30/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 30, 2025 II theSunday Special

Back to nature

La Hilir was built while preserving all the natural elements around it.

W OULD you pack up your entire life and leave behind everything you know in the city to start RYHU LQ D UXUDO R̆ JULG location? There will be no more RM20 FR̆ HHV LQ WKH PRUQLQJ FURZGHG PDOOV RQ ZHHNHQGV DQG SHDN KRXU WUḊ F MDPV Instead, these will be replaced by the sound of birds singing in the morning, a homemade breakfast possibly made with ingredients from your garden and a bike ULGH VXUURXQGHG E\ QRWKLQJ EXW WUHHV This lifestyle could be someone’s idea of heaven or hell, depending on who is EHLQJ R̆ HUHG WKH FKRLFH $SDUW IURP WKDW one thing is clear: a growing number of city dwellers, especially young Malaysian couples, are opting for the quieter comfort RI WKH VXEXUEV RYHU WKH KXVWOH RI XUEDQ OLIH ,Q SRVW SDQGHPLF SUHVVXUHV DQG soaring property prices in central areas, including Kuala Lumpur, have prompted more couples to consider quieter yet ZHOO FRQQHFWHG DUHDV VXFK DV 6HUHPEDQ

BY HANNEF ESQUANDER

6XQJDL %XORK 6HPHQ\LK DQG 1LODL DV LGHDO SODFHV WR VHWWOH GRZQ 7KRVH RULJL nally from other states, such as Kelantan, Perak and Pahang, are also giving up city life and moving back to start their lives DQHZ $FFRUGLQJ WR UHFHQW UHSRUWLQJ WKLV VKLIW KDV EHHQ GULYHQ FKLHÀ\ E\ UHPRWH DQG ÀH[LEOH ZRUN DUUDQJHPHQWV 7KLV OLIHVW\OH shift is gaining momentum not only here LQ 0DOD\VLD EXW DOVR ZRUOGZLGH $ side from rising property prices, the decision to escape the metropolis and UHWXUQ WR RQH¶V URRWV LV DOVR LQÀXHQFHG E\ other factors, such as a growing move PHQW WRZDUGV VXVWDLQDEOH OLYLQJ 7KHUH has been a surge in awareness about the preservation of traditional architecture, with old kampung houses and shop lots EHLQJ UHVWRUHG 5XUDO WRXULVP LQFOXGLQJ glamping and heritage tours, has proven KLJKO\ SUR¿WDEOH LQ UHFHQW \HDUV :K\" %HFDXVH LW R̆ HUV XUEDQLWHV ZKR FDQQRW leave the city entirely a glimpse of the slow life they have always wanted for WKHPVHOYHV HYHQ LI RQO\ IRU RQH ZHHNHQG

La Hilir was mainly built using timber sourced from a nearby local business that sells used wood from old houses in Kuala Pilah.