Creating a lifestyle icon

When Malaysian businessman Teh Soon Seng started the Royal Garden housing development in Shanghai, he quickly realised the potential in setting up a clubhouse on this prime location, writes TAN BEE HONG

WHERE once the excited quacking of ducks could be heard, there is now only tranquil silence, broken now and then by the sound of water splashing as residents of Royal Garden cool off in the pool at Club iCube during the hot summer in Shanghai. “Club members can go swimming in winter too,” assures a spokesperson for Royal Garden. “In winter, the indoor pool is heated and for comfort, air temperature is controlled at a few degrees cooler than the water.” Club iCube is in Royal Garden, an exclusive gated housing project of 430,000 sq m in the Minhang district, is a pioneering force in making contemporary living a trend in Shanghai. The prime property development, undertaken by Yanfull (Shanghai), Golden Plus Holdings Bhd (GPlus) and China Idea Development Ltd, stands on a piece of land that was formerly a duck farm till Golden Plus bought over the land in 1994 and built the Dino Beach theme park across the road. Tawau-born businessman Teh Soon Seng is the chairman and legal representative of Yanfull (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. — a wholly owned company of Golden Plus Holdings Bhd Malaysia. After Phase One of the housing project took off, the 20,000 sq m clubhouse land title was carved out as Soon Seng realised there was great potential in setting up a clubhouse for the residents. Right now, membership is free for residents but next year, when the facilities are fully set up, it will cost US$2,000 per annum. “Membership will be open to non-residents after the final Phase Three of Royal Garden is completed though priority will be given to residents,” he says. “The 2,500 residents will not be enough to keep the clubhouse running profitably, so we do need a bigger clientele. We are looking at a membership of 5,000 at least.” The clubhouse, surrounded on three sides by a pool, is designed by British master architect Eric Parry. Its rectangular cubic design, with plenty of glass, is considered “shocking exterior art” in architectural circles.

What really impresses is from the moment you enter the building. The interior is designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola whose signature stamp seems to lie in her wall features. Urquiola’s designs were fleshed out by local contractors in Shanghai.

From the entrance to the reception lounge, chains of steel balls hang from the ceiling conceal bright lights. Surprises await at every turn. There is no such thing as a plain wall or floor. Use of textured wood, glass and different colours add dimension and interest. Even the restrooms are not spared. Thick, solid glass panels create clean lines that are both aesthetic and functional at the same time.

“With iCube, we are creating a lifestyle that would be the future icon for Royal Garden,” says Teh. “We have created a deep impact with what we have done here.” At ground level, there is a business centre and six games-card rooms. The lower ground comprises changing rooms and a multi-functional games court for sports from basketball to futsal, while a short hop up a flight of stairs (or you could take the lift) brings you to the lounge area as well as a well-equipped gym and dance studio. “We have big plans for iCube and space is always a consideration so that members won’t feel claustrophobic”. Outside the lounge, a large rooftop garden allows members to enjoy barbecues and other outdoor activities. A two-day event was held over Aug 1-2 to mark the opening of Club iCube. On the first evening, the highlight was a jewellery show by Hong Kong’s JCL jewellers. Three female violinists in sexy red outfits set the mood for a collection of diamonds and gems shown off by tall, leggy models. After the show, there was a lucky draw where members of the audience won jewellery by JCL.

On the second night, Prada showed off selections from its latest collection. Models strutted out in breezy outfits that kept the crowd silent in rapturous admiration. At the end of the shows for both nights, a shower of fireworks streamed down around the clubhouse in sparkling curtains – a fitting touch to the lifestyle icon that Teh and his team are projecting. “We may have a small team but in the last two days, we have set a lot of standards with the two shows,” he declares, a curl of satisfaction lifting the corners of his lips. “The branding of Royal Garden will set Golden Plus apart from others, not only in China but in the region too. Most residential developments in China don’t have clubhouse facilities. Club iCube will be the model for the future management of similar clubs here.

“My perception of business is moulded around the lifestyle that I think people would be living in the future. I’ve travelled a lot and seen what’s happening around the world where trends are concerned. “People’s lives are changing because of industrialisation design changes. The explosion of the Internet means the world has become smaller and this affects lives. The creation of different materials also contributes to changes in lifestyle and in that sense, Shanghai is very much ahead, even of Singapore.”