Reignwood Hamilton Scotts Review

Having achieved TOP in 2012, Hamilton Scotts was first developed by KOP Properties. It sprung onto the market in Singapore at a point where shifting policies would cause a decline in the luxury market. The repercussion of this is still keenly felt.

Despite this, over 20 units were sold, at an average of $10m per unit with an exception of four units that transacted at about $6m in 2009, presumably during the pre-sales. The highest transacted was $13.7m in June of 2013. The most recent was a resale at $8.5m.

Scotts Road

Altogether, there have been 29 out of 54 units (including junior penthouses) sold with an occupancy of 79%. The biggest two penthouses aren’t for sale.

To enhance the living experience, more than just the lobby and waiting area was remodelled to exude a more inviting and resort like feel for residents.

The walls around the lobby are lined with greenery kept alive by artificial lighting to compensate for the lack of direct natural light.

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts

The gymnasium was enlarged and outfitted with Technogym branded equipment. It may not be as fully stocked as a commercial gym but it is a significant improvement over what was originally offered. A good selection of weight categories of dumbbells and treadmills for cardiovascular training are what most basic fitness goals require and this gym provides them.

The gym is next to the 45m lap pool with cabanas and picnic umbrellas on the side for sunbathers.

While facilities are certainly impressive, it is the professional service that Reignwood imbued into the Hamilton Scotts that calls for the most attention.

Unlike its ilk, there F&B staff on hand, most of whom have worked in foreign embassies, to provide hotel-like services as part of Reignwood’s intended living experience. Through friendly and impeccable professional service, Reignwood has helped to create an enclosed community with and for its residents. That the community is more closely-knit here than in other developments is a testament to the Group.

And, given the pedigree of residents at Reignwood Hamilton Scotts, breakfast every morning can turn into impromptu networking sessions.

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts

Not surprisingly, despite Reignwood Hamilton Scotts’ defining feature being its sky garage, there have been buyers who bought a unit not for the car showcase, but for its look, location and the service. The bragging rights too, come part of the deal.

Cognizant of this, Reignwood have prepared three units (one of which is managed by Reignwood in the owner’s absence) on the 3^rd, 14^th and 27^th floor.

Potential buyers are put into the shoes of a resident to better appreciate how living here would feel. And since this is one of the very few truly unique properties in Singapore, immersion is key.

Units

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts (floorplan)

All three are 3-bedrooms of the same size but there are two things that set them apart; view and interior design.

The 3^rd floor unit receives plenty of green from the patio. The 14^th floor unit has a view just over the canopies of the trees while the 27^th floor unit has an astounding unblocked view all the way to Bukit Timah Hill and slightly beyond, even on a cloudy day.

An expansive livinrg room with an impressive view

This view will remain unblocked for the foreseeable future as the buildings behind Reignwood Hamilton Scotts are heritage buildings maintained by the government.

The roof of the Sheraton Hotel next door is completely visible from the patio on the 27^th floor, making Reignwood the highest building on the block. While view is great when you have it, it is getting your prized cars up to your living room that matters here.

There are two lifts, one for each stack and though they are communal lifts, only the owner can access their own unit through either biometric thumbprint or access code.

Ingress and Egress for cars en route to personal sky garage

This includes the parking lot for the sky garage as each owner’s code will be responsible for sending their prized cars to the display case in the living room.

The interior work for the 3^rd floor unit is a follow-up to the resort ambience that permeates the lobby.

The very large patio (a standard size in all units), boasts a table, several chairs and even a sofa in one corner with plenty of room to stand and walk about.

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts

Because of this visual, the unit resembles a posh villa, especially with the 45m lap pool glistening just beneath. There have also been several interesting additions made to the patio by residents.

Given that it’s extremely wide, some have turned the strip closest to the safety barriers into a putting green. Others have carved it out and turned the strip into a planter while one particularly creative resident turned a section into an open-air aquarium for koi fish.

View on the 27th floor

The 3^rd floor show unit keeps things simple with a comforting view of the low-rise heritage buildings and trees that break up the terrain. This is what affords it its villa/resort look.

The unit does give a glimpse of Scotts Road and while the sounds of traffic is audible when standing at the patio, it’s soft to the point of being negligible. The trees around help to mitigate it.

When inside with the sliding doors closed however, the tempered glass windows that reinforces every unit keeps all the traffic noise out, thus insulating you from the chaos of the street outside.

A living room with a different sort of view

And right there in the living room, is the large display where two prized cars sit side by side in full view of everyone in the apartment like rare museum pieces in the Louvre.

One caveat here is that owners won’t get to ride up with the sky elevator and enter the apartment.

While it might seem like a missed opportunity, it was a bold move to go in this safer direction. There is a locked service door in the apartment that is accessed only when a member of the staff is around to allow owners to retrieve items they might have forgotten from their parked cars.

All this is done for the safety of the residents. The mechanisms powering the sky garage is constantly maintained to ensure they run smoothly at all times.

While the car display is a major unique selling point of Hamilton Scotts, the rest of the unit is just as impressive. Despite being luxurious and high-end, much effort was spent into making the units suitable for families.

Though the only options are 3-bedrooms, the common bedrooms are exceptionally large. All the common bedrooms can fit a queen size bed comfortably with ample space for additions.

The layout allows for the resident to put one side table (there are bay windows) if a bigger bed is chosen, without compromising on walking space. Throw in a super single instead and you’ve got more room to insert plenty more.

On the 27^th floor unit, one common room was turned into a study room and the minimalist approach to the design gives it a stylish but professional image. The other two units however, offer a tantalising glimpse of what a creative owner can do when gifted with the luxury of space.

It’s like looking out at a rain forest on the 14th floor

In addition, since Hamilton Scotts was built in 2012, bay windows were all the rage.

In smaller mass-marketed units, bay windows tend to make small rooms look smaller. They stick out and force the resident to renovate around it or figure out how to maximise the given space for an already shoebox bedroom.

For large apartments in Hamilton Scotts however, the bay windows are a perk.

When coupled with large casement windows that lets a lot of natural light in while providing residents with a magnificent view of their surroundings, bay windows here add rather than subtract from the overall aesthetic.

Refurbish it with cushions and your bay window turns into a lounge, reading corner or study table. There’s so much space here that the bay window and a proper bed co-exist without the owner having to make concessions for either.

But the best thing about the common bedrooms is that instead of having a small closet tucked against a spare wall where it is both insufficient and space obstructing, the wardrobes here line the entire wall along the corridor after the main door.

Common bedrooms are bigger than master bedrooms in many other developments

The wardrobe is inconspicuous until you open it, lying flushed with the wall and pillar. Opposite the wardrobe is the en suite bathroom, which is present in every room. The bathroom alone is quite big with separated wet and dry areas.

Strip away the vanity cabinets and toilet seater and you might be able to fit a single bed in the bathroom. Suffice to say, the en suite bathrooms are as big as some common bedrooms in mass-market condominiums.

The master bedroom however, is of a class on its own.

From the entrance, the uniquely designed bathroom is the first thing you’ll see. The bathroom wall has alternate see-through panels and reflective surface backing a long vanity counter with ‘his’ and ‘hers’ sinks.

A big and posh master bathroom

The counter top is marble and sports a darker aesthetic, one that is usually chosen by high-end luxury hotels.

Behind it are the shower (with rain shower) and toilet, separated into cubicles. On the wall next to the bathroom (away from the bed) is a full-length wardrobe.

When encountering the bathroom for the first time, it can seem a little out of place, since it’s the first thing you see when you open the door to the bedroom.

Given time, its placement grows on you and it actually is a very good use of the space. It may seem narrow but once you step into it proper, that impression immediately evaporates.

So much space

The bathroom is super spacious and the marble tops and floor gives it a sophisticated look. All master bathrooms come with a bathtub which only augments the look and feel.

As a result, the master bedroom, especially on the higher floors, exudes a vibe likening it to luxury hotels, Fullerton or St Regis. It’s 5-star at its best with an excellent use of the space.

Another room with a view on the 27th floor

The actual master bedroom area offers so much space that even if the resident were to commission another wardrobe to be built against the opposite wall, there’s still more room to add other types of furniture.

As it is, a large desk with a couple of computers can fit comfortably anywhere across from the king size bed. A large book shelf can take residence and even the bay windows can be used to enhance the size and look of the room further.

On the 27^th floor unit, the bay windows serve as a perfect lounge spot to relax at and take in the unobstructed view of the horizon, with Bukit Timah Hill in the far distance.

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts

Source: Reignwood Hamilton Scotts

The lower floors offer different views – either of greenery or the just above the canopy of trees – but it exudes the same sense of comfort and oneness with the surrounding.

While the bedrooms adapt to the style of the entire apartment and can appear like stand-alone rooms with their own unique identity (according to the residents’ tastes), it is the cooking and dining area that emphasises family life in Reignwood Hamilton Scotts.

With an area that makes it look like a second bigger living room, a long dining table that sits roughly six to eight people easily fits, without cannibalising on movable space.

The impressive dining area

The cooking area is lavish, with a long and abundant marble top that can be used for preparation or to lay out food during a party.

There is a sliding door that when shut, separates the cooking area from the rest of the house.

Its placement next to a window avails an alternative to the cooker hood. Throw open the windows to let fresh air in and the food aroma and smoke out.

The kitchen has every appliance needed. The long preparation table makes it doubly easy to host parties

Behind that is the door to the service yard.

The yard space is quite big and even with the maid’s room (that has its own en suite bathroom) there’s a lot of room to place a large fridge, washing machine and dryer.

The door at the far end leads to the service elevator or in the case of owners who bought two units, a thoroughfare to the other home.

In all the units, Miele branded kitchen appliances are used and all relevant appliances are provided with additional ones like the dish washer and a wine chiller.

Powder room turned wine cellar

There’s a powder room, which is essentially a guest bathroom without the shower. One owner had this turned into a large wine cellar, complete with electronic lock.

Every unit comes with three carpark lots, two in the sky garage and one in the basement. This lets owners park their more prized cars in the living room display to be used on weekends or special occasions but have convenient access to the more common vehicle for daily commute.

Big apartments offer owners the wherewithal to interior decorate to their heart’s content but with all available units coming partially furnished and exceedingly well designed, it’s a simple matter of packing a few bags, buying some furniture and moving in.

And the compulsion to just move into any unit at Reignwood Hamilton Scotts upon viewing is very strong.

Despite being luxury at the highest tier, it has such an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel at at home.