Some people react differently to the Balinese look. I've come across quite a number of people who were turned off by the contrived, resort-like feel to places like the award-winning St Martin's Residences.
Also with a resort feel is Maplewoods, which looks gorgeous from outside-with impossibly lush greenery greeting you in the driveway. Once inside, I've been turned off by the large complex(there are people who prefer the exclusivity of smaller developments). I know I consider River Place to be a maze and have gotten lost trying to find a unit there more than once.
Yet, I love the smaller modern Balinese projects, especially the ones around Novena. 90 Holland is also a relatively small unit with beautiful landscaping sans the contrived, manufactured feel that some developments bring.
While it's easy to categorise and try to pigeonhole developments under convenient tags like 'modern' or 'Balinese', people's reactions tend to differ from one development to the next. There are people who have professed to hate 'modern' but liked places like the Teneriffe and a few other developments we'd consider 'modern'. I assume these people are averse to the reductionist modern approach to architecture but are comfortable when modern clean lines are complemented by lots of greenery.
Rentals for the respective developments would range from:
.5k up for Maplewoods
around for 90 Holland. consists of townhouses and apartments.
.5k up for Novena area. Units are almost always fully leased as it is a small development.
St Martin's residence starts from up for studio units
New modern apartments
Budget ranges
Around -3k
Typically small square footages of under 1,000. A few on Sophia Road.
Shophouse developments(on Club Street, Mohamed Sultan, Bugis,even Cairnhill for slightly above ).
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The uber-cool Lincoln Modern(see my section on it, under 'uber modern apartments')2 bedroom with some bargaining
Tanjong Pagar
infinity edge pool. small square footages. developer's concept was towards a modern apartments but walking through the hallways transported me back to my hostel days- plenty of clothes set out to dry in the narrow corridor. The layout is frighteningly utilitarian. Unit opens up to the open concept kitchen, the main living/dining area and the powder room to your right. Finishes are nothing to shout about.
Craig Place- another development on Tanjong Pagar. older development with a nondescript facade. one of the great surprises i have found. incorporates shophouses within the compound. shophouses are typically over two floors, in true New York loft style. At a generous 2,000 sq ft, there is an open concept kitchen on the first floor, an open roof terrace at the back and the private area upstairs with split levels; defining the space between the study area and the bedroom. You'd be able to see the row of shophouses on Duxton Hill from the balcony in the pool area. Walking distance to BROTH, a abbreviation for, simply, Bar and Restaurant on the Hill.
Somerset area
2 side by side, right in front of a very charming grill cum bar in a shophouse. Lowrise boutique developments-that all glass feeling. Both with facilities. Rental rates and square footages differ.
Modern Balinese place around Novena.
rentals start from .5k up. the studio penthouses have private roof terraces. lowrise quiet development. one of the best kept secrets in Novena-there not being too many units around. There is no contrived resort feeling to this development, probably due to its being low density. Interiors are very modern-toilets with boutique hotel finishes, stellar wardrobes... There has been no effort to 'import' that Balinese feel into the apartments and the apartments are refreshingly modern. Roof terraces are very pretty. Most apartments looking towards the poolside, mostly tenanted by couples without kids or singles. Large kitchen.
Dhoby Ghaut-architectural-award winning apartments.
this is the odd one out with a large square footage(between 1,500sq ft and 1,700sqft) but with no facilities.
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Modern Shophouses around Mohamed Sultan
with modern stainless steel kitchens, dishwashers, large wardrobe and storage space.
A modern development on Balmoral-look is softer. Not as stark as No.1 Moulmein, for instance...
Lincoln Modern
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Edge@Cairnhill offers 2 bedrooms for just above that. Units come with a fully furnished option, with Starck toilet fittings, kitchen equipment from Miele(typically the same accoutrements as Lincoln Modern) but over a considerably larger square footage. Resembles something of an architectural monstrosity in an area otherwise characterised by restraint.
Sixth Avenue- townhouse developments. Incorporation of a lot of wooden louvres. Delightful open concept kitchen, with see-through glass. Toilets contrast white toilet fittings, white, streaked marble floors and granite non-slip marble floors which serve both a practical and aesthetic function.
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Nassim - delightful apartments. Great location as tenants enjoy both the lush greenery and prestige of Nassim as well as the convenience to the Orchard/Tanglin area.
Townhouses on Devonshire.-2,800sqft with private garden. beautiful lighting evident at night.
and above
The Tomlinson, renting for above.
Around vicinity of Cuscaden residence. Similar concept(glass facade flanked by steel columns)over a larger square footage.
The Modern 'bungalows' that look more like cluster housing to me on Trevose. Fits the technical specs of being a 'bungalow'. Divided by a suspended swimming pool.
Modern Balinese/resort setting developments
Some people react differently to the Balinese look. I've come across quite a number of people who were turned off by the contrived, resort-like feel to places like the award-winning St Martin's Residences.
Also with a resort feel is Maplewoods, which looks gorgeous from outside-with impossibly lush greenery greeting you in the driveway. Once inside, I've been turned off by the large complex(there are people who prefer the exclusivity of smaller developments). I know I consider River Place to be a maze and have gotten lost trying to find a unit there more than once.
Yet, I love the smaller modern Balinese projects, especially the ones around Novena. 90 Holland is also a relatively small unit with beautiful landscaping sans the contrived, manufactured feel that some developments bring.
Penthouse with private pool-one of the very few in Singapore, and certainly the most modern. 3650sqft over three floors, the rooftop pool makes for an impressive entertainment area. Picture was taken on a windy day after a downpour. View complemented by the cool breeze was divine. Asking rental of .
RENTED
There are two other penthouses with private pool available. A modern Asian interpretation on Orchard(10,000sqft) or an older designer expat-favoured development on Grange Rd with private lift and pool, over 3 storeys. Both asking .
Call Hajar @ 92389709 for viewing.
