Explore NBX’s plans for connected living at The Spring

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KUCHING: Discover mobility-friendly homes, healthcare access and amenities at Ibraco Berhad’s NorthBank Business Exchange roadshow at The Spring Shopping Mall.

From September 18 to 20, the showcase at the mall’s centre court will feature NorthBank Business Exchange (NBX) and NBX Residence 1, the first residential development within NBX.

The concept is to bring everyday life closer to home. Planned within The NorthBank, a 123-acre township in Kuching with educational facilities, NBX would place homes, offices and a neighbourhood mall in one connected setting, with links to healthcare and public transport.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who launched NBX and NBX Residence 1 at Ibraco Gallery, described the development as part of the emerging Sarawak Health Metropolis.

He said the metropolis would need workplaces, housing and amenities for healthcare professionals, researchers and their families.

“That is what NBX is trying to do. It is part of the health metropolis,” he said.

NBX Residence 1 has two towers offering studio, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and dual-key layouts. Ibraco’s launch material lists 268 residential units, ranging from approximately 537 square feet (sq. ft) to 1,160 sq. ft.

Ibraco’s Chief Marketing Officer, George Ting, said dual-key units combine a two-bedroom unit with an attached studio, allowing owners to live in one and rent the other.

Tower A uses a hybrid design, combining mobility-friendly features with standard living areas within each home. Tower B offers standard units.

In Tower A, entrance ramps and handrails are designed to assist wheelchair users and people using walking sticks. In the three-bedroom layout, the master bedroom has a wider opening, while its bathroom is also wider and fitted with a sliding door and grab bars.

The other two bedrooms retain standard designs, allowing family members with different mobility needs to share the home.

“It is a normal unit; it’s just that it has been designed to cater for the future,” he said.

He said prices for mobility-friendly and standard units were ‘almost the same’, with the built-in features intended to reduce later renovation costs.

The concept is further supported by potential telehealth access through HMI, alongside community programmes and support services designed around residents’ needs.

Together, these elements create an environment where convenience, care, independence and community are integrated into everyday living.

Most shared facilities are planned beneath Tower A.

“As much as possible, we don’t want them to walk far to the facilities,” he said.

Three gyms are planned: an outdoor gym, a standard gym and one for older residents and people requiring mobility assistance. Ting said the dedicated gym would offer greater privacy, and users could also exercise in the other gyms.

Residents would have a dedicated multi-storey car park, separate from more than 1,000 basement parking spaces planned for the mall.

Ting said side-by-side parking would allow drivers to leave without waiting for another vehicle to move, citing emergency access as one reason for the arrangement.

Healthcare access is also planned through a sheltered overhead bridge linking NBX directly with the adjoining Regency Specialist Hospital Kuching.

He said residents would reach a designated floor, use an access card and follow the pathway into the hospital. The route is designed for wheelchair users.

Ibraco said the 300-bed hospital, to be developed and operated by HMI Medical, is targeted to begin operations in 2029.

For journeys beyond NBX, a separate sheltered, barrier-free connection is planned to the SM07 NorthBank Ibraco Station on the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) network.

The Blue Line would connect Rembus in Kota Samarahan with Kuching city centre and Hikmah Exchange Event Centre.

The neighbourhood mall would extend the same convenience into shopping and leisure.

Its supermarket is planned around a modern hypermarket concept, with departments for groceries, gardening, health and beauty, home improvement and seasonal products.

An indoor marketplace design would use layouts, lighting and signage to distinguish departments, while complementary products would be positioned together.

Families could dine at food stalls and a ready-to-eat area with seating, alongside grab-and-go options.

Proposed shopping technology includes digital pricing, self-checkout systems and smart trolleys, alongside enhanced loyalty programmes, home delivery and a recycling vending machine.

The mall would also house a cinema, an indoor adventure park, an enrichment centre and food and beverage outlets.

Ting said its play facilities would allow parents to join their children in the activities.

“We want people of all ages, regardless of whether it’s young people or old people, to have an active lifestyle,” he said.

An adjoining community boulevard is envisioned for wellness and fitness activities, family programmes, weekend markets, performances and seasonal events, creating more spaces for residents and neighbours to gather.

The three-day showcase will also offer free health checks and games with chances to win prizes.

For a closer look, visit the two show units at Ibraco Gallery, No. 6, The NorthBank, Kuching-Samarahan Expressway, Kuching.

For enquiries about NBX or the roadshow, contact Ibraco at 082-361111.