yes ...very tru...those anticipated the 2.5 storeys from zarra.. in the end also turn ship around to serena 2.5

I have little opinion here to share and discuss. This may be helpful to all of us as a buyer. Serena design is no doubt very unique in design. I was impressed when I went to see the show unit about 2 months ago. Also, I felt quite disapointed initially when I got to know the ZARRA design, which to me is something like 'down grade'.

But after I thought over it, I persoanlly felt that there are pros & cons and each has it uniqueness for Serena & Zarra.

Pros of Serena:
1) High ceiling 14' at living hall.
2) Courtyard - some people may like this new design, something unique.
3) Cheaper compare to Zarra.

Cons of Serena (maybe to certain people):
1) the kitchen is slightly smaller - the living hall like very grand but when come to kitchen is quite small. Got the feeling of imbalance for space allocation.
2) Courtyard - it can be something that will caused some renovation there, like cover up the top for security issue / at least build something there in order to really use the space there.
3) Car porch seem a bit short for big cars.

Pros of Zarra:
1) A more balance of space allocation for car porch, living hall and kitchen - personal feeling.
2) 1st floor no more courtyard, fully covered and more secure and less renovation needed.

Cons of Zarra:
1) Conventional design without high ceiling, new courtyard design in 1st floor.
2) Price higher.


I think the developer is really good in marketing. For them, I can see the cost of material used is more or less the same for Serena & Zarra. Serena high ceiling take up more material there but the developer cut down the cost at 1st floor by uncovered ceiling as courtyard and make it another selling point as something new in design. (Again, this is my personal feeling)

For Zarra, the developer cut down the high ceiling and make it to 12' and the extra material saved is used to cover up the 1st floor living hall as conventional design. But they do improved on a more balance of space allocation for living hall, kitchen and car porch. Less renovation is needed but the price is higher than Serena.

So, is 50 - 50 for me to choose if there are units available for Serena & Zarra. It all depend on what the owner like and prefer. Luckily I no need to cratch my head to choose between the 2 because I can't get 2 units together in Serena.

If i got the right to design, I wish to combine all the pros of Serena & Zarra current design, which consist of 14' high ceiling, balance of space allocation for car porch, living hall, kitchen. And also a better cover up at 1st floor in term of security issue and make it a usable living hall (this apply for me only, others might wish to have courtyard) and don't increase the selling price (hope they can sell at a much more reasonable price).

Since Zarra floor plan not yet comfirm, I do hope the developer read my comment here and can improve on this before the actual launch of Zarra.
Hope more people can share more ideas on this. Thanks.

This post has been edited by ZARRA133-134: Jul 21 2009, 02:40 AM

High ceiling... hey, 12 ft high already quite high.
Serena give me feeling like entering badminton court.
Risky to change a light bulb on your own. 2 cents

ZARRA133-134 , cant agree more !!

especially now got headache about parking 2 cars inside


but last n not least... a GOOD RA for ZARRA & Serena.... we need to defend our home together

yes agreed, 12ft is consider high ceiling, how high u wan it to be?? , not a con for me. Also u cant ask for large built up and yet demand bigger car porch, so ZARRA smaller built up can be fully understood as the car porch dept is now 25ft compare to Serana 21'something..cant remember. As for court yard on 1st foor, u will lost the family area which i preferred. Only thing i miss is the 2 level design on 1st floor of serena....a 500k plus Terrace house shall come with 3-phase wiring, not single phase..hope IOI is reading it now

and now let hope IOI built the road wider...

This post has been edited by JayC75: Jul 21 2009, 09:35 AM

the road width is standard size... nothing "magix"

yes.. 3-phase wiring will be a plus

[
But after I thought over it, I persoanlly felt that there are pros & cons and each has it uniqueness for Serena & Zarra.

Pros of Serena:
1) High ceiling 14' at living hall.
2) Courtyard - some people may like this new design, something unique.
3) Cheaper compare to Zarra.


1) high ceiling = bigger Hp air-cond = high electricity cost ( not a pro for me )

2) courtyard = high maintance ( not feesible for malaysia weather ) wl give yr maid hell of a clean-up job after it rain
or if you r lazy it wl be extremely messy with all the algae & water mark left by the rain.

3) cheaper? not at all

serena design is v-modern & nice to the eyes...but all things that hv these as their selling point must come with a headache . same with pretty wife.... pretty but can't do housework & cook..

101% agreed with moopok.

On point 2 above, if u do not cover the court yard properly, those rain will come in, and don forget the wooden door will get the rain, and how long will the wood can sustain the rain/heat etc?

On point 3, it will not cheap by that much or even same depend on how u wan it to be covered, remember u still hv to fork out money to cover the court yard.

Also did u guy notice bcoz of the wooden door on Master Bed room, the wardrobe location/length/size have now been sacrifice...not good if u HM hv lots of skirts...

for me, i think Zarra design is more modern...and i do really hope ioi can remove the Zarra small balcony design in their final layout plan..

Just my personal opinion

This post has been edited by JayC75: Jul 21 2009, 11:11 AM

puteri 9 2 1/2 bungalow 2.6m ++

different people different likes
not all men like pretty girls, some prefer not so pretty,just OK will do.

serena- to me,the main reason for the courtyard at 1st floor is to light up the whole house as most intermediate nowadays are quite dim.
Moopok...u r right, our weather not very suitable. Imagine if it rains heavily, and you have a blocked water outlet, you may end up with a flash flood.

then IOI will get their headlines, "residents drown in their living room"

family hall at 1st floor....IOI must be thinking how many people actually uses it.

anyhow,you must give it to IOI for putting up new ideas into their new houses.I guess when you are doing so well no harm trying out new design.

to me, high ceiling......the option is always there to make a new room

cheaper....no way
both are expensive
and hats off to you guys especially those who are thinking of buying two and combining it into one.

FYI, the court yard is covered by some see through material, left a slot for the water to fall into a drain.

covered? thats the show house only

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Added on July 21, 2009, 11:32 amto all serena owner beware! i was told by the plumming contractor of serena...the roof boarder between each hse is v-low easily for anyone to climb across..so make sure when u r not at home lock the courtyard windows

This post has been edited by moopok: Jul 21 2009, 11:32 AM

Did you not visit the "as is" bare unit? The show unit is the corner one. Try to walk 2 more steps.

P/S: And "even if", i emphasize "even if", it is not covered, just spend thousand to cover it on your own, takkan can buy a 500k house but be so calculative on a thousand...

This post has been edited by chuah xui cheng: Jul 21 2009, 11:36 AM

taking the serena showhouse see-thru cover as example... how to clean if got dirts like birds dropping etc.?

Very valid question, have not thought about it, have to really think about it...

the "as is"unit court yard is not cover if i remember correctly, just a few wood run across it..

14' at living hall can make very nice layer plaster ceiling...normally
can see at Semi-dee and bungalow unit only...DST normally don't have this feature as
it costly with more bricks and concrete. With the nice plaster ceiling install...
the living room not as height as you can see.

Normally this nice plaster ceiling only install with luxury semi-dee and bungalow.
Visit more semi-dee and bungalow showhouse in various location at Klang Valley
will give more insight on how to use your 14' ceiling better. I think they have
the name for the concept of this plaster ceiling but i just forget the name.

Suggestion for courtyard ..I think IOI will not stick to the courtyard bcoz the same reason too
as it is costly. At first Buyers need to cover themselves the courtyard but after
more demand from the potential buyers and to speed up their sales...IOI agreed to
cover the courtyard as what you see at the corner showhouse.

Which is costly..the steel and the glass..or the ceiling

For the security issue ..i think this when i first visit the showhouse...
but after some thinking..if i am the thieves better i jump from the room ceiling as it better to pass
through than the thick metal and glass..... however the thick metal is not close enough...buyers may
need to add few more rods(4-5 rods is enough) to make it more close or goto sales office to
make a complaint...IOI should cover it properly and not left the rest for the Buyers even a few
rods.

If Buyer does not like courtyard..then sapu Zarra larr .....this is really depends on preference..
not all Buyers have the same opinion and preferences. For me both Serena and Zarra design
should have their own target customer...

agreed with Zarra 133-134 and megatron...can see their own preference and needs.

The same as if you have a BMW..if do not how to drift or not for speed..then you won't appreciate
it better...stick to Camry larr..

more than 500K house owner ..their thinking might be different..rich people mahhh...

This post has been edited by Cyberiq: Jul 21 2009, 02:16 PM

That is the point. For me, the 14' and courtyard is more like a product differentiation from 1000 units of other DST.

A high ceiling can be lowered by renovation, a convetional ceiling cannot be made higher unless by way of reconstruction. So there is always a room to play.

Modern or not mordern, practical or non practical, is very subjective. But for a would be buyer who prefers the high ceiling or/and courtyard, he/she has only 144 units to choose from.

anybody knows the living hall ceiling height of nadia 2 ?

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Added on July 21, 2009, 2:14 pmyeah...until now cant believe its only 3 phase ready but single phase input !!!! really sux whenever i on my aircons....

This post has been edited by qsil: Jul 21 2009, 02:14 PM

u mean ioi is going to cover-up all the courtyards for all buyers??
then it defeat the purpose for those buying becoz of the courtyard.