Sime Darby Property and the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) signed a memorandum of agreement with the aim to commercialise the Divergent Dwelling Design (D3) concept to improve affordable housing with new methods of design and construction.
Sime Darby Property Chief Operating Officer Datuk’ Wan Hashimi Albakri and CREAM Executive Director Ir. Dr. Zuhairi Abd. Hamid signed the agreement at a signing ceremony held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre (SDCC) yesterday.
The signing was witnessed by Sime Darby Property Managing Director Datuk Ir. Jauhari Hamidi, CREAM Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Ir. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Chief Executive Officer and CREAM Board of Trustee Datuk Ir. Ahmad ‘Asri Abdul Hamid, and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Senior General Manager and CREAM Board of Trustee Datuk Ir. Elias Ismail.
Jauhari said, “Sime Darby Property aims to provide customers with the best quality affordable homes by being the first to adopt the D3 concept, which offers an innovative advantage. This collaboration is also part of our innovative efforts to focus on various aspects of our products including affordability, adaptability, quality and sustainability”.
“Dubbed as ‘Sime Darby Property D3 Sustainable Homes’, D3 is poised to transform affordable housing nationwide by improving the quality and standards of affordable homes and lifestyle. This innovation elevates us further as a significant developer of affordable housing in Malaysia and a socially responsible company that fulfils the affordable housing needs of the nation,” Jauhari added.
To introduce the innovative D3 concept to consumers, Sime Darby Property is planning to build a D3 prototype gallery at the Elmina West Township in the City of Elmina, Shah Alam. The gallery will feature two affordable home show units which will be completed by mid-2017. Sime Darby Property will then develop the Sime Darby Property D3 Sustainable Homes, Harmoni 1, a D3 pilot project in Elmina West, City of Elmina, Shah Alam.
It will be the first statutory affordable housing project to adopt the D3 concept, consisting of 562 apartment units with sizes between 900 sq ft and 1,000 sq ft and complemented by shop office units.
The project is expected to commence by the third quarter of 2017. Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM).
Ahmad Tajuddin said, “Being the research arm of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, CREAM is committed in achieving the goals stipulated in CIDB’s Construction Industry Transformation Plan (CITP). D3 is the research outcome that strives to resolve the country’s affordable housing issues, as well as facilitate the shift towards higher quality housing in the country.
“D3 is the result of years of dedicated research by CREAM, G&A Architects in collaboration with Sime Darby Property. We are pleased to be able to implement the D3 concept into real construction practise.”
Under G&A Architects, CREAM has appointed the Director, Ar. Gan Hock Beng to facilitate and lead the research and development of the project”.
The Sime Darby Property D3 Sustainable Homes concept involves pre-fabrication and mass production of components for residential units that enables cost savings, higher product quality, reduction of on-site labour and minimised wastage. The prefabricated components lead to rapid construction, shortened construction time and fast product delivery to consumers.
Conventional affordable housing projects require about 36 - 42 months of construction time while D3 has the potential to be completed within a period of 24 - 30 months, 28% – 33% faster than traditional methods.