Forest within a City, or City in the Forest

Positioned close to the economic centres of Southeast Asia, ‘Forest City’ looks set to become a global hub that attracts innovation, talents, and ideation. Announced last Friday, January 22th as a joint venture between Hong Kong-listed property Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd and Johor’s Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd is the lush urban getaway located on four man-made islands in Iskandar Malaysia.

As Southeast Asia’s first and largest mixed-use green development in terms of number of units built and spanning over 1,386.05 hectares costing an estimated S$58.3 billion over the next 20 years, ‘Forest City’ is expected to fuel the economy in the Iskandar region and neighbouring Singapore in the next decade.

Revolving around a multi-layered three dimensional city concept, with lush vertical greenery covered with dense foliage and multiple forms of public transportation operating at high efficiency, futuristic green design and smart technologies enabled infrastructures, ‘Forest City’ is set to become a role model of future cities to come.

At the conference, where the theme of sustainability was topic on everyone’s mind, the master planner of Forest City, Mr. Michael Groove of SASAKI emphasized on the importance of “connecting people back to nature whilst ease of mobility was another key consideration. Mr Mo Bin, Chief Executive Officer of Country Garden Holdings, said: “‘Forest City’ is a culmination of our wisdom, knowledge and experience that brings to life an eco-city of the future in its true sense. With ‘Forest City’, we are offering a perfect mix of luxury tranquillity, urban vitality and proximity in the heart of Southeast Asia.”

Part of the first phase of ‘Forest City’ includes exceptionally designed two to four bedroom condominiums and high-rise coastal residences situated within leafy foliage corridors and car-free avenues with gated security, with the condos ranging from approximately 818 sq ft to 1,915 sq ft.

Ideally suited for those seeking a ‘get-away’ luxury lifestyle from the bustle of modern life, residents will also have access to exceptional amenities including a world-class hotel, fitness clubs, and swimming pool. Apart from the man-made amenities, the development is embraced by lush greenery and diverse wetlands and mangrove forest that are potential eco-tourism hotspots.

More than just a landmark development in the region, it represents a major step building this great destination for work, play and live for a new, global generation in Iskandar, and offer the perfect mix of luxury tranquillity, urban vitality and proximity in the heart of Southeast Asia.

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