Forest City is a newly built smart city project situated in the Iskandar Special Economic Zone in Johor, Malaysia. This innovative and futuristic city covers an area of 30 square kilometers and comprises four man-made islands. It is a joint venture between Country Garden Group and Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd (EDSB), a Malaysian-government-backed company. The developers envision Forest City as a unique opportunity to create an ideal, idyllic, and technology-driven living and working space ecosystem, combining environment, technology, and cutting-edge innovations.
A Living Paradise
The project’s vision is a city with the perfect climate, sea views, clear blue skies, and fresh air all year round. It is a city covered with idyllic parks and without vehicular traffic, forming an ideal environment where everyone can enjoy the sun, a swim, or a carefree stroll. Life in Forest City is exciting, with smart technologies available for everything from food and entertainment to work and leisure. Country Garden Group Chairman, Mr. Yeung Kwok Keung, is the driving force behind this dream of creating a living paradise.
An Innovative City
Forest City is a pioneering city that integrates the latest technologies to create a sustainable living experience. To meet the needs of its growing community, Forest City has developed a comprehensive and connected smart island experience that encompasses innovative living technologies, personalized service, and community events.
One of Forest City’s unique features is the Forest Life App, a one-stop service platform that offers convenient access to a variety of community services. Entertainment options are available through Readlife, Malaysia’s first cloud-based community digital library. Malaysia’s first smart robot service community, Canbot, is also on hand to provide residents with multilingual support and welcome guides.
Safety and security are among the top priorities in Forest City. The city utilizes the latest smart security systems, including smart doors and elevators that use facial and fingerprint recognition, and invisible electric fencing. The Forest Life App also allows for remote video intercom communication, door unlocking, and alarm triggers, as well as real-time streaming of public areas.
Seamless Integration
To ensure that residents integrate seamlessly into community life, Forest City has devoted most of its manpower to the positions of butler. The aim is to cultivate an intimate relationship with each property owner. With residents from over 30 countries, Forest City has also organized multicultural events to encourage cultural exchanges. The community has celebrated Chinese New Year and Japanese Cultural Day, and in May, a tie-dying workshop using Henna and Chinese handcrafted items fostered cultural understanding between residents.
Forest City’s Growth
Forest City’s growth has been impressive, with over 9,000 new homes already built and ready for occupancy. The Starview Bay complex was completed in May, and this development will allow an additional 6,500 residents to move into one of the world’s most innovative new cities. The city has a construction period of 25-30 years and will consist of a mix of residential, leisure, commercial, and industrial spaces, with an estimated population of 700,000 people.
The development was established under the Economic Transformation Plan of the Malaysian government in 2006 and invested by both Singapore and Malaysia governments. The city has been named by Forbes as one of “five new cities that are set to shake up the future.”
Conclusion
Forest City is a project of Country Garden Group that embodies innovation and sustainability. The developers have created a unique opportunity to be part of this dynamism, and the city has already shown tremendous growth. Its smart technologies, personalized services, and multicultural events make it an attractive destination for people from all over the world. Forest City is an ideal, idyllic, and technology-driven living and working space ecosystem.
