Evolving 'Community Facilities' Become Key Factors in Sales Success

Looking at 'Community Facilities' Reveals Housing Market Trends
From Playgrounds and Senior Centers to Camping Sites and Pet Playgrounds
Expecting a 'Spring Sales Market' Equipped with Diverse Community Facilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo Gang-wook] Recently, the evolution of community facilities has accelerated due to COVID-19. As outdoor activities became restricted and people spent more time at home, community facilities have been designed to allow residents to enjoy leisure and relaxation, and some office spaces have even been incorporated within residential complexes.

This is because community facilities, once considered merely auxiliary in the sales market, have emerged as factors that not only enhance construction companies' brand value but also influence the success of property sales. Accordingly, competition among construction companies to differentiate their community facilities is heating up.

According to industry sources on the 13th, among recently launched complexes, 'Hanwha Forena Suwon Jangan,' introduced in February, attracted attention with its contactless pet playground called 'Pet Friends Park,' allowing residents to enjoy time with their pets.

Also, 'e-Pyeonhansesang Yeongjong International City Centum Venue' is equipped with various community facilities, including an indoor gym and private office spaces tailored to the contactless era, marking the first of its kind among Yeongjong International City complexes.

In March, 'City OCELE 3 Complex' in Incheon introduced unique spaces such as a six-theater cinema within the complex, a 'Pet Garden' for dogs to play freely, and a 'Camping Garden' for families to enjoy together.

In the first half of the year’s sales market, places offering diverse community facilities in line with trends have also drawn attention.

Perspective view of City O'ciel Complex 1.

On the 4th, in Hakik-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, DCRE began full-scale sales of the apartment complex ‘City OCELE 1 Complex 1-1 Block,’ constructed by HDC Hyundai Development Company, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and POSCO Construction. The complex consists of 8 buildings ranging from 2 basement floors to a maximum of 42 floors above ground, with a total of 1,131 units sized between 59 and 126 square meters.

In line with the trend of increasing pet ownership, the complex includes a ‘Pet Playground’ within the premises, along with landscaping and auxiliary facilities such as children’s playgrounds, toddler playgrounds, attached gardens, and resident exercise facilities scattered throughout the complex.

On the 15th, Daewoo Engineering & Construction will accept first-priority subscription applications for ‘Buk-gu Office Station Prugio Eduforet,’ located at 228 Nowon-dong 1-ga, Buk-gu, Daegu. The complex will have 27 floors above ground and 2 basement floors, comprising 499 apartments and 69 officetel units, totaling 568 units.

The complex will feature differentiated landscaping with luxurious planting and meticulous finishing, and various community facilities catering to residents of all ages, including a fitness club, golf club, greenery caf?, reading room, senior club, daycare center, and life support center.

DL E&C is currently selling ‘e-Pyeonhansesang Seokrim The Noble,’ located at 181-9 Seokrim-dong, Seosan-si, Chungnam. The complex consists of 8 buildings from 3 basement floors to 20 floors above ground, with a total of 523 units sized between 84 and 114 square meters.

The complex is composed mainly of medium to large units preferred in provincial areas and uniquely features a fitness center equipped with a sauna, as well as diverse community facilities such as screen golf, reading rooms, study rooms, and a green caf?.

In blocks C1 and C2 of Pangyo 2nd Techno Valley, ‘Pangyo Ice Square’ is currently being sold. The supply this time includes 251 officetel units ranging from 23 to 84 square meters in C2 block, along with commercial facilities.

The complex will include small-scale community spaces such as shared lounges, private booths for individual work and dining, a residents-only library, a pet terrace for outdoor activities with pets, a fitness room, and communal laundry facilities. Additionally, breakfast services to assist daily convenience will be provided. Residents can use these various facilities and services free of charge for the first year.

Hyosung Heavy Industries opened the model house for ‘Harrington Place Smart Valley,’ located at 252 Sandong-ri, Eumbong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, on June 11 and began full-scale sales. The complex consists of 10 buildings from 1 basement floor to 20 floors above ground, with a total of 704 units sized between 59 and 84 square meters.

The complex will offer various community facilities, including a fitness center, indoor golf practice range, GX room, billiards room, table tennis room, kids & moms caf?, small library, daycare center, and senior citizens’ center.

Real estate developer GL plans to sell ‘GL Metro City Hangang’ and the officetel ‘THE GL,’ located in blocks 11 and 12 of the Deok-eun Urban Development Project District in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, in June.

The complex consists of the knowledge industry center ‘GL Metro City Hangang’ with 2 buildings ranging from 6 basement floors to 21 floors above ground, with a total floor area of approximately 128,782 square meters and 832 units, and the officetel ‘THE GL,’ a single building up to 23 floors above ground with 420 units sized between 29 and 60 square meters. Additionally, there are 58 neighborhood living facilities covering the entire first floor. A fitness center, meeting rooms, and a VIP lounge will be located on the 4th floor, with views of the Han River also available.

Samsung C&T will conduct first-priority subscription for ‘Raemian One Bailey’ on the 17th. Located at 1-1 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, the complex consists of 23 buildings ranging from 4 basement floors to 35 floors above ground, with a total of 2,990 units sized between 46 and 234 square meters. Among these, 224 units sized between 46 and 74 square meters will be sold to the general public. Due to its large scale and riverside location, it is considered a next-generation landmark, featuring various community facilities such as a sky bridge, sauna, swimming pool, golf practice range, book caf?, sky garden, and guest house.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction plans to sell ‘Hillstate Yongin Gojin Station,’ located in D1 and D2 blocks of Gorim Jindeok District, Gorim-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, in June. The complex will consist of 22 buildings ranging from 4 basement floors (3 basement floors for D2 block) to 30 floors above ground, with a total of 2,703 units. The D1 block will have 1,345 units, and the D2 block will have 1,358 units.

A small park will be provided between the two blocks, and various community facilities such as fitness centers, GX rooms, indoor golf practice ranges, screen golf, small libraries, reading rooms, and shower rooms will be established within each complex.

An industry insider said, "Community facilities are the sector where changes in residential trends can be quickly observed in the sales market," adding, "Although architectural technologies such as interior and exterior design, floor plans, and advanced residential systems are continuously developing, the changes that general homebuyers feel most are often found in community facilities."

Meanwhile, looking back at past community facility trends, in the 1990s, apartments mainly had children’s playgrounds and senior centers as their facilities. In the 2000s, high-end community facilities were introduced in mixed-use residential complexes such as Tower Palace in Dogok-dong, becoming a hot topic. At that time, the upscale image of mixed-use complexes combined with the ‘well-being’ trend led to the introduction of sports facilities such as fitness centers, golf practice ranges, and swimming pools in new housing markets.

Since the 2010s, various facilities have begun to appear. Cultural spaces were created within complexes, and specialized play facilities for mothers and children, as well as renowned academies and kindergartens, started to be established. Over time, to differentiate and upgrade, guest rooms and hotel-style services have gradually been introduced one by one.