For buyers looking for something substantially different from a conventional condominium apartment, the 4-Bedroom Duplex Type PH1 at The Ranz presents a particularly interesting proposition.
Spanning 2,368 sq ft across two levels, the PH1 is the kind of residence that leverages The Ranz’s boutique nature to deliver a more landed-like living experience. Instead of simply providing four bedrooms around a single corridor, the floor plan separates the bedrooms across two storeys and introduces an internal staircase, double-volume living and dining areas, a family hall and multiple outdoor spaces.
This duplex has a stated area of 220 sqm or approximately 2,368 sq ft, including around 23 sqm of balcony space, 8 sqm of AC ledge and 41 sqm of void space.
That last figure is important. A considerable portion of the strata area is attributable to the void rather than usable floor space, but it is also responsible for one of the residence’s defining architectural features: the dramatic double-volume living and dining area.
A Double-Volume Living Space That Defines the PH1
The living and dining area is arguably the centrepiece of this duplex at The Ranz.
Entering the residence brings you almost immediately into the main communal zone, where the ceiling rises through two storeys. This creates a sense of vertical scale that would be difficult to replicate in a conventional single-level four-bedroom apartment.
The living and dining areas remain open to one another, allowing owners to establish a substantial dining setting closer to the kitchen while reserving the wider section beside the balcony for the main living room.
The high ceiling also opens up considerably more interior-design possibilities. A large chandelier or statement pendant, full-height feature wall, oversized artwork or taller architectural elements could be introduced without overwhelming the room.
The staircase is deliberately visible from the communal area rather than being concealed behind walls. Together with the upper-floor void, it reinforces the impression that this is genuinely a two-storey home within The Ranz, rather than simply a large apartment.
Main Balcony Extending the Living Space Outdoors
The living area opens directly onto the main balcony, creating a strong indoor-outdoor relationship.
Rather than functioning as a narrow ledge, the balcony is sufficiently substantial to become another usable lifestyle space. Depending on how the owners furnish it, there is potential for outdoor seating, dining furniture and planting.
The large sliding glass frontage also lets natural light into the living and dining areas while visually extending the communal space outdoors.
For buyers who regularly entertain, this relationship between the living room, dining area, kitchen and balcony is particularly useful. Opening the sliding doors effectively creates a larger entertaining environment where guests can move between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
A Proper Enclosed Kitchen for Family Living
The PH1 at The Ranz also provides a fully enclosed galley-style kitchen positioned immediately beside the dining area. This is an important feature for a residence designed for larger households.
Parallel countertops provide substantial preparation and storage space, while the principal appliances and sink are arranged within an efficient working zone. Unlike many enclosed kitchens, however, the PH1 does not feel completely separated from the rest of the home.
Glass partitions maintain visual connectivity with the dining and living areas, while the kitchen door can be closed when heavier cooking is required. The kitchen’s proximity to both the dining area and balcony also makes serving relatively convenient when entertaining.
Lower Level: Master Suite and Bedroom 2
One of the most interesting aspects of the PH1 floor plan at The Ranz is its split-bedroom configuration. The Master Bedroom and Bedroom 2 are positioned on the lower level, while Bedrooms 3 and 4 are upstairs.
A dedicated passageway separates these lower-floor bedrooms from the main living and dining area, creating a more private sleeping wing.
This arrangement could be particularly useful for a multi-generational household because two family members can occupy bedrooms on the same level as the main living spaces without regularly using the staircase.
Household Shelter and Utility Storage
Further into the lower floor is a dedicated household shelter/utility room.
For a four-bedroom family residence, this is an important practical inclusion. It provides space to store luggage, cleaning equipment, household supplies, and other bulky items without consuming valuable bedroom wardrobe or living-room storage.
Its location along the private passage also keeps this functional space discreetly removed from the principal living and dining areas.
A Proper Master Suite With Its Own Balcony
The Master Bedroom is designed as more than simply the largest bedroom in the apartment.
The entrance includes a dedicated wardrobe zone before opening into the main sleeping area, leaving much of the bedroom free of bulky cabinetry. The Master Bathroom is accessed directly from within the suite, giving the owners their own private bathing area.
Most notably, the Master Bedroom also enjoys direct access to a private balcony.
This creates two distinct outdoor experiences within the PH1. The main balcony can function as the social outdoor area associated with the living room, while the Master Bedroom balcony provides a quieter space reserved for the bedroom wing.
The combination of bedroom, wardrobe area, ensuite bathroom and balcony gives the Master Bedroom a much stronger suite-like character.
Bedroom 2: Particularly Useful for Multi-Generational Living
Bedroom 2 is also located on the lower floor, alongside the Master Bedroom.
Its location could be particularly valuable for families living with elderly parents, as the occupant can remain on the same level as the kitchen, living room and Master Bedroom without having to climb the stairs regularly.
Bedroom 2 is generously proportioned for a secondary bedroom and incorporates its wardrobe closer to the entrance, leaving more of the main sleeping area available for furniture.
Immediately outside is Bathroom 2.
Although it is not an ensuite, its position means it can effectively function as Bedroom 2’s bathroom while simultaneously serving visitors. Guests therefore do not need to enter any bedroom or use the private Master Bathroom.
Upper Level: A Separate Family Zone
Ascending the staircase reveals another defining characteristic of this duplex at The Ranz. Rather than arriving at a simple corridor, the staircase opens onto an upper-level family hall overlooking the living and dining area below.
This gives the PH1 a second communal area that could potentially be configured as a television lounge, children’s play area, reading corner, study zone or informal family room.
The void and glass balustrades maintain visual connectivity with the lower floor, so the two storeys remain connected despite having clearly differentiated functions.
Bedrooms 3 and 4 With Their Own Bathroom Upstairs
Bedrooms 3 and 4 occupy the upper level and share Bathroom 3, effectively creating another private bedroom wing within the residence.
Both rooms have relatively regular configurations, with their wardrobes positioned closer to their entrances to preserve more usable space within the main sleeping zones.
This arrangement could work especially well for families with older children or teenagers.
Parents can occupy the Master Bedroom downstairs while the children have Bedrooms 3 and 4, Bathroom 3 and the family hall upstairs. It provides considerably greater independence than placing every bedroom along the same corridor.
Who Should Consider This 4-Bedroom Duplex at The Ranz?
The PH1 at The Ranz is not simply a large four-bedroom apartment, and the buyer profile should reflect that.
Multi-generational families are likely to be among the strongest candidates. The Master Bedroom and Bedroom 2 are both downstairs, allowing parents and elderly family members to remain on the lower floor while younger family members occupy the bedrooms upstairs.
Families with older children or teenagers could also make particularly good use of the layout. Bedrooms 3 and 4, Bathroom 3 and the family hall effectively create a semi-independent children’s zone on the upper level.
Landed-property owners looking to right-size may find the PH1 especially compelling. Moving into an apartment normally means giving up the vertical separation and spatial character of a landed home. Here, the internal staircase, two-storey configuration, double-volume ceiling, multiple balconies and separation between different family zones preserve some of those qualities while offering the convenience of condominium living.
Buyers who frequently entertain should also appreciate the configuration. The double-volume living and dining area connects naturally with the kitchen and main balcony, creating a substantial communal environment for hosting larger gatherings.
Finally, it could appeal to buyers who prioritise architectural character and spatial experience over maximum floor-area efficiency.
This distinction is important because approximately 41 sqm of the stated area is void space. Buyers comparing properties purely according to usable square footage may therefore find a conventional single-level apartment more efficient.
For someone specifically looking for a duplex, however, the void is not simply wasted space—it is what creates the double-volume living environment that makes the PH1 distinctive.
Overall Assessment: A House-Like Residence Within The Ranz
This penthouse at The Ranz should ultimately be viewed less as a conventional four-bedroom condominium and more as a landed-like duplex residence within a boutique development.
Its floor plan creates a clear hierarchy of spaces.
The lower level contains the principal living, dining, kitchen and entertaining areas together with the Master Bedroom and Bedroom 2. Upstairs, Bedrooms 3 and 4 are grouped with Bathroom 3 and a separate family hall, creating a second family zone.
There are compromises. The 2,368 sq ft area includes significant void, balcony and AC ledge components, so buyers should not compare the unit directly with a 2,368 sq ft single-level apartment purely on usable internal floor area.
What buyers are getting instead is something considerably less conventional: double-volume living, an internal staircase, four bedrooms distributed across two floors, a secondary family hall, an enclosed kitchen and separate communal and private outdoor spaces.
For larger families, multi-generational households or landed homeowners who want to move into an apartment without completely surrendering the spatial qualities of a two-storey home, the 4-Bedroom Duplex Type PH1 at The Ranz stands out as a particularly distinctive option.
Article contributed by Jerry Wong.
Jerry Wong is a realtor at Propnex Realty, bringing a rich background in interior and lighting design to his work. He loves exploring diverse spaces and observing the transformative power of real estate. Beyond his professional role, Jerry finds his greatest fulfillment in connecting people with the right properties, gaining immense satisfaction from helping clients achieve their dreams.
