From time immemorial, the serenity of nature has had many under its awe-inspiring spell. In Leo Tolstoy’s exact words: One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. In this issue, we explore further the relationship between architecture and nature, community and law (and order), community and infrastructure. How does nature get into the way of design and architecture? And how would rules and infrastructure improve the quality of life for communities? Read on, and enjoy.

In an industry where individuality hinges on architectural excellence, innovation is being creative as well as original. Responding to a young generation who shares an enthusiasm for innovative architecture, developers are stepping out of the box with exciting experiences. Grove at Lake Fields, Sungai Besi was completed in mid 2014, followed by The Capers at Sentul East in end 2014. Both developments offer a choice of aspirational lifestyles demanded by today's market. While some yearn for space and spacious homes, others are drawn to efficiency of space in modern urban spaces. 

We closed what had been a year of contrasts for the property market in Malaysia - which endured a pre-election period of investor caution and rebounded in the second half when confidence returned. Having survived a challenging year that was, and with 2014 being again time for regulatory adjustments within the industry, will the momentum of 2013's better (second) half transition into the new year? That's the million dollar question.