Redesigning luxury: Living large with less space

The master bedroom of a unit in the Petit Jervois luxury apartments at 33 Jervois Road. PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

SINGAPORE – SC Global, the developer of head-turning and spacious luxury residences in exclusive neighbourhoods such as Sculptura in Ardmore Park, is “downsizing”.

It announced on March 24 that it has completed Petit Jervois, its first “collectible” luxury apartments at 33 Jervois Road.

The freehold apartments are smaller, not as pricey as one would expect from a District 10 property and designed to be environmentally conscious.

SC Global Developments founder and chairman Simon Cheong says Petit Jervois, the first in the Petit Collectibles range, is grounded in post-pandemic reality.

“In an era where homes are taking on a new level of importance where people work and live, Petit Jervois offers home owners the luxury of a seamless, flexible space that adapts to changing lifestyles,” he says.

The developer is redefining the notion of luxury by focusing more on urban experiences and amenities instead of bigger apartments.

SC Global’s smaller apartments under 800 sq ft in its earlier developments, such as Martin No. 38 in River Valley and Hilltops in Cairnhill, all sold out.

This success provided the impetus for the company to build on the Petit Collectibles concept.

Projects under the brand are designed for those looking for an easier lifestyle, such as “empty nesters” – those whose children have grown up and moved out, and no longer need large homes – as well as millennials who value the experience of living in the heart of the city.

Petit Jervois’ exterior comprises two cube-like blocks and is inspired by craftsmanship found in metal foundries, featuring a series of dark grey aluminium fins. These fins are designed to provide shade and reduce heat gain.

The development is a minute’s stroll from the Alexandra Park Connector, which runs along the river to Robertson Quay and Marina Bay on one end, and through Alexandra Park to the Southern Ridges on the other.

It is also near the heritage town of Tiong Bahru, with its busy cafes and whimsical stores, as well as a 3km walk from Orchard Road.

It is built on the site of the former Jervois Gardens condominium, which SC Global bought in September 2017 for $72 million.

The freehold one-bedroom units range from 581 to 646 sq ft and are priced from $1.6 million. The two- and three-bedroom apartments range from 743 to 1,292 sq ft and cost from $2.2 million.

SC Global has completed Petit Jervois, its first “collectible” luxury apartments at 33 Jervois Road. PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

“From day one, we have said that we are in the business of creating lifestyles and not buildings,” says Mr Cheong, 65. His company has completed 11 high-end developments since its inception in 1997, with two more in the pipeline.

A second Petit Collectibles development is being planned at 8 Cuscaden Road. The 28-storey residential tower will have 192 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations.

After setting up SC Global, Mr Cheong travelled to key gateway cities and observed that the luxury market in Singapore still had a long way to go, compared with global metropolises such as London, New York and Hong Kong.

He also noted that there was an opportunity in this market niche not only to construct memorable homes, but also to craft lifestyles around each development.

“When we built The Ladyhill in 2000 and The Lincoln Modern (2003), we set up our own property management arm called Seven Palms Resorts Management, even though property management is not a profitable business.”

Seven Palms Resorts Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of SC Global that offers a range of property management services.

“We want to provide our owners the assurance of timeless quality and protect the value of their investment,” Mr Cheong adds.

Is there a place for luxury developments in a post-pandemic new normal?

According to Mr Rene Tan, architect of Petit Jervois and co-founder of home-grown design firm RT+Q, luxe living – often associated with opulence and excess – has been replaced with “simple luxuries” such as flexibility and adaptability, which are timeless and sustainable pre-conditions of luxury.

“Luxury design is moving towards the notion of ‘optimisation’ rather than ‘maximisation’,” says Mr Tan, 58. “This notion is centred on luxury of flexibility and space, rather than luxury of material goods.”

He says this concept of optimising rather than maximising space is central to SC Global’s design philosophy, which seeks to achieve balance between the built form and the natural environment.

“The challenge in the post-Covid-19 world is to design spaces that are diverse in usage and flexible in configuration, to accommodate changes in the resident’s lifestyle,” he adds.

It is also near the heritage town of Tiong Bahru and is a 3km walk from Orchard Road. PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

Architect Mok Wei Wei agrees. The designer of SC Global’s Three Three Robin – a freehold District 10 condominium comprising 36 units – says the term “luxury” in architecture is not about an expanse of area or excessive trimmings.

“To me, true luxury is about space,” says the award-winning architect and managing director of home-grown practice W Architects. “Not just lots and lots of space, but spaces that are well-planned and well-proportioned. These are spaces that reflect the lifestyle of the inhabitant.”

In Three Three Robin, which was completed in 2005, a larger proportion of space was devoted to a long counter in the “dry” kitchen, which faces the living and dining space, to become “almost the focus of the apartment”, he says.

Despite the gloom cast by the pandemic since 2020, luxury properties seem to be bucking the global economic downturn.

The freehold apartments are smaller, affordable and designed to be environmentally conscious. PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

According to commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE Group, the luxury apartment segment in Singapore was buoyant in 2021, almost doubling from 2020.

A total of 247 caveats were lodged for luxury apartments in the Core Central Region (CCR) with a total transaction value of $3 billion.

The CCR refers to prime areas in Singapore such as Districts 9, 10 and 11, the Downtown Core – including parts of Bugis and south of Ophir Road – and Sentosa.

Ms Tricia Song, CBRE head of research for South-east Asia, adds that hybrid working is here to stay.

“This results in a shift in home buyers’ needs and desires affecting better amenities, proximity to nature and greenery and lush landscaping, because homes also serve as workplaces.”

Ms Rachel Tan, an equity research analyst at DBS Group Research, agrees.

“DBS has seen broad-based rising demand for housing in the past two years with quite a number of Good Class Bungalows being transacted despite the pandemic,” she says. “Given the rising inflation, housing could be seen as one of the inflation hedge asset classes that could potentially drive some demand in the near term.”

Mr Cheong is confident that luxe living will never go out of style.

He says SC Global’s approach to luxury is understated, with a focus on the quality of materials and design details that convey craftsmanship and appreciation of the finer things in life.

“In the past, we talked about luxury being about space, but luxury is really about freedom. The luxury of freedom of choice transcends time,” he says.

“Ultimately, our home – the sanctuary where we spend much of our time – should encapsulate the concept of luxury the most.”

Sculptural architecture in District 10

PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

Sculptura Ardmore, 8 Ardmore Park

Completed in 2014

Sited at the highest point of Ardmore Park, the 36-storey Sculptura Ardmore has 34 apartments ranging from four-bedroom units starting at 2,831 sq ft to penthouses at 10,300 sq ft.

A highlight is the freehold District 10 development’s sculptural form. Designed in collaboration with Modernist New York-based architect Carlos Zapata, it features expansive open-plan apartments wrapped around a central core featuring glass and aluminium fins that provide shade and privacy.

A simple two-degree tilt in the glass facade plane creates a gentle curvature, while an additional series of pixelated glass fins forms a “skin” around the building.

In the apartments, an open-plan design reminiscent of large bungalows, with full-height windows flanking the living and entertainment areas, stretches 23m from the living room to the dining area and terrace.

There are also four private lap pools that resemble outstretched fingers, giving residents the feeling of swimming in mid-air.

The sky terraces on the sixth and 17th floors host a private clubhouse, indoor and outdoor entertainment and dining areas, a gymnasium, and sky gardens with private cabanas and jacuzzis.

The development is managed by SC Global’s in-house management arm Seven Palms Resorts, which also provides concierge services for the residents.

Swaying coconut trees, sea views

PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

Seven Palms @ Sentosa Cove

Completed in 2013

Singapore’s only beach-front condominium development, Seven Palms @ Sentosa Cove, is a 99-year leasehold four-storey development. It spans 2.6ha and gives residents direct access to the pristine sands of Tanjong Beach.

It was designed by the late Australian architect Kerry Hill, highly regarded for his resort designs.

The apartments range from three- to five-bedroom layouts starting from 2,700 sq ft to 6,792 sq ft, and offer spectacular sea views from private balconies. Most come with lap pools.

The open-pavilion design of each apartment incorporates wide sliding doors that lead to an expansive living space for entertainment.

Like in Petit Jervois, there are large terraces within the Seven Palms apartments that provide natural ventilation and reduce the reliance on air-conditioning.

Natural light enters the apartments through a series of filters and solar light tubes. A combination of timber pivoting fins and perforated sliding screens on the facades filters out direct sunlight and shields the apartments from the tropical heat.

The development is managed by SC Global’s in-house management arm Seven Palms Resorts, which also provides concierge services for the residents. It was one of five projects that won the 2015 International Architecture Awards by The Australian Institute of Architects International Chapter.

Lofty, leafy Orchard Road perch

PHOTO: SC GLOBAL

Hilltops, 101 Cairnhill Circle

Completed in 2011

Hilltops is a freehold District 9 condominium standing at the highest point of Orchard Road at a breezy 131m above sea level.

The 241-unit luxury development is designed by W Architects, helmed by veteran architect Mok Wei Wei.

Its elevated grounds provide the perfect setting for a secluded botanical retreat amid lush landscaping, water gardens and stunning views of the city skyline.

It comprises one 14-storey block with a private drop-off, which has pool views of the Istana, and a 20-storey block where the pools and balconies face Marina Bay, the Central Business District and Orchard Road.

Its two- to five-bedroom apartments range from 800 to 5,300 sq ft. There are also three penthouses from 6,400 to 8,400 sq ft, and a super-penthouse spanning 11,000 sq ft on the top floor of the 20-storey block, with a private lift.

Each apartment has an oversized resort-style steam spa and an open-plan living space with a spacious island kitchen.

Three sky terraces, which are up to 72m long and spread over 25,000 sq ft, provide spaces for residents to entertain, relax and take in panoramic city views.

Amenities include a 50m swimming pool with a jacuzzi to a glass-walled gymnasium to a concierge team from Seven Palms Resorts Management that handles everything from serving cappuccinos to making restaurant reservations.

“Source:[Redesigning luxury: Living large with less space] © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *