03 September 2025

Despite its location at the bustling intersection of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Penaga in Bangsar, boutique developer BON Estates Sdn Bhd’s sales gallery exudes a sense of calm. From warm tones and curated scents to lush landscaping, the gallery offers a refreshing transition from the bustling city into a serene, homely space. This thoughtful approach carries through to BON Estates’ latest project, Yanu Hills.

Tucked into the green embrace of Taman Mela­wati and framed by the iconic quartz ridges of Bukit Tabur, Yanu Hills marks the developer’s first landed venture in Kuala Lumpur. The boutique enclave comprises just 10 freehold bungalows, blending modern tropical architecture with the natural beauty of its surroundings.

“This is a nature retreat within an urban area. It’s very peaceful and serene, and I have encountered interesting bird species during my site visit there,” says BON Estates CEO Chan Jin-Wy, who describes the project as a tapestry of nature, wellness and thoughtful design.

The developer is known for its high-rise developments such as The Estate in Bangsar South and BON Kiara in Mont’Kiara, both in Kuala Lumpur.

“We’ve been developing high-rises with numerous units. At Yanu Hills, our specialist team is channelling the same expertise into just 10 homes — allowing for greater focus and detail. Every corner, switch and even the doorknobs reflect a heightened attention to detail,” says Chan.

Bungalows among the hills

The sloping terrain dictated the design approach. Instead of levelling the site, BON Estates worked with the natural contours, crafting layered homes that adapt to the landscape to maximise views, ventilation and natural light.

The 10 freehold bungalows — which have a gross development value (GDV) of RM60 million — comprise three layouts: Aura (eight units), Brillia (one unit) and Calia (one unit). According to Chan, each layout corresponds to the land’s topography while offering generous built-ups ranging from 6,800 to 8,000 sq ft. Prices start from RM6 million.

Both Aura and Brillia share a 4-storey profile, but the former has two storeys above ground and the latter has three. Meanwhile, the sole Calia unit is two storeys. Each unit comes in 5+1 bedrooms and 6+2 bathrooms configurations.

Except for Calia, the 4-storey units come with a private lift. Other key features include a dedicated floor for the master bedroom, a large balcony, courtyard and private swimming pool.

“The courtyard serves as the heart of the home — a sheltered indoor-outdoor space ideal for family gatherings, barbecues or even a koi pond,” says Chan. “The lowest floor can be converted into a large bedroom suite, guest room, gymnasium, home office or surau. It’s a multigenerational home that is not just about space but also privacy.”

The project offers limited personalisation, mainly for floor finishes. “It’s in line with our being a sustainable developer. We don’t want to install something only for it to be hacked later,” he says.

Chan believes the freehold offerings, coupled with the modern construction and architecture, are a key differentiating factor in Taman Melawati. “There’s not much competition in this segment. New bungalows here are rare, and sub-sale units often require costly renovations.”

He adds that the project draws from modern Brazilian tropical architecture, which resonates with local tastes, owing to shared climates and a love of nature.

“We took inspiration from the tropical rainforests of Brazil. Also, as the project is located near the Klang Gates Dam, it has very good feng shui. We have the hills serving as the backdrop, the water from the reservoir and fresh air, too.”

A philosophy rooted in the senses

The word “yanu” is of Indian origin and means “intelligence” or “gifted”, says Chan. “When you talk about intelligence, it also means stature or achievement. So, the project is for people who are looking to upgrade their lifestyle and looking for achievement at a certain phase of their lives, and that is how we think this would shape the community at Yanu Hills.”

He adds that the concept of Yanu Hills also drew inspiration from the developer’s name — “bon” — which means “five senses” or “five elements” in the Tibetan language. “These elements are earth, wood, metal, water and fire — concepts that are central to the company’s ethos of harmony and balance.”

This vision is encapsulated in the company’s tagline, “Living, well-crafted”, which reflects its approach of treating each project as a work of craftsmanship. “When we hire or engage partners, we look for specialists in their field. It’s like in Japan, where artisans spend years perfecting their craft. That attention to detail runs through our material selection and our planning,” says Chan.

At Yanu Hills, these concepts are woven into the blueprint. “Overall, wellness is the core theme here because of the nature-based surroundings, design and spatial planning,” says Chan, likening it to Janda Baik in Bentong, Pahang, which is well known for its nature retreats.

Expanding its footprint with purpose

Yanu Hills is slated for completion by early 2028, according to Chan. The project has been open for previews since June and has drawn strong interest, largely from local buyers familiar with the area.

The developer is eyeing opportunities in both high-rise and landed developments, as well as industrial projects, while maintaining its commitment to quality.

Why industrial? “We also have purchasers who are business owners and manufacturers. Having said that, we are building an ecosystem that can add value not just to our buyers’ homes but to their businesses while empowering communities,” says Chan.

A notable example is the developer’s Good Radius concept, which is focused on enhancing connectivity and community within their developments. “For instance, in Mont’Kiara, which is a very congested area, we are building a new connecting road to help ease the congestion. Not only does it help [BON Kiara], but the bigger picture is that the community itself benefits from the added convenience,” says Chan.

The low-density, high-rise residential project is 95% sold months ahead of its 2026 completion.

With a GDV of RM750 million, Bon Kiara comprises a total of 410 condominium units housed in two 43-storey towers. The balance units are those with 3,075 sq ft layouts and a selling price of RM2.3 million.

Source: The Edge Malaysia