Fast forward to the future

SIGNS of globalisation are everywhere — from the cars we drive to the shared experience of hunting for virtual monsters on Pokemon Go.

Globalisation, technology, market changes and shifting demographics are constantly influencing our lives. Globalisation even affects how people buy properties as global trends influence the way we live and the expectations we hold, says Carrie Fong, chairperson of Rehda Youth, the youth wing of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia.

“Globalisation is redefining our business and target market. As property developers, we want to ensure that what we build is up to international standards — not just in construction methods, but understanding global lifestyle trends,” says Fong.

Leveraging new trends can also help property developers set themselves apart in an otherwise cookie-cutter industry, she quips.

“Everyone is going into mixed-use development and strata-titled projects now, for instance. There are only a few property types you can do — condominiums, hotels, retail malls and office towers, to name a few. With the current softening market, there is no better time for developers to look for niches and opportunities,” says Fong, who is also the director of Hedgeford Sdn Bhd.

In this fast-paced, globalised world, property developers risk becoming obsolete if they are out of touch with trends that are shaping the future.

Typically, the trend-setting agenda in the construction industry has been driven by architects and designers, instead of property developers, says Nippon Paint Malaysia group general manager Gladys Goh.

“Property developers should know what trends are up and coming, so that they have the vision of what the future holds for them. Developers don’t build overnight — they plan ahead,” says Goh.

Understanding current and future trends is crucial for developers to meet the needs of younger and future property buyers, she says.

“The Millennials not only consume media differently from the Gen X, Gen Y and Baby Boomers — it even applies to how they take a cab, buy property and go on vacation. When designing and developing a township, developers need to adapt to their needs and lifestyles,” Goh says.

With the aim of equipping property industry leaders with insights into regional trends, emerging ideas and predictions in design, projects and innovations, Rehda Youth has collaborated with Nippon Paint Malaysia to organise the inaugural “Future Forward Forum” on Sept 29, 2016.

Themed, #Trending: Developing Tomorrow, the one-day event attracted more than 200 participants. It featured keynote sessions and panel sessions exploring future trends that could sustain, propel or disrupt the property development industry.

Among the list of international and homegrown speakers were Tange Associates president Paul Tange, TA Global Bhd CEO Tiah Joo Kim, CPG Consultants senior vice-president of architecture Jerry Ong, Sansiri Public Company Ltd vice-president of business development and new business (high-rise) Varangkana Artkarasatapon, Panasonic Malaysia general manager Tan Chee Hon, Arkitek LLA Sdn Bhd director Laurence Loh and Art Printing Works Sdn Bhd CEO Ee Soon Wei.

Having collaborated with Rehda Youth for various networking initiatives over the past three years, Goh says the forum is their biggest joint project to date.

“We wanted to do something different that would be sustainable and ongoing. Rehda Youth are the future captains of industry so we wanted to have a platform to trigger discussions among younger developers. They will eventually become the masterminds in the property development ecosystem and shape both communities and the environment,” says Goh.

Nippon Paint Malaysia is no stranger to promoting innovation in the property industry, having pioneered odourless paint in Malaysia and organised the annual Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) for the past eight years.

The AYDA aims to inspire and recognise the talent of interior design and architecture students regionally.

Similar to how the AYDA grew from a national competition to a regional showcase, Goh says they hope to extend the “Future Forward Forum” to regional participants next year.

“We are definitely looking to make this an annual event and a regional one. With the Internet of things, it’s a borderless world and we need to see things from a global perspective and share different perspectives,” she says.

 

Thinking for the future today

The objectives

The Future Forward Forum brings together a think tank of visionary personalities who have made a mark in their respective professions related to property development, architecture, technology and digital innovations.

Future Forward provides the platform for cross-sharing of ideas and trends within the Asian context, to develop leadership and strategic thinking amongst the next generation of industry leaders.

Future Forward aims to equip industry practitioners and companies with knowledge that will further increase their business competitiveness in the Asian region, and in the global arena. There is much knowledge to be shared in terms of branding, technologies, lifestyle patterns, sustainability, new media, design, etc.

The general theme revolves around what regional leaders anticipate future trends to be in various fields related to building and construction.

As consumers and investors continue to invest locally and overseas, they have better exposure to experiences, products and investment opportunities. Local markets need to respond to this to be relevant.

Future Forward gives the audience a chance to relook at themselves and look at new possibilities and markets.

The organisers

Rehda Youth has been championing the following causes based on four main pillars since its inception:

• Green sustainability

• Education and exchange of ideas amongst peers

• Networking

• CSR

Rehda Youth aims to enhance its second pillar by bringing together a network of knowledge from overseas resources to be shared with the purpose of improving standards, design and innovation to propel Malaysia’s development industry to the next level.

Future Forward’s objective is to BE that platform to start a new discourse to share ideas and ideals to move forward into the future.

Nippon Paint Malaysia is Malaysia’s leading total coating solutions provider.

Nippon has always been in the forefront to:

• encourage and nurture platforms where new talents and ideas are discovered and shared

• champion the education and awareness of green and sustainability.

Future Forward will be a platform for Nippon Paint Malaysia to build its brand and thought leadership in sharing inspirations and ideas as well as engagement with its various stakeholders such as property developers, architects, interior designers as well as project owners.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Oct 7, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.