All over the world, ports have always been regarded as dirty and uninteresting. Mostly dotted with huge warehouses and giant machinery. At one port in Malaysia, however, it can be said the staff do not come to work in a port but in garden.

In its quest to be the country's premier port, Westport Malaysia has also taken steps to become known as the "Garden Port" by landscaping over 8ha of vacant land with more than 300 varieties of trees and flowering plants as well as three waterfalls.

Last year, Westport spent approximately RM2 million on new landscaping projects, the latest being a contemporary Japanese Garden and a landscaped park surrounding its Tower Block and Business Centre.

The company believes the picture-perfect views have a profoundly positive effect on its staff.

Employees only need to take a stroll down Westport Avenue to soak in the serenity of the beautiful manicured waterfall gardens and feel rejuvenated in the process.

The new Japanese garden transports visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun with bamboo trees, arches, garden lamps and ponds while Zen garden between the business centre and the Tower Block administration building is a recent investment to bring aesthetics to a simple covered car park.

In front of the business centre, the bamboo garden lining the façade has a tranquil ambience to bring stability to the mind to balance the serious pursuit of business.

For a unique soothing effect for the mind, visitors go to the rock fountain which uses the sound of cascading waterfalls to wash away stress.

Most of the landscape projects in Westport Malaysia were designed and built by POPO Landscape, Pondscape and Agroline - all well known for stunning garden creations.

For three consecutive years from 2000,the company has won awards for the best landscaped or decorative buildings in the private sector in Selangor.

The most impressive of them is the award of Distinction in 2000 by the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI).