A school in North India designed for a harsh environment, plus additional reports

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, the design for a new school in North India aims to provide quality education while preserving local culture in a region with a harsh climate and challenging terrain. In other stories, five leading China-based companies have expressed interest in setting up manufacturing facilities in Malaysia’s renewable energy industrial park. Lastly, commercial spaces are becoming the new savvy investment trend in Australia, with high returns and other hidden benefits.

CHYBIK + KRISTOF unveils culturally-inspired school design in Mulbekh, North India

Czech-based architectural firm CHYBIK + KRISTOF has revealed its design for a new school in Mulbekh, North India, in collaboration with the Czech NGO Himalayan Patron and Spring Dales Public School. ArchDaily features this progressive project, which aims to provide quality education in the region while preserving local culture. This initiative is particularly significant as many children, especially girls, from remote ethnic minority communities, have faced limited access to education due to the area’s harsh climate and challenging terrain.

The new preschool is the first phase of a larger campus master plan, combining traditional construction techniques with modern architectural solutions. The school will serve 75 students and includes a network of flat, accessible spaces, which are uncommon in the mountainous region. These spaces connect three indoor classrooms to an outdoor rooftop classroom and are vital for community gatherings, an integral part of Ladakhi culture.

Five China-based companies express interest in investing in Gerbang Nusajaya Renewable Energy Industrial Park

In a boost to Malaysia’s renewable energy sector, five leading China-based companies have expressed interest in becoming off-takers and setting up local manufacturing facilities within the UEM Sunrise Berhad (UEM Sunrise) Renewable Energy (RE) Industrial Park strategically located in Gerbang Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, Johor. As reported in PropertyGuru Malaysia, the companies will occupy the 40-acre (16.2 hectares) land within the RE Industrial Park as previously announced between UEM Group Berhad (UEM Group)’s township and property arm, UEM Sunrise, together with ITRAMAS Corporation Sdn Bhd (ITRAMAS) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC).

The companies include industry giants such as China Machinery Engineering Wuxi Co. Ltd. (CMEC WUXI), the manufacturing arm of CMEC and Wuxi Longmax Technology Co., Ltd. (Longmax), a global leader in solar photovoltaic (PV) combiner box and eBOS solutions. Both companies are already in the process of setting up local manufacturing operations in Malaysia, as well as establishing solar module and combiner box production facilities within the RE Industrial Park.

Complementing CMEC WUXI and Longmax, other leading international RE manufacturers such as Gotion for Battery Energy Storage Systems, Hopewind for Solar Inverters, and Huasun for Heterojunction (HJT) modules are also in discussions to invest in the industrial park and participate as renewable energy off-takers.

Hidden benefits of new savvy investment trend in Australia

Commercial spaces are becoming the new savvy investment with high returns and other hidden benefits.

Broker and founder of Complete Financial Management Athena Zotos said she was surprised by the recent sharp interest in commercial properties from clients. “With commercial, your rental return can be a lot higher and your outgoings are covered,” she said on realcommercial.com.au.

“Tenants pay for everything including bills, fixtures, and rent prices have increased so it’s an attractive proposal. Some (buyers) are using their super funds … others are choosing to buy so they don’t have to rent for their own businesses,” she said. “One of the biggest drawcards is that in some states you don’t have to pay stamp duty on commercial properties.”

Experts revealed that stamp duty was one of the biggest hurdles when it came to purchasing property. In NSW on an AUD1 million property, stamp duty would cost owners a hefty AUD40,000 fee at the time of purchase.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].