative design and sustainable architecture into a variety of their development projects.
What features matter most to you in your future home?
Scan the QR code and take the Gamuda Land survey to let us know how we can build better homes for you and your family.
This article was brought to you by Gamuda Land.
