By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 30: What sets Hock Seng Lee’s (HSL) La Promenade apart is not just its architecture, but its gardens, with the 200-acre gated community, envisioned as a “township within a park”, becoming a showcase of how landscaping can define a neighbourhood’s character and long-term value.
From its earliest masterplan nearly two decades ago, green space was prioritised. The result today: a tree-lined 1.2km boulevard, a perimeter walking track, and a natural stream transformed into a striking water feature that doubles as a security barrier between residential and commercial zones.
To date, HSL has planted more than 1,200 Norfolk pines, nearly 30,000 tealeaf shrubs, and an array of native and ornamental species such as hopea and gum trees.
More than seven kilometres of pedestrian walkways are landscaped, and new residential precincts come complete with playgrounds and generous shade from broad-canopy trees.
To keep every leaf thriving, HSL established its own landscaping department even before handing over homes to residents. Today, the department has more than 30 full-time gardeners.
“There is no way to manage gardens of this size and complexity without a systematic approach. We are maintaining a township within a park,” said department head Leslie Lim.
His team includes 11 full-time La Promenade gardeners, working alongside eight general staff, who rotate between HSL’s different property projects. Over at the plant nursery, there are also two full-time staff.
“To meet clients’ expectations, we not only plant—we keep trees healthy, but shrubs also neatly trimmed, and we do R&D to refine plant mixes.
“Landscaping is a combination of science and art: knowing what grows and how to maintain it, and also what looks good. It’s a long-term process that requires patience—the results reveal themselves over years.”
As part of HSL’s green initiative, the landscaping team has begun its own composting trials. Green waste is mulched and composted for soil conditioning.
“It will be rewarding to generate our own compost through recycling—and we would be reducing chemical use too,” Leslie added.
Assistant property sales manager Angie Joan said landscaping and HSL’s in-house security are among the strongest selling points for La Promenade.
“Our mantra is simple: bring potential buyers into La Promenade, past the guardhouse, and let them experience the landscaping. After that, much of our work is done. As one of our directors says, landscaping is our ‘signature dish’. Seeing is believing.”
La Promenade’s residential component spans approximately 160 acres across three low-density phases: Precinct Première (2015), Precinct Luxe (2017), and Precinct Grande (2019). Each phase averages fewer than 100 homes, ensuring space, privacy, and lush surroundings.
“We sell the luxury of space and exclusivity,” Angie said. “When we say house types are limited, we mean it. Some bungalow designs are capped at two units, and the latest three-storey duplexes total only 20 units—very niche.”
This focus on design and landscaping excellence has earned La Promenade a rare “trifecta” of national recognition—from the Malaysian Institute of Architects, the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia, and the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA).
“Independent recognition matters because it benchmarks us against regional best practice,” said senior property general manager Tay Chiok Kee.
Looking ahead, HSL will continue its landed-only policy within the 160-acre residential zone. “We’re not introducing high-density projects into the residential area,” Tay said.
“Over the next five years we will focus on more duplexes, bungalows and some townhouses. Apartments will be confined to the 40-acre commercial zone next to our current office fronting the Kuching–Samarahan Expressway. We are also investing further in landscaping—that remains our unique selling point.”
Upcoming works include a sheltered playscape along the boulevard and an exclusive clubhouse for Precinct Grande, among others.
For more information, visit hsl.com.my or search #LaPromenadeMall and #HSLTower on social media. —DayakDaily
