Darren Tee of W Architects (right) collecting the prize at the recent gala dinner.
Contributor Feature
By Nadia Willan
Representing the new generation of landed living in Seletar Hills, in the heart of Singapore’s leafy Ang Mo Kio in District 28, the Nim Collection brings architectural design ingenuity to the fore. These 98 spectacularly spacious residences showcase an intuitive sense of inner balance when it comes to private and shared spaces.
Completing by 2021, and with occupancy starting in 2019, the Nim Collection’s terrace, end-terrace and semi-detached properties are developed to create warmth whilst connecting residents to the outdoors through pioneering design that incorporates a strong sense of function and form. The result is veteran developer, Bukit Sembawang Estates Ltd., scooping a Best Housing Architectural Design win at the 8th annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) in October 2018 for the Nim Collection, in behalf of a winning team consisting of W Architects, Janet McGlennon Interiors along with Design Basis, and Mace Studio. New Urban Redevelopment Authority guidelines for landed housing have also enabled the Nim Collection design potential to flourish.
Founder and owner of Robert Greg Shand Architects, and one of this year’s judges, Greg Shand, brings his experience running an award-winning bespoke architecture firm and his training in Japan to the judging panel. He puts the development in a class of its own.
“Nim Collection stands out in its thoughtful designs and provisions. Its reliance on timeless design principles like light, ventilation and courtyards have created a development with quality and class well beyond the norm and deservedly, a winner beyond any doubt.”
With a development plot of over 1.246 million sq ft, and an average unit size of 5,400 sq ft, the Nim Collection represents a rare find, even in Singapore’s suburban towns where there are lots and lots of space. The architectural design of five-bedroom homes within this impressive space includes gardens at multiple levels and an elevated outdoor garden that is also the car porch roof. There is a rooftop garden terrace at the attic level, perfect for barbeques and al fresco dining, with courtyards within the center of the second and third storeys.
The open-plan ground floor is extended with a double-height living and dining room with large windows and views out to the car porch roof garden, which can be accessed from the mezzanine floor with its attractive landing banisters. There is also a bedroom designed for elderly residents on this level. These features, along with the properties’ green, social spaces, invite more light, a better flow of air and create visual connectivity between the bedrooms, while distinctive angular geometry defines stylish contemporary abodes.
Bedroom en-suites, an elevator and maid’s room, plus a backyard off a fully equipped kitchen as well as home automation features add modern-day function to the design. The development received a BCA Green Mark GoldPlus for its first two phases and each residence comes with an electrical car charger and solar panel. Meanwhile, the 100-metre green park fronting the Nim Collection extends the design ethos to create a relaxed oasis escape from the city.
This article is contributed by PropertyGuru Property Report, the official publication of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.