Alex Residences Review

Alex Residences was designed by P&T Architects – one of South East Asia’s oldest and largest firms – to have a boutique hotel concept. Though boutique hotels have cosy, homely atmospheres in a small living space, Alex Residences manages to achieve the former while not sacrificing the latter much at all.

Given that it has a much smaller surface area compared to its immediate competitors, yet, with less stacks and gross area to build on, there’s more focus on delivering quality sized apartments in a building with a more attractive façade.

Alex Residences 3D model

But the façade is merely one way developer Singland is approaching to draw attention to Alex Residences. After all, there’s much similarity between Alex Residences and Echelon’s façades though it must be said that this particular greyscale style looks better on a small development.

At the apex, on the roof, rests a massive structure, similar to the one that sits above Marina Bay Sands. This display structure may not light up on its own, but lights that shine upon it during night time are expected to make it look like it is glowing.

Like a beacon or lighthouse calling the weary sailor home, Alex Residences’ massive art décor piece will illuminate the way home for its residents after a long day at work. It also sets the small development apart from its peers rather magnificently.

Beneath the giant structure is an infinity pool. This is a rare addition for a residential development, let alone one on the roof.

Alex Residences Roof Terrace with Infinity Pool 3D model

Besides being 40-storeys with no penthouses so that everyone can enjoy the roof terrace without having to pay a premium to do so, Alex Residences also boasts a wide all-around view that is largely unobstructed.

And the side that is obstructed – the west- is also the side that gets the west sun but thanks to Echelon’s larger frame protecting Alex Residences, you won’t be baking in the apartment. It’s a small issue anyway since there are other units available that have totally unobstructed views. Units that face north for example, have unblocked views of Orchard Road and even Dempsey.

The Crest on Prince Charles Crescent in the north of Alex Residences is only 23 storeys so residents on the higher floors can see over The Crest. Behind The Crest are landed houses so the view stretches as far as Sentosa.

Alex Residences’ impassive tower takes advantage of the location quite well and being so tall and elegantly designed, it does create an atmosphere of sophistication. Even entering the lobby, with its high cylindrical pillars, gives it a Greco-Roman look made modern.

Showflat: Façades are the wrapping however, with the units being the prize. It behoves developers to follow through with good sized units that would match the extravagance or opulence of the exterior and showunits is the first wave of proofing that this can be done.

Alex Residences showunits share a lot in common with many other developments but it executes in a more luxurious way.

There are two showunits on display; a 2-bedroom 63 sqm (678 sqft) unit and a 3-bedroom + utility 106 sqm (1,141 sqft) unit.

2-bedroom Type B1a (63sqm): These units are generally the smaller and more popular units that are quickly bought for investment due to their lower quantum.

Units like these are not suitable for big families but adequate for newly married couples or a family of three. A family of four is possible, provided two persons share a room. It will be taxing on space but it is possible with smart renovation.

Alex Residences 2BR Unit

The unit, though similar to many of its ilk in layout and structure is actually slightly bigger than expected, with a more generous living and balcony area.

Marble floors across the living and dining area reflect the light easily, making the space feel brighter and bigger.

The living space is large enough for a couch or a sofa and a coffee table with the television wall mounted or placed upon a console.

Alex Residences 2BR living room

Next to the living room is the open kitchen which is a modern architectural concept of new homes that is likely to trend for the foreseeable future.

Small units will almost always have this sort of layout as it is the most efficient given Singapore’s smaller land mass.

The kitchen is immediately accessible once you enter through the front door with the fridge on the right and the cooking space including oven visible.

Alex Residences 2BR anti slam cabinets

The high and low cabinets are built-in between a solid surface work top. These cabinets, the top ones in particular, are anti-slam.

Though it inhabits a smaller surface area, the kitchen is spacious, provided residents avoid putting too big a dining table in the space. Removing the dining table completely allows for more opportunity to custom build or purchase of additional storage space.

Alex Residences 2BR kitchen and dining area

And with the fridge, oven and even washing machine/dryer (kept in the built-in closet flushed to the wall opposite the fridge) provided, by reputable brand De Dietrich no less, the amount of things you need to buy is greatly reduced.

For the purpose of this showunit, one of the bedrooms had its walls removed for a better look inside.

The actual door faces the inside of the narrow corridor, so the walk-in space at the showunit is actually meant to be walled off.

Alex Residences 2BR common bedroom

That wall allows for the orientation of the living space to change based on preference. All bedrooms have timber flooring which are easy to maintain and look great on their own.

With timber flooring, there’s little need to add carpets or rugs because the natural beauty from the grains and textures of the material requires very little ‘dressing up’.

Though in the long run, timber flooring needs refining to reduce or remove scratches and stains. It also gets noisy over time, which may make the inclusion or a rug or carpet a necessary addition.

The common bedroom can take a queen sized bed but that would be a poor use of the space. Typically, singles or bunk beds are a better option as it at least leaves room for some mobility and added customisation.

The master bedroom on the other hand requires a queen sized bed at the least. The additional space it is given dovetails into a master bathroom which with downlights at the bottom of the built-in mirror with vanity cabinets adds to that overall boutique hotel look.

Alex Residences 2BR master bedroom and bathroom

It is quite spacious too, both the master and common bathrooms. While the bedroom décor benefits from classy interior decorating, the bathrooms on display are close to what is offered.

The 2-bedroom unit does exactly what it is meant to do; provide an attractive and sufficient living space for small families. In this regard, this unit type in Alex Residences succeeds. It feels inviting and self-contained with everything you would need to in a cosy apartment.

3-bedroom Type C2-1G (106sqm): The 3-bedroom unit displayed is the ground floor unit (which is technically the third floor if you count the lobby on the actual ground floor and the gym above it) and like the units on the 39^th floor, are high ceiling apartments.

Alex Residences 3BR living and dining area

Typical ceiling height is about 3m but high ceiling units are 4.6m. Unfortunately, ground floor units, which are also 3+1 utility room units, are fully sold out.

An excellent thing about the 3-bedroom apartments is its enclosed kitchen. All units, 3-bedrooms and onwards have enclosed kitchens.

The size certainly allows for partitioning and with a bigger kitchen that comes with a gas cooker, the heavier cooking can now be contained with the sliding door shut.

Alex Residences 3BR kitchen

The kitchen is quite big and more than comfortable for at least two people to be working inside.

But this spaciousness has its drawbacks as the pantry is significantly smaller in this unit and condo than it is in other mass-market developments.

While this may pose a problem for residents with helpers whom they were intending to houseinto the pantry, it does not change the fact that the pantry in this development or any development for that matter, is hardly a suitable place to fit a regular sized human.

Alex Residences 3BR pantry and washing area

The pantry here is sufficient for shelving to store canned goods and other assorted stuff. If this must absolutely be a maid’s room, then a bed has to be customised in order to fit.

Otherwise, it’s an excellent store room to have at the back of the kitchen that does not interrupt your space when cooking.

High ceilings are divisive; some people love them, others don’t care for them. High ceilings do provide a lot of opportunity to maximise vertical space which owners should be doing anyway.

Alex Residences 3BR common bedroom with high ceiling

For the common bedroom shown here, instead of the typical bunk bed (which is shown in the other common room), this one instead sports a library at the top.

The black steel rungs adds a level of sophistication to an already luxurious looking apartment and the hanging lights enhances the overall vibe.

Of course, to pursue this sort of interior decorating would cost more money as the unit comes bare without the library and lights, but it is a good display of some of the uses of a high ceiling.

Alex Residences 3BR common bedroom with bunk bed

And the aforementioned bunk bed, in the other common room is yet another smart usage of the space provided.

More vertical space, especially where bedrooms are concerned, is a feat unto itself so having the wherewithal to build upwards is a boon. It also makes a 3-bedroom apartment fit for six people with two sharing a room.

The only place where the high ceiling does not work well in is the common bathroom. The height here is more of a casualty as it doesn’t offer anything other than an innate sense of scale.

The master bathroom however, is as cosy and boutique looking as the master bedroom.

Alex Residences 3BR master bathroom

The warmer colours and downlights helps to ‘pull’ the ceiling down for a cosier, more intimate feel. With very large spaces or high ceilings, sometimes in order to diminish the size for a snugger aesthetic, warmer colours are used to elicit the effect.

In the master bathroom, this was done masterfully.

The darker colours also makes the master bedroom pop without drawing attention to the high ceiling. Obviously a bunk bed is unnecessary here so all that ceiling height goes unused unless chandeliers are hung.

Alex Residences 3BR master bedroom

But with warmer colours, the bed on a platform and long and dark curtains tapering at the end, the room feels cavernous if not spacious. It certainly does not feel small or conventional, which is important for the developer to show.

In closing, the vibe for the 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom ground units are so comparatively different that it’s easy to forgive someone for thinking they might be from two different projects. This is partly due to the 2-bedroom’s more conventional layout.

However, both units do deliver where it matters on finishing and fittings. Providing the basic appliances like induction stove, hood, oven, fridge, washing machine and dryer from a reputable brand like De Dietrich no less, ramps up its favourability.

It’s unfair to judge the value of a unit based on the brands of appliances provided but where many mass-market projects utilize common trustworthy brands for appliances, it’s an added bonus when the brand in question can add to the quality of the project by its name alone.