Peter Lim’s firm RSP to build US$200 million Johor royal family’s Desaru home
The waterfront residence will feature guest houses, a children’s club and an underground shooting range
[KUALA LUMPUR] The Johor royal family has commissioned one of Singapore’s oldest architect firms RSP, owned by billionaire Peter Lim, to design and develop its private waterfront residence in Desaru, Johor.
In a social media post on Aug 23, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers stated that the project, located on a 27-hectare (ha) waterfront estate, has an estimated development cost of US$200 million and is expected to take four years to complete.
The masterplan for the residence includes more than just the royal villa. It will also feature guest houses, a children’s club, sports facilities and a secure underground complex. This complex will house an underground shooting range and armoury, with the capacity to accommodate up to 100 soldiers serving in the security detail of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
RSP said that their collaboration with the Johor royal family is built on more than just the firm’s design expertise, highlighting the close relationship between the two families.
Tunku Ismail noted that the partnership with RSP chairman Kiat Lim and his father, Peter Lim, is built on a strong family relationship.
“This residence is more than a home. It’s a reflection of family, heritage and partnership,” he said.
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Kiat Lim echoed this sentiment, adding that the project is particularly meaningful due to the years of mutual respect between the two families. He described the opportunity to work on such a significant and personal project on an iconic coastline as a “rare privilege”.
Desaru is part of JS-SEZ
Located on Johor’s south-eastern coast, Desaru is part of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). This zone is one of nine key areas designed to focus on education, food security, health and tourism.
The Johor royal family has historically owned and continues to hold vast amounts of land in both Johor and Singapore, including extensive holdings in the Iskandar region, which is being developed as a special economic zone with Singapore.
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In June, Tunku Ismail and the Singapore government agreed to a land swop. Tunku Ismail exchanged 13 ha of his family’s land near the Singapore Botanic Gardens for a nearby 8.5-ha plot of state land of equivalent value.
According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), this arrangement was made so that Tunku Ismail’s future developments would be further away from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Football enthusiasts
Beyond their close family ties, Tunku Ismail and Kiat Lim share a passion for football, according to Forbes. Tunku Ismail owns the Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club and is deeply involved in developing the sport, with a focus on digital engagement and sports ventures.
Kiat Lim, the president of Spanish football club Valencia, is a dedicated football enthusiast. He has actively promoted the sport through various ventures, including co-founding ZujuGP, a company that creates digital platforms and fan engagement experiences. He also launched CO92 DAO, professional football’s first decentralised autonomous organisation, which allows fans to own a stake in the sport.
RSP was founded in 1950 by British architect Raglan Squire. The firm was originally named Raglan Squire & Partners, before being rebranded as RSP in 1980. The company’s early projects included the Straits Trading Building in Singapore, which was the only high-rise in the Raffles business district when it was completed in 1972.
In December 2012, Peter Lim, often called the “Remisier King” due to his success as a stockbroker in the 1980s, acquired RSP through a reverse takeover by his investment firm, Rowsley.
According to Forbes, Peter Lim has a net worth of approximately US$1.8 billion, holding stakes in companies such as Thomson Medical, football club Valencia and Wellington College International.
On Monday (Aug 25), Thomson Medical announced a major project in JS-SEZ – a 10.5-ha integrated development with a projected gross development value of over RM18 billion (S$5.5 billion).
Located in Johor Bahru, the development will feature healthcare facilities such as a hospital, a specialist centre and assisted living services. It will also include luxury residences, hospitality, commercial spaces and various lifestyle amenities.
With a global presence in 12 markets including Malaysia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and China, RSP has completed over 2,500 projects.
The firm’s portfolio includes several iconic developments, such as Jewel Changi Airport (in collaboration with Safdie Architects), the Armani Hotel & Residences Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, Singapore’s Bird Paradise and Nanyang Technological University’s Gaia, which is Asia’s largest wood building.
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