SHOWCASING THE HEART OF KUALA LUMPUR AND ITS ASPIRING SURROUNDINGS ORN & BRED XPLORE TORY RANSACTION BEat, play and live EUber-cool SFrom tin town to TKL address at in the Golden metropolis in old sleek city a premium Triangle world charm PLAY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Ernest Towle [email protected] EDITORIAL General Email [email protected] StarProperty Sdn Bhd (708369-V) Contributing Editor David Yeoh Menara Star, 15 Jalan 16/11, Acting Head of Content Tharmini Kenas 46350 Petaling Jaya, [email protected] Selangor Darul Ehsan. +603-7967 1388 Content Ng Pau Ling +603-7955 2458 Viktor Chong Aisyah Suwardi www.starproperty.my Hakim Hassan www.propwall.my Chinese Editor Foo Kok Meng www.ibilik.my [email protected] StarProperty.my Video Producer Alan Khaw StarProperty.my [email protected] StarProperty.my Designers Kwong Chee Oon Nurul Aida Tajudin StarProperty Queeny Yong StarProperty MARKETING & EVENTS StarPropertyTV General Email [email protected] Head of Customer Ivy Leong Engagement & Support [email protected] Events Kasturi Jayaraman Chloe Teh Nicholas Khoo Elaine Yap Events & Sales Support Amutha Thandaiyuthapani Marketing Manager Faye Tan [email protected] Consumer Sales Specialist Gallen Low SALES (AGENT BUSINESS) Content Strategist Kevin Eichenberger Head of Sales (Agent Business) Kent Thew [email protected] Digital Marketing John Mark Anushah Dewiendren Sales Jayson Tan Nurul Nadiah Kamarudin Verny Lim Sales Support Sanggari Selvan SALES (PROPERTY BUSINESS) iBilik Nurul Huda Abdul Wahid General Email [email protected] Rashidah Mohd Jusoh Sales Gan Fook Yong PRODUCT & RESEARCH Job Chang Product Manager Bertrand Chua Arthur Jeng Digital Product Prem Zameer Tan Lee Heng Fatiha Hanim Ahamad Ayudin GENERAL Christine Ong Sin Yee Admin Siti Amalina Ismail For more stories, go to best.starproperty.my CONTENT 04 Editorial note 60 Map of Golden Triangle 08 The River of Life 12 An ode to Malaysian heritage at Pasar Seni 16 Crowning A piece of the old world in a bustling 64 From tin town to sleek city metropolis 66 Secure and safe triangle 20 Tech up at Plaza Low Yat 68 Breathing new life into old city parts 24 Get close to nature in the heart of KL 70 Dwell in the elegance of Chambers 28 A gastronomical horizon beckons at Jalan Alor KL 32 Green lungs in the heart of central KL 74 More Golden flow of energy 36 A memorial walk down the Merchant’s Lane Cafe 40 Reminiscence of a KL-born 76 The Golden Triangle: 42 Magazine library to promote possibility A colourful and eclectic mix of old thinking and new 46 Durian lovers’ paradise at Alor Backspace 79 More Property prices hold up well 48 Reasonably-priced European cuisine served in the Golden Triangle with panoramic city view 82 Value makes KLCC area attractive 52 Malay cuisine with a modern twist down at Bijan 56 Immersing in the local flavour at Bazaar Baru Chow Kit EDITORIAL NOTE Vibrant, charming and captivating THIS issue of Best@ zeroing in on. You will also find numbers, THARMINI on the heart of the nation aims charts and opinions of experts KENAS to bring you the essence and the that will aid you in decision-mak- vibes of the city centre. From tro- ing if you are looking to buy, rent phy skyscrapers to heritage lanes, or invest in the Golden Triangle the Golden Triangle will have and the areas surrounding it. everyone hooked to what’s next. What are you waiting for? Hap- Just like me, you will find the py reading! best food to eat and the best place Golden Triangle in three words: to be in the city centre as you read Vibrant, charming and captivating Iconic, fast-paced, and strategic HUMAN beings have the tendency Talking about it further will to take things for granted. Hav- spoil the magic contained in the AISYAH ing been living in Kuala Lumpur Best@Golden Triangle; hence I SUWARDI for the past eight years, I thought hope readers can take their time I know all there is to know about and enjoy Kuala Lumpur through the city. But apparently, I am in the our eyes in this pullout. wrong. Throughout this project, Golden Triangle in three words: the city revealed its multifacet- Iconic, fast-paced, and strategic. ed aspects that I will never get to know, should I not take the time to explore the area. 04 BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE Historical, urban, and traffic THE Golden Triangle despite Even more interesting is its vast urbanscape somehow the sight of the tall towers VIKTOR managed to cling on to its his- looming above (testament CHONG tory. to Malaysia’s architectural I particularly enjoyed advancement), as I explored traversing the area, witness- the humble markets for deli- ing the colonial structures cious street food. It is a won- amalgamating with the archi- derful contradiction — a tug tectures of today and tomor- of war between history and row. Stories are also abound, progress, and I am blessed to with expats and locals alike witness this exchange in the brushing shoulders inside a present. melting pot of culture — their Golden Triangle in three friendliness make for a fine words: Historical, urban, and jolt of creative impulse as I put traffic my pen to paper. Vibrant, intense and alive I think that Kuala Lumpur’s in the Golden Triangle from Golden Triangle region is a stalls offering many classic multifaceted area within the delicacies synonymous with HAKIM capital with denizens from the cultures within Malaysia HASSAN diverse backgrounds playing to more posh and modern different roles to make the settings for those looking for city come alive. More than a more high-end dining expe- just a financial hub, it can rience. Either for work or play, be seen that the area is also I see that the city centre has home to local businesses as it all. well with vibrant hawker cen- Golden Triangle in three tres and merchants scattered words: Vibrant, intense and about in the city centre. alive. There is much to explore BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE 05 BORN & BRED BORN & BRED A place is comprised of its people, and there is no shortage of diversity in the nation’s capital. Coming from different backgrounds, these are the people who make Kuala Lumpur a bustling cultural melting pot. BORN & BRED THE RIVer OF LIFE 08 BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE By VIKTOR CHONG [email protected] HE silent darkness of the night failed to reach the confluence of the Gombak and Klang river. Water sprouts hissed loudly at the side of the banks, complemented by the mist that perme- Tates the azure surface. Locals taking multiple wefies and the occasional tourist capturing the splendour of the River of Life have become a common scenario lately. Unlikely its current namesake, the River of Life was once amongst the most polluted rivers in the city. Previously, the river became polluted in the wake of rapid development, and flooding occurred in high frequencies during rainy seasons. BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE 09 BORN & BRED Concerned, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall decided to launch the River of Life project in 2012, with the inten- tion of cleaning and beautifying the river, as well as en- hance tourism value. AECOM was chosen as the delivery partner through an international design competition. Hence, the company was responsible towards the delivery of the river master planning, beautification component and a strategic framework for the land- scape, as well as urban design guideline. The goal had been to get the water level to Class IIB (suitable for recreational purposes), with cleaning works involving numerous phases such as the installation of If the tantalising display does not appeal, individuals could walk around and witness the grandeur of historical buildings nearby. trash traps, upgrading of flood catchment ponds and sewage treatment plants. AECOM claimed that the project will deliver afforda- It was a slum; a veritable dumping ground for the city ble housing for more than 35,000 new residents, one with the water quality at Class III to Class IV (not suitable million sq ft of commercial space, and over 27,000 new for body contact). A rubbish trap along the Gombak river. 10 BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE The area before the facelift in 2011 employment opportunities. Other projected fig- ures include the increase of public transportation usage within the master plan from 15% to 60% and the reduction of traffic demand by 15% by 2020.* In other words, the River of Life is not merely about making a river confluence clean and attrac- tive. It has a statement to make on the new lease of life brought to the city and its people. *Source: AECOM website Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, over- looks the confluence of the Gombak and Klang river. BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE 11 BORN & BRED Pasar Seni, a prominent landmark in the heart of the city 12 BEST@ GOLDEN TRIANGLE AN ode TO MALAYSIAN HerITAGE AT PASAR SenI S the sun kept blazing, people made their way through the sheltered lanes in the city centre. Many took refuge in the Tiffany blue building that stood tall unassuming to passersby of Athe treasures contained inside. Pasar Seni, also known as Central Market is a well- known landmark in Kuala Lumpur. Perfectly refur- bished, Pasar Seni now is a one-stop centre for souve- nirs and Malaysian handicrafts including batik. It has become synonymous to culture, arts and crafts of Malaysia. If you have limited time in your hands and you need to learn about the essence of Malaysia quick- ly, Pasar Seni will give you all that you need.