Not long ago there was news that the international award-winning architect, Moshe Safdie, was commissioned to design a condo project in Bishan. What about works by local Singaporean architects? They are certainly holding their own, as various residential projects all around town show.
In the last decade, Singapore's real estate developers have been unveiling almost-Gatsbyesque apartments designed by top-notch local and foreign designers. With the standards already so high - what's next?
Private developer Pontiac Land - no stranger to the luxury market - and two architects about their new projects and perspectives of the luxury residential market in Singapore are coming back in strength from a long hiatus in the mainland luxury sector - with the launch of freehold Ardmore Residence, situated at the old Pin Tjoe Court in Ardmore Park, and 99-year leasehold Hana, at the corner of Tomlinson and Cuscaden roads.
Ardmore Residence, designed by Amsterdam- based UNStudio, will be a development of 58 units averaging some 3,300 square feet each. Hana will be a smaller development, with 29 units, each of about 3,500 sq ft occupying the entire floor plate. It will be designed by Singapore and Australia-based Kerry Hill Architects, 'whom we have been working with for 10 years on this project', says Wei-lin Kwee, vice-president of Pontiac Land Group. 'For us, a major factor in our decision of choosing architects and designers is the chemistry between us and them, we give a lot of feedback and its important to have architects who will invest time and energy to work with us.
Among the special working relationship is to apply Paul Rudolph, who designed the Colonnade. He labored carefully with my uncles who even introduced him to consume chilli crab!'
Both Hana and Ardmore Residence have been entrusted to Shimizu Contractors. According to Ms Kwee, it was necessary to do so as the curvy designs by UNStudio required a builder of good reputation and quality. 'It's very important when purchasing an apartment to find out who the contractor is.'
Ardmore Residence will have double volume balcony space while Hana boasts a cantilevered pool on each floor. As for the fittings, 'we will always look for items that are both aesthetically pleasing and functionally designed', she says.
We have chosen Dornbracht for the bathrooms and Vizug, Liebher and Poggenpohl fittings for the kitchen area. Ultimately, we seek to offer space, privacy and exclusivity, all of which are luxuries in land-scarce Singapore.
Proceed And Take Rochester, for example. The Rochester can be found alongside Rochester Park, planned $660 million lifestyle hub by Capitaland and Rock Productions and within easy achieve to Holland Village.
Large pool of potential tenants from professionals working at Biopolis, National Unviersity of Singapore, Fusionpolis, Science Park, INSEAD and Singapore Polytechnic. The Rochester's close closeness to Holland Village means a suite of amenities are all around, for example grocery stores, restaurants and eating institutions, shops and banks. Alternatively, people may mind for that nearer Ghim Moh for daily essentials.
However, luxury flats aren't only at more compact niche developments. Presently creating a 180-unit project at mixed development South Beach (alongside Norman Promote) along with other high-finish qualities for example 8 Napier and Orchard View is Tony Ang, controlling director of Aedas.
Using foreign designers does not finish with Pontiac Land. Jumping towards the bandwagon is SC Global, which BT knows is coping with New You'll be able to-based Carlos Zapata Studio due to its 35-unit Ardmore Project.
