-ADiN.jpg&w=347&h=240&crop-to-fit)
Dora Chng, General Manager (Residential) of GuocoLand, knows a thing or two when it comes to urban living in the 21st century. “My role at GuocoLand is to conceptualize and implement strategies for our residential business,” she reveals. “I am part of the team that evaluates land parcels and their potential, and when we win the land bid, the design, planning, sales, and marketing follow. What makes my job interesting is seeing how a project transforms from its bare land state into beautiful residential developments!”
Having spent close to a decade at GuocoLand, and with the support of a talented team, Chng is proud to have been involved in managing a portfolio of award-winning residential properties. “These include Wallich Residence, Martin Modern, Midtown Bay, and of course, Midtown Modern and the upcoming Lentor Modern,” she adds.
(Related: Innovation journeys - computational design in architecture)
Being in real estate development, you must be attuned to the needs of the 21st century family. How have things changed in the past few years and what are the considerations people have when choosing where to live, particularly in Singapore?
The pandemic has brought about a change in our mindset and lifestyles. We accepted work-from-home (WFH) and home-based learning (HBL) as the new normal. We re-evaluate our priorities at work and in life. All of these have an impact on what individuals and families look for in residential developments – for both own-stay and investment purposes.
We received strong interest from potential buyers for larger units and flexibility in space layout. Many whom we spoke with explained that more space is needed to cater to different family members’ needs when WFH and HBL come under one roof.
I was trained as an interior designer and spent two years designing homes for clients. That experience helped me to appreciate what homeowners hope to see in their new homes and be able to conceptualize design and elements in the development that best appeal to their needs.
Singaporeans are discerning city-dwellers and appreciate convenience and connectivity. Many people value living in properties that are near or directly connected to amenities, F&B and retail options, healthcare, and education centers. Many homeowners also prefer to have easy accessibility to public transport and major expressways. At the same time, many of today’s buyers are attracted to homes with green features and biophilic design. Midtown Modern’s “Nature in the City” concept pushes the bar by offering full condominium facilities, including a 50-meter lap pool, entertainment pavilions and a tennis court, and features over a hectare of gardens and landscaping – all in the city center.
How did the idea of the Sky-Bungalow collection come about? Can you also walk us through the USPs that differentiate them from larger units in other luxury residential developments?
The Sky-Bungalows at Midtown Modern are designed to meet buyers’ demands for larger homes and to suit their modern lifestyle. Some of the key features that differentiate Midtown Modern’s Sky-Bungalow Collection include:
Living large in the CBD
Each unit is 3,616 sq ft and comes with five bedrooms, akin to living in a bungalow in the sky with panoramic views of the city below. The five bedrooms can comfortably accommodate a family of seven or more, making it perfect for multi-generational families with access to the convenience of city-centre amenities. The versatility of having two full floors means that members of the rest of the family can continue to enjoy their privacy and lifestyle while the other level is used for entertaining guests.
Supersized living, dining and entertainment areas
The supersized living, dining, and entertainment area measures almost 10 metres in length from end to end and is as large as a typical two-bedroom condominium unit. The living and dining areas also flow into the large balcony area, giving the main family room a cavernous spaciousness for hosting and entertaining guests.
Panoramic 270-degree views of the city
The Sky-Bungalows are located between levels 24 to 30 of the two towers at Midtown Modern, with unparalleled views of the city. Sky-Bungalow residents can enjoy 270-degree views from the adjoining large balcony area and the full-length windows flanking the living and dining areas.
Master bedroom suite with His & Hers bathrooms and two walk-in wardrobes
The grandiose master bedroom suite with a balcony is larger than a one-bedroom condominium unit. It features two walk-in wardrobes, one of which is as large as a standard-sized bedroom. It also features two separate His and Hers ensuite bathrooms, giving occupants complete privacy in their personal spaces.
Two kitchens and ample back-of-house areas
Each Sky-Bungalow unit comes with ample back-of-house area, including two kitchens, storage spaces, a utility room, and a linen room. Having two kitchens is also useful when the family hosts guests and makes it even possible to host multiple gatherings at the same time.
Can you paint us a picture of the Midtown Modern client who would consider living in the Sky-Bungalow collection? What would the typical profile be like?
Midtown Modern was designed to attract families with children who would appreciate larger homes. It would be an ideal home for large, multi-generational families. They also appeal to the well-heeled and cosmopolitan families and UHNWI who are house proud and love hosting and entertaining guests. The Sky-Bungalows are a rare space to offer a branded home that suits various lifestyle needs – an extremely generous living and dining space for entertaining while the rest of the family can continue to enjoy their privacy.
Talk to us about your working relationship with the interior designer, Saporiti Italia. Why were they chosen as partner and what vision did they bring to the table that made them the perfect match for the Sky-Bungalow collection?
Acclaimed Italian design and furniture firm Saporiti Italia is well known amongst their well-heeled clientele in the region for their high-end furnishing projects for some of the world’s most sophisticated and beautiful homes. We are aligned on our philosophy to provide elegant yet practical modern design solutions to meet buyers’ needs. Their design perfectly accentuates the highly efficient and flexible space layout at Midtown Modern.
How do you think the Midtown Modern development, as well as the Sky-Bungalow collection, will influence the future of urban luxury living?
When we conceptualized these homes, our goal was to redefine modern luxury living through constant innovation, ensuring that each unit is a masterpiece, specially designed and crafted for modernity. The Sky-Bungalow Collection will set a new standard as one that is attuned to modern lifestyle needs, flexible, sustainable, community-oriented, and deeply integrated with nature.
The overwhelming demand for Midtown Modern can be attributed to the development’s unique features, which are not replicable – direct access to Bugis MRT interchange station, being part of the transformative Guoco Midtown, and full condominium facilities with more than one hectare of gardens right in the heart of the city.
Copy to Clipboard
Back
Search anything and hit enter
