Lifestyle aspirations take shape in E&O properties

Eastern & Oriental (E&O) strengthens the Malaysian property market as a choice second-home destination among high-net-worth individuals from the region and beyond. Every new trend it establishes draws more and more foreign buyers to Malaysia, where foreign ownership of landed properties and freehold titles is encouraged by 10-year visa grants to foreign property buyers.

E&O evokes the cultural legacy of Penang's historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel, which the company successfully restored to its Old World glory in 2001. Taking its name from this iconic more-than-century-old heritage hotel, E&O has gone on to resolutely set its course as an aspirational lifestyle developer with an impressive track record.

Listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia, the company dominates the luxury lifestyle niche a decade on with a succession of exceptional residential developments across a series of exclusive addresses in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. E&O's expanding property portfolio sees the company venturing into new growth areas such as Iskandar Malaysia in the southern Malaysian state of Johor, and further afield with its maiden international foray into central London.

"We have always started on the premise of wanting to do things differently, for the better, and to do this with sincerity and passion," says Eric Chan, E&O deputy managing director. "Our approach to lifestyle property development speaks of our overarching aim of catering to people's lifestyle aspirations. We realise that needs can be the same but aspirations are unique."

E&O set the trend for large and expansive condominiums in Kuala Lumpur with the launch of Dua Residency in 2004. One of the lowest-density, high-rise developments in Kuala Lumpur, the project delivered 288 units with generous floor spaces ranging from 186 square metres up to 557 square metres.

A whole new lifestyle of refined living by the sea began in Penang with E&O's maiden launch of courtyard terraces in 2005 at Seri Tanjung Pinang, a landmark development that has become an aspirational address. Inspired by world-class waterfront communities such as Australia's Sovereign Islands and Sentosa Cove in Singapore, Seri Tanjung Pinang is Penang's first and largest master-planned seafront development.