Highly personalised and award-winning designs catering to the ultramodern lifestyle make Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) a successful property developer in Malaysia. "We stand out from the competition in Malaysia because every single property we develop has a personality," says managing director Teh Lip Kim. "We don't duplicate a project in one locality and set it elsewhere. Every single development is unique." The former tin mining company has gone a long way after it ventured into hotel, property leasing and management, and commercial and residential development. In a short period, SDB has gained a foothold in Malaysia and Singapore with projects commanding a 20 per cent price premium against the competition. SDB's By the Sea and Hijauan on Cavenagh projects showcase the company's pioneering mindset and high regard for the environment. By the Sea is the only non-hotel structure along the shores of Batu Ferringhi in Penang. The 138-unit suite development will be 60 metres from the shoreline and elevated to give it a prestigious look. It will offer a relaxed working environment by allowing people to have their families close by. The project's highlight is the rehabilitation of a polluted river flowing through the site. "While most developers will just cover the river, we will clean it using wetland plants that take in impurities from the water," Teh says. "For the young, especially children, it will also be an educational experience. They will learn more about keeping the environment clean and living a sustainable lifestyle." The Hijauan on Cavenagh is a residential development near Orchard Road, Singapore. Its 41 units will feature distinct personally handcrafted copper doors. Instead of packing the site with facilities, SDB will provide a vast lawn where children can enjoy the outdoors, something that is valuable in Singapore. The dimensions of the rooms will be larger than the usual sizes in Singapore as SDB follows its own standards to provide occupants with more comfort. To raise business exposure in that country, SDB has lined up several projects that include a 2.5-acre land development near the National University of Singapore. Design concepts from talented photographers, theatre production people and catwalk and shopfront designers have helped SDB win recognition. The Asia-Pacific Property Awards 2011, for instance, commended SDB's 20trees project in Malaysia for best development in the multiple unit category. "We offer people more than houses that they simply buy," Teh says. "What comes with our products is also a lifestyle. It is something that people can aspire to."
