Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it was hard to imagine a world that would be essentially locked down. Quarantines, social distancing and mask wearing were new and unfamiliar. But the pandemic has ushered in lasting changes in the way people live their daily lives, including at work.
Despite the numerous challenges faced by property managers during the pandemic, Bela Vista Property Services has demonstrated resilience and innovation, applying a can-do attitude to evolve and develop increasingly efficient property management processes.
Ensuring the health and safety of our customers and employees has been one of Bela Vista’s top priorities since before COVID, but the onset of the pandemic prompted the company’s property managers to step up their capabilities, obtaining senior facility management qualifications through such institutions as the Institute of Leadership and Management to implement new management practices, apply social distancing measures, and manage potential COVID outbreaks within properties.
Bela Vista’s management of Pearl Court, a building more than 40 years old, stands as an example of our proactive approach to property management in the pandemic and post-pandemic era. Pearl Court’s facilities and equipment, including its power system, water pipes and elevators, had suffered normal wear and tear over time, but renovating an ageing building presents challenges, and it was critical that we help the owners identify suitable solutions. We therefore conducted a professional refurbishment assessment, clarifying the priorities and scope of the renovation, and communicating and negotiating with the owners. Proper planning and budget management are also key factors for a successful renovation, and Pearl Court was no exception. It was also critical to ensure that renovation works complied with relevant regulations and codes to ensure the building’s safety and sustainability.
During the pandemic, various renovation and maintenance initiatives were carried out at Pearl Court, including the replacement of entrance floor tiles, water drainage renovation to solve a flooding problem in the parking lot, the renovation of the entire parking lot, and reconstruction and renovation of the lobby. Electricity meter boxes, fire safety systems and elevators were replaced throughout the building, and facial recognition systems installed to provide residents with a warmly welcomed, safer and more convenient living environment.
As the management company also servicing prime development The Waterside, Bela Vista Property Services handles leasing and sales, alongside property and tenant management services. The pandemic caused fluctuations in the leasing market at The Waterside and elsewhere, with some employees assigned to work in Macau needing to leave and return to their places of origin due to company staffing reductions, and multiple challenges such as tenants being unable to return to Macau and requests for rent reductions or early terminations. Bela Vista served as a bridge between landlords and tenants, balancing the needs and interests of both parties, maintaining openness at all times, and actively facilitating solutions.
Bela Vista prides itself on maintaining seamless cooperation between its employees in all departments, and on the support and encouragement it offers its staff, boosting their confidence in the face of all manner of challenges. Even during particularly difficult stages of the pandemic, we continued to hire to reduce pressure on existing employees. The company continues to provide on-the-job training for employees to improve their interpersonal skills, with team activities regularly arranged to improve rapport between colleagues and foster a sense of belonging.
We stand ready to handle sales and leasing for any quality property owner, providing unparalleled levels of reliability and comprehensive service, so if you require our talent and ability, please contact us anytime.
The economic rebound in Macau since the city’s reopening has breathed life back into its real estate market, and a number of developers have launched new projects. Many redevelopment projects are among them, such as Vista Parque in the Istmo de Ferreira do Amaral district, Victory Avenue in the catchment area, and the Grand Tycoon Real in the Ponte 16 district, and they have added considerable value to nearby properties.
For Macau to develop as a city uniquely well suited to travelling, living and sightseeing, it should retain its historic blend of Chinese and Western cultures and revitalize the economy of its heritage districts, drawing tourists to them. Given Macau’s limited land resources, optimising the living space available in older districts, preserving the appearance of buildings, improving the transportation network, and identifying scenic spots with the potential to increase tourism are considerations that cannot be ignored. By revitalising old houses in historic areas, the city’s cultural vitality is extended across a range of communities.
Reconstruction of older districts can improve them and promote their redevelopment, preserve culturally significant buildings, enhance the urban landscape, beautify the city’s appearance, and create a range of benefits for society, such as improving the comfort and convenience of the living environment by upgrading public facilities, strengthening urban infrastructure, balancing the development of various industries, enhancing the commercial vitality of the city, and increasing the efficiency of public investment.
Rebuilding should be carried out according to the functional needs of urban development to improve the efficiency of land use and increase the incomes of property owners. Following reconstruction in older districts, valued buildings are safer and their functionality and quality of use are improved. Such urban improvements can attract new groups of consumers, increase incomes, and boost the value of property in upgraded areas.
Citizens benefit from comfortable living conditions, repairs to old buildings prevent risks frequently associated with ageing structures, consumer business opportunities are generated, and local people’s employment prospects improve. These things promote care for the local community environment and community awareness.
Bela Vista Property Services Limited has extensive experience of development and reconstruction projects such as The Fountainside, an architecturally significant property located at the foot of Penha Hill. Bela Vista has also been engaged in a number of destination creation projects in Taipa’s entertainment district that have involved converting older, Portuguese colonial-style buildings into attractive bars and restaurants designed for the enjoyment of both local people and tourists. These new landmarks have rapidly become dining and entertainment venues of choice for people seeking to experience the vibrancy of Macau and taste the rich 500-year-old history that the territory’s heritage areas have to offer.
In the context of Macau’s reopening and such as urban enhancements as described above, the territory’s Legal System for Talent Recruitment, which came into effect on 1 July 2023, is expected to attract many foreign talents looking to develop professionally and settle in Macau, boosting demand for housing. Amid these developments, the city’s property market will therefore likely continue to improve during the second half of the year.
Taipa was once a quiet backwater in Macau, known mainly for fishing and its fireworks makers, and today, Taipa Village, home to the island’s original fishing community, remains its oldest and best-preserved area. The village is a picturesque enclave of traditional cottages and quaint cobblestone streets – nearby yet a world away from the casinos of the neighbouring Cotai Strip. In recent years, Taipa Village has become a multicultural tourist attraction, emblematic of authentic Macau.
Many established restaurants and souvenir shops continue to trade in the village, joined during the past few years by new and exciting bars and restaurants amid its famous scenic spots. It’s a place where Portuguese and Chinese styles meet and blend, creating an atmosphere not unlike that of a Mediterranean European town. A large number of Taipa Village’s old houses have been transformed into art spaces, cafes and restaurants, bringing renewed vitality to its side streets and alleyways.
Bela Vista Property Services Limited’s sister company, Taipa Village Destination Limited, is promoting Taipa Village as Macau’s premier lifestyle quarter, with its offer of heritage attractions, innovative dining, niche retail experiences and a diverse arts and entertainment scene, bringing new leisure opportunities to local residents and tourists alike. Its aim is to foster the village’s evolution as a vibrant, culturally rich, non-gaming destination that presents a refreshing alternative to the city’s casino resorts. Taipa Village Destination Limited is promoting the village’s unique heritage in close collaboration with Macau’s government to contribute to the sustainable development of non-gaming tourism in the territory, and to reinforce the village’s status as one of the city’s best-loved districts.
Taipa Village has developed rapidly in the past several years to become a must-visit destination for tourists and an increasingly attractive spot for locals to relax over coffee. It boasts a range of Southeast Asian and European cuisines, alongside some renowned Portuguese restaurants.
Thanks to the loosening of restrictions on inbound tourism in Macau and the launch of a series of measures to attract tourists, Macau has once again become a tourist hotspot, particularly for visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong, the territory’s two main sources of inbound tourism.
With the full reopening of borders, Macau welcomed almost three million visitors between January and February. Arrivals continued strongly last month, with 96,000 inbound visitors on 18 March, the highest single-day number since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourist spots, retailers and food & beverage establishments benefited from the influx of visitors, sending a positive signal to Macau’s tourism sector and related industries, and boosting the outlook for the territory’s economy.
Of those visitors during January and February, 1.99 million came from mainland China, 880,000 came from Hong Kong and 41,000 came from Taiwan. The number of visitors from other places rose to 74,000, demonstrating the beginning of Macau’s recovery as a destination for international tourists.
Tourists visit Taipa Village in large numbers every day, and are particularly drawn to Rua Do Cunha and the surrounding area. Sales turnover among local businesses continues to rise and has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. Businesspeople are optimistic about the area’s development prospects and are actively looking for shops, prompting a rebound in sales and leasing.
Bela Vista Property has more than 20 years of experience in acquisitions and development in Taipa Village and is a founding player in the development of this very special district.
The six gaming companies have pledged to invest a combined 118.8 billion patacas during the next 10 years in such key areas as entertainment, sports events, arts and culture, health care and community tourism. The operation of six casino operators in the territory, from which most licensing fees will be directed towards non-gaming endeavours and the development of international tourism over the next 10 years. In the short term, the new licences will promote the recovery of Macau’s economy, and in the medium and longer term, they will inject new vitality and variety into the territory’s tourism and leisure industry, fostering more diversified, healthy and sustainable economic growth that aligns with Macau’s development plans. This commitment will enhance Macau’s standing as an international tourist and leisure destination, help the territory to better develop foreign tourist markets, optimise its visitor sources, attract more inbound tourism, stabilise local employment, and overall promote economic recovery, ushering in a slew of development opportunities.
Manifest the dynamic of “tourism +” and expand visitor source
Welcoming the arrival of the first Spring Festival Golden Week since the pandemic border measures loosened, Macao radiated the fascinating glamour of “tourism +” thoroughly. Visitor figures have surpassed the expectation. Spanning seven days (21 – 27 January 2023) in the Mainland, the Spring Festival Golden Week has come to an end. According to the preliminary statistics, Macao recorded 451,000 visitor arrivals in total during the period, remarkably up by 297.0 % over the Spring Festival Golden Week of last year. The average occupancy rate of local hotel establishments reached 85.7%.
Since the pandemic border measures loosened in Macao, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has kicked off its advance promotional scheme and various special travel offers to attract a wider spectrum of visitors. During Chinese New Year, governmental entities, industry operators and community organizations presented a kaleidoscope of festivities, which, along with the all-rounded marketing campaign, attracted a great number of visitors from the Mainland and Hong Kong to Macao. The city was bustling with life and commerce during the Spring Festival, spurring tourism and economic revival.
Visitor arrivals in Macao reached 451,000 this Spring Festival Golden Week. The figure encompasses 265,000 and 165,000 visitors from the Mainland and Hong Kong respectively. Average daily visitor arrivals throughout the Spring Festival Golden Week reached 64,000, a year-on-year increase of 297.0%. The daily average of Hong Kong visitors marked the enormous increase of 2,601.8%. Macao welcomed over 90,000 visitors on the 3rd day of Lunar New Year (24 January), the highest single-day record since the first outbreak of the pandemic.
The satisfactory tourism figures over the Spring Festival Golden Week mirrors visitors’ high intentions to travel to Macao during Chinese New Year and opt for a first-hand experience of the city’s glamour in “tourism +”. The bustling scene reflects a positive outlook for the tourism and related industries.
Amid a gradual relaxation of customs clearance at various ports, companies have begun to recruit more labour, and increased movement of people will follow, greatly increasing demand for housing in Macau. Bela Vista Property has full confidence in the territory’s real estate market, property prices starting to rise, and market sentiment has already started to improve – and both are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future.
The Macau Light Rail Transit (LRT) system’s East Line is to be extended to connect the city’s Border Gate to Qing Mao Port in Macau, thanks to solid support from China’s central government, which has agreed to lease land to Macau to enable the LRT extension. The line’s original design will be modified and tenders for the project could open as soon as this month.
Projects such as the East Line help both Macau residents and visitors to the territory to get around easily. Such infrastructure is an important bulwark of economic and social development, significantly improving business operations and productivity, enhancing competitiveness and market development, attracting high-tech industries, and improving people’s living environment.
The extension of the LRT’s East Line to Qing Mao Port and the opening of other lines will greatly improve the system’s overall coverage, encouraging more residents and tourists to choose it as a means of transport. The East Line will have a total length of 7.7 kilometres, and its six stations will all be under ground. It will connect the Border Gate, cross Urban Zone Area A, and directly link to the Taipa Line. The LRT’s Taipa Line will facilitate direct access to Macau’s major gateways, such as the Border Gate, the Taipa Ferry Terminal and Macau International Airport, and the Hengqin Line will provide access to Hengqin Port, connecting with the mainland’s high-speed rail network.
The East Line will ease vehicle traffic from Macau’s Northeastern areas to Urban Zone Area A, Cotai and other parts of the city during peak hours, reduce the traffic burden between Macau and Taipa, free up bus capacity for use on other routes, and improve road conditions overall. With the construction of the East Line, the waterway between Urban Zone Area A and the Macau Peninsula will be filled, and the problem of sewage odour that has plagued residents of the city’s northeast for many years will be solved.
Urban Zone Area A will be home to 32,000 residential units – of which about 24,000 will be economic housing and 4,000 social housing – and a total population of around 96,000. The area is located around the central green corridor and the LRT in the city’s north, meeting the needs of middle-aged and elderly people for convenient travel, leisure and sports. It will include comprehensive community infrastructure such as schools, alongside medical, healthcare, sports and cultural facilities, social service centres and business areas. Urban Zone Area A will boast three LRT stations serving almost all of the district’s residential areas. Its roads will also have bus lanes to ease traffic congestion.
Although Macau’s property market has been affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, with values down 13.3% year on year, the rollout of new, large-scale infrastructure such as the LRT’s East Line will pave the way for population growth in the future, ensuring significant ongoing demand for housing.
Budgets have been discussed during a review of the new housing law, and funds will continue to be deployed. Estimates are around MOP5,000 per square foot of saleable area and about MOP4,000 per square foot of gross floor area, which will affect Macau housing prices per square foot more broadly.
Our company, Bela Vista Property Services, believes that as long as the Covid situation continues to improve and visitors from all over the world are permitted to come to Macau, the territory’s economy will slowly recover, and the property market will pick up alongside it.
Bela Vista Property Services Limited
Website: http://belavista.com.mo
Nestled in historic Macau, The Fountainside is a freehold, low-density residential property located in the city’s prestigious Penha Hill district, which in colonial times was home to Portuguese nobility. The project has been thoughtfully designed to incorporate modern amenities such as private garages, landscaped gardens, gym facilities and an eco-friendly rooftop.
Macau’s real estate prices have been high in the past several years, and even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the prices of new and secondary market properties have not dropped much. The territory’s government has maintained property market cooling measures in recent years, and has put in place preferential policies favouring first-time homebuyers. Consequently, properties priced below MOP8 million (approximately US$989,770) have become more popular. The prices of small and medium-sized units are relatively affordable and the purchase threshold is relatively low.
Nowadays, most young people live in small-family arrangements without their parents, and the number of single individuals living alone is gradually increasing. As a result, demand for small and medium-sized residential units has increased year by year, and transaction levels are fairly high.
Amid these dynamics and in order to meet Macau’s demand for smaller homes, The Fountainside’s developer has converted two duplex units with a total area of 5,933 square feet into three smaller units and added two car-parking spaces at the property. The units were reconfigured in the second quarter of this year and marketing is expected to begin in the fourth quarter. Many inquiries from prospective buyers have been received, demonstrating increased demand for residential properties among Macau residents looking to improve their quality of life.
The three brand new standard units range from studios to two-room apartments of 500-1,400 square feet. Their simple, elegant and generous design principles, fully considering factors of economy and utility, cater to the needs of all residents, providing quality surroundings in which to live. Storage space is discreetly integrated into the living spaces of each residence, and all units boast private balconies, and bathrooms and kitchens featuring fixtures and fittings crafted by top European brands.
The Fountainside sets a new standard for low-density luxury housing in Macau, with high-quality building materials, cutting-edge construction technology and a visible commitment to providing a distinguished and elegant living environment for residents.
The Fountainside’s unique architectural features blend classical European and modern styles. Emphasizing sustainability and environmentally-friendly design, and in line with the cultural conservation policies of Macau’s government, The Fountainside retains the Portuguese colonial-style exterior walls of the site’s original buildings.
Macau’s real estate market is recovering this year, giving The Fountainside considerable potential for appreciation. With its unique market positioning and prime location, coupled with a lack of new residential units in the area, The Fountainside is ideal for homebuyers looking for exceptional quality and lasting value.
For sales and marketing enquiries, please contact:
Bela Vista Property Services Limited
Tel: +853 2888 8822
Website: https://belavista.com.mo/
Bela Vista Property Services noticed in March that one of our tenant was deciding to upgrade their home to our Simplex Suites at The Waterside, planning to start moving in early May.
The luxury four-bedroom suites, which boast ensuite bathrooms, each offer a generous 4,740 square feet of space on a single level. They are located on the higher floors of the development, with adjoining balconies boasting stunning views across Nam Van Lake and Penha Hill.
The Simplex Suites are designed with intelligence and the ultimate attention to detail, providing spacious living areas and outstandingly-equipped kitchens as ideal homes both for those who enjoy simply having the luxury of space and for those with larger families.
Our Standard Unit has been home to our tenant for a dozen years, but our Simplex Units offer more than double the amount of space, making them a tempting prospect for those seeking more generously proportioned dwellings. And for those for whom increased rent may be a consideration, the circumstances of the pandemic have prompted us to take the initiative to draw up tailored rental plans to ease the burden. Our tenant’s take-up rate of this specially designed offer has demonstrated tenant’s ongoing confidence and trust in our team.
In order to provide the ultimate in personal service, our entire team has been working intensively on detailed inspections of units, including all doors and windows, pipes and all other equipment to ensure that all electrical appliances are operating as they should, and arranging maintenance, repairs and replacements where required.
We have also invested considerable resources in maintaining all units in top-quality condition. All of our rental apartments come furnished with everything our tenants may require, from premium-quality mattresses, linens and towels to top-of-the-range kitchen appliances, cutlery and utensils.
We are proud to have provided our tenants with luxury accommodation since 2009, and we are keen to prepare for new arrivals. The Waterside is ideal for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle, and we consistently ensure that our guests enjoy the best possible experience during their tenancies in our rental apartments.
We can and will do everything possible to make our tenants’ stays exceed their highest expectations. Reach out to us if this sounds like the kind of lifestyle you desire. All of us at The Waterside look forward to welcoming you!
The Waterside https://watersidemacau.com
During the recent lunar new year period, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) held a series of Chinese New Year activities, such as parades and fireworks activities, as part of its drive to continue promoting Macau as a tourist destination, cooperate with local stakeholders in the tourism industry, and expand the sources of inbound visitors.
According to the MGTO, the number of travellers visiting Macau reached 33,208 on 25 February, making that day the fourth-biggest by single-day arrivals so far this year. Since 30,739 visitors were recorded on 13 January, visitation levels have recovered to around 30,000 daily. From 18-24 February, a total of 171,288 travellers visited Macau, with the average daily visitor count being 24,470 – an increase of 9.2% compared with January’s average of 22,401.
This year, the MGTO will continue to cooperate with airlines, e-commerce platforms and online travel agencies, taking a phased approach to facilitating discounts on airline tickets and hotel accommodation for mainland Chinese tourists throughout the year under the new slogan “Experience Macau • Enjoy Your Benefits”. The agency hopes to attract more tourists to Macau through the preferential programmes set up to leverage this slogan, extend tourists’ stays in Macau, stimulate consumption, and promote the recovery of the territory’s tourism-driven economy.
As the only part of China exempt from quarantine requirements, Macau has uniquely attractive advantages in terms of the leisure travel, shopping and entertainment opportunities it offers. In some provinces and cities on the Chinese mainland, the pandemic has made a resurgence, and visitors arriving at the Zhuhai-Macao land border must still show proof of a negative Covid test performed within the previous 48 hours. The number of daily border crossings from the Chinese mainland at the Macau-Zhuhai frontier is capped at 30,000 amid an increased willingness among mainland Chinese tourists to travel abroad.
Compared with other jurisdictions in the region, Macau remains relatively safe and very liveable. The real estate market in Macau has always been solid, and since the pandemic began, housing prices have changed little. Due to rigid demand in the market – especially among first-time buyers, young people and prospective buyers looking simply to move – most property owners are waiting for the pandemic to subside before offering their properties for sale, so Covid-related bargains will remain in short supply.
During this period, Macau should maintain its pandemic management measures. Unnecessary travel to high-risk areas and related flows of people should be curtailed. People who travel frequently between Zhuhai and Macau, for instance, should maintain a personal policy that restricts them to point-to-point activity, travelling between their workplaces and places of residence. People should take adequate safety precautions when using public transport, continue using effective personal protection measures such as masks and good hygiene practices, maintain social distancing, avoid participating in group activities, and ensure they and their families get fully vaccinated.
By working together, Macau’s residents can ensure the health and safety of their city is protected, enabling the territory as a whole to better weather the pandemic.
Property management is at the forefront of Covid preventing infections, and has become a high-risk industry. Bela Vista Property Services protects the safety of owners, users and management teams alike. The company has formulated detailed, efficient guidelines for health protection and is responsible for coordinating and handling infection prevention efforts by various teams. The purpose is to ensure that the properties managed by Bela Vista Properties meet stringent health and safety requirements. Under the company’s governance, responsibilities are effectively delegated to various teams and frontline employees. These measures are regularly reviewed and adjusted responsively to adapt to developments to maximise the degree of infection protection and prevention.
- Support for employees
Providing high standards of disease prevention and monitoring for frontline staff are at the heart of our pandemic control measures. Employees working in frontline roles are in constant contact with other people, exposed to higher health risks and required to undertake additional cleaning work. Employees have encountered varying degrees of difficulty and pressure. The company has provided a platform for interacting with employees to ensure that its entire team is performing accordingly. During the most severe Covid outbreaks in Macau, the territory’s borders were closed, so the company immediately provided accommodation for employees to enable them to stay safely in Macau.
- Purchasing and upgrading equipment
The company is committed to being the staunchest possible ally when it comes to protecting employees’ health and safety. It has purchased temperatures sensors and induction disinfection equipment as part of its measures to greatly reduce close contact between people. In addition, it has introduced disinfection and deep purification equipment to assist in the cleaning and disinfection of sofas, banquettes and office chairs, helping employees to perform their duties and improving their work efficiency. During this critical time, Bela Vista Property has also committed to carrying out large-scale internal optimization projects at The Waterside, including the replacement of floors, sofas, curtains and refrigerators, and providing residents with air-conditioner cleaning and pest control services to ensure they can enjoy a clean living environment.
- Infection prevention code for employees
The company has ramped up employee self-protection measures, enhanced Covid awareness and hygiene capacity, and has strictly enforced the wearing of masks at work, frequent hand washing, regular disinfection, temperature monitoring and entry registration. It has put measures in place for immediate action in the event of any abnormalities. The company accepts all Covid tests, in accordance with government regulations, and has implemented home isolation and observation measures for returnees to Macau. It has increased the frequency of disinfectant spraying in public areas and the regular disinfection of fittings and fixtures with which people frequently come into direct contact, such as door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, tables and seats in public areas. It has ensured supplies of essential items such as gloves, masks and disinfectants to cope with continued demand.
- Other operational adaptations
The company has enabled data-driven visitor logs, and visitors must undergo temperature checks, show valid health codes, and register basic personal information when entering or visiting properties in case future follow-up is required. When clients overseas wish to view The Waterside as potential long-stay accommodation but are in quarantine and unable to visit the property in person, the company provides video viewings.
Finally, the company’s measures to respond to a range of needs arising from the pandemic include new regulations and policies to support staff. In this most difficult time, safeguarding the physical and mental wellbeing of customers and colleagues, remaining mindful and conscientious, and maintaining a spirit of teamwork are a top priority.
Lilau Square is a city block at the northern foot of Colina da Penha (Penha Hill), encompassing Largo do Lilau and a number of streets on its periphery. In 2005, Lilau Square and the historic architecture in this area of central Macau area were included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Chinese settled in the area around present-day Lilau Square many centuries ago. It was also one of the first areas in Macau to be settled by the Portuguese, who gave it the name by which it is remains known, meaning “mountain spring” in Portuguese. It was home to a freshwater spring – at the time the main source of potable water in Macau – and Ming Dynasty legend has it that an old lady had a well built there to collect its water.
Portuguese settlers were attracted to the sweet spring water gushing out of Lilau, and began building homes around the well. They also installed pipes to divert its water, and a faucet. During the colonial period, the phrase “One who drinks from Lilau never forgets Macao” became local lore, encapsulating the community’s attachment to the square.
The fountain in Lilau Square as it appears today was built during the 20th century, and the source of the spring water is actually located on the inclined alley Calçada do Lilau.
Lilau Square is situated in the southwestern part of Macau, close to the Inner Harbour. It boasts a typically Mediterranean atmosphere, examples of late-period Art Deco architecture, and two century-old banyan trees.
The square remains a somewhat traditional community with Portuguese roots that have endured to this day. It is a touchstone of Macanese culture and a treasure trove of Portuguese heritage, and many of the descendants of the Portuguese who were born and lived in the area became well known.
The fountain in Lilau Square inspired the name of The Fountainside, a low-density residential complex managed by Bela Vista Property Services, located close to the square and the Mandarin’s House – the residence of renowned 19th century thinker Zheng Guanyin.
The Fountainside’s original building dates from the 1950s. It was constructed in a characteristic Western architectural style, and its redevelopment was carried out with respect for the decorative features of that building and for the history of the area.
The development’s layout comprises essentially two parts. The first area – around the entrance/exit incorporated into the façade – has been preserved but reconfigured as four villas, offering residents a sense of the property’s heritage. The second part – around a newer residential entrance – is located on Rua da Penha, providing 38 standard units and two levels of basement parking, and incorporating modern living facilities to give the area an element of contemporary flair.
The neighbourhood is an historic one, meaning that most buildings lack elevators and other facilities. This has made The Fountainside popular among those who choose to reside locally and enjoy an enhanced living environment.
The Fountainside is a perfect sanctuary for unwinding in the tranquillity of a heritage enclave and immersing oneself in Macau’s discreet charm. It was awarded the Monomer Housing Design Award for Chinese Residential Projects in 2012 and 2014.
The development offers its residents an enviable ambience of quiet elegance that blends refined contemporary aesthetics with this rich history, and the dedicated services of a professional concierge team to cater to their every need.