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Asia USA Realty
(Singapore)
asiahomes.com Pte Ltd
Estate Agents Licence No.
L3007306B
12 Mar 2011
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Focus:
We
get for you affordable Singapore homes
Rent or Investment |
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THE LOFT @ NASSIM |
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Downtown
Singapore. Nassim Hill, Completed: 2002. 99 years leasehold.
77 units. 753 - 1,873 sq.ft generally.
1-bedroom 66-72 sq m
2-bedroom 96-167 sq m
3-bedroom 133-190 sq m
INTERESTING FEATURES:
Tree conservation features: 10 tembusu and jambu laut trees
are conserved under the National Park rules. 7 of the trees are
along the perimeter of the triangular 81,095 sq ft site. The other
three are in the middle.
The plot has a slope or gradient: An 8 m difference in the
level between the front of the site and the back. Therefore 5
four-storey blocks of low rise apartments are built along the
borders of the plot and fit between the protected trees. Blocks are
linked by bridges and terraces with frameless glass panels allow a
clear view of the trees.
The
longest block, Tembusu, sits on a 4.9m-high podium which conceals
one level of the covered car park. The podium has a rugged granite
wall facing the pool. To soften the appearance, a strip was cut out
and filled with Kyoto grass which grows vertically as a strip on the
wall. It has a built-in irrigation and drainage system. 10
willow trees in the courtyard and pool area and creepers growing up
the block's aluminium louvres soften the angular lines of the condo.
The use of sharp edges, glass and stainless steel together with the
old trees gives a contract of elements between the shiny and smooth
with the textured and the rustic.
The visual appearance of this condo never fails to impress Caucasian
expatriates. The lack of privacy may be the main complaint but this
condo will be easy to rent, owing to its great location near Tanglin
Mall and downtown Orchard Road.
Penthouse
(2-levels) 139 - 174 sq m. 2 bedrooms downstairs and 1 master
bedroom upstairs. At the side of L-shaped balcony, there is a
squarish area to put your outdoor furniture.
Facilities. Pool, 24-hour security, covered car park. The Loft
offers broadband access in a resort ambience. Floor to ceiling glass
windows bring in natural daylight.
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Floor to
glass ceilings |
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Low density
upscale downtown condo |
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Master
bathroom in the penthouse |
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Penthouse
kitchen |
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Modern
resort ambience with high tech internet access. |
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Kitchen
facing greenery |
Appeals
immensely to young expatriates, Caucasian and westernised expats.
The finishes, the ambience and the high quality appliances are very
impressive. The main complaint is the lack of privacy and no
balconies, except for the maisonette penthouses. Rentals of
2-bedroom vary from $4,500 and penthouses rent at $9,000.
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FOR RENT |
Feb
25, 2011
For Rent
Advert by Realtor: The Loft @ Nassim 3+1 2013 sq ft
$11,000 p/f
E-mail
judy@asiahomes.com Tel: +65
9668 6468. |
TIPS FOR REALTORS - LOFT
APARTMENTS |
New Yorkers may ask the realtor to rent loft apartments. The realtors may
think they are looking for shophouses with an attic or attic-like space
not partitioned into rooms, immediately below the roof of the
house.
Actually such expats are interested in the upper stories of a warehouse or
factory. In New York, these are trendy, attractive big spaces on one level
and well designed. Old industrial buildings in some parts of the U.S
have been given a new lease of life by conversion to stylish loft
apartments with lower rentals and more space, attracting yuppies and
artists to set up home offices. There are no such equivalent style of
housing in Singapore though. |
TIPS FOR LANDLORDS |
WHAT CAUCASIANS LOOK FOR
IN A CONSERVATION SHOPHOME?
Usually young and
looking to experience a unique home, the Caucasian expats want a
conservation shophome with a garden, courtyard, bright rooms, air
conditioning, clean new bathrooms and kitchen and large living and dining
areas.
In many shophomes, there is a problem of accommodating the washing machine
and the dryer. The maid's room plus small utility area are used to
accommodate the washing machine and dryer and there is little backyard or
courtyard. Some owners put the washing machine under the kitchen counter
and the dryer in the maid's room. Some put them on the second floor at the
back if the shophome is longer.
The
conservation or heritage shophomes are intermediate terrace ("townhouses")
and corner terrace houses. The main complaint of the intermediate
units is that the rooms are dark and there are no balconies.
However, with good design like a balcony, skylights and high glass windows
facing the airwell, natural daylight brightens the interior of the room.
The airwell in some shophomes may be closed up by a clear glass pane
skylight at the roof level. These window panes can be opened
electrically. However, there's a lot of costly maintenance of the
motors required. It may be best to have a manual operation for the
skylight or no skylight.
An airwell with vertical window panes on the roof acting as a skylight.
This permits ventilation and natural daylight to enter the house.
Rain does come in too. This structure is much easier to maintain. Plants
can then be kept in the airwell.
The 6 window panes in the loft or attic room which is above the master
bedroom bring in bright daylight and may be too much for tenants who sleep
late. An electrically operated power blind has been proposed.
The open-concept kitchen is brighter than the conventional closed door
kitchen. This kitchen is located at the back of the house although
there is one unit in which the kitchen is just behind the main door.
The Barbecue area is small, at the back next to the maid's room.
The Japanese ornamental carp or koi is believed by local Chinese
businessmen to bring prosperity. Good kois cost as much as S$30,000
to $100,000. This unit has incorporated a fish pond in its air well.
This 2.5 storey 3+1 conservation, The Loft condos, shophome is well
designed to attract the romantic single expatriate tenants. It is
around 3,500 sq. ft and not too big as bigger ones have built-in areas of
5,000 sq. ft.
The kitchen hatch is much appreciated by many Caucasian expatriates.
It permits natural daylight to brighten the small kitchen. A
kitchen door prevents the leak of air conditioning cold air to the
back yard. |
The master bedroom is in front and therefore quiet compared to bedroom 2
which is near a car park of a shopping mall. Up the loft, the star
light of the tropical night sparkles through.
This unit is extremely
comfortable as it is fully air conditioned. The one complaint was
the leaking of the rainwater into bedroom 2 and 3. It was said that
the workmen forgot to close the windows. On another visit, after a
heavy rainfall, there were no spot of rain water seen.
Romancing the
history of the Peranakan with your beloved one in the heritage shophomes
is a once in a life time unique experience for the hot blooded Caucasian
expats who love the diversity of Asian cultures and living life to the
fullest.
As at 2002, the rentals of a well renovated 4-bedroom conservation, The
Loft condos, shophomes range from $10,000 - $15,000. 3-bedrooms may
rent for around $8,000 if well renovated. 2-bedrooms of 1600 sq. ft in Kim
Yam Road rent around $5,000.
A renovated Cairnhill shophome with two private car parking lots is asking
$12,000.
References:
1. October
2000 report on $5,000 conservation, The Loft condos, shophomes.
2.
Judy's Property webpage.
3.
Singapore's unique homes.
PICTURES OF A SHOPHOME
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A loft above the master
bedroom can be used as a study area. It is the attic room of a 2-storey
terrace. The window panes can be shuttered by a motorized shade if the
Tenant sleeps late. |
A pond for fish or water
plants bring nature into the living area. There is a display area on
the side wall.
The electrically operated skylight shuts out the rain but brings in
natural daylight. It usually has maintenance problems as it is seldom
used. |
The living and dining areas
are separated by the fish pond. The white-grey marbled
flooring make the shophome look more spacious. Some owners do use
elevated wooden stripped floors for the living area. |
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The master bedroom has
wooden floor boards, a characteristic of heritage shophomes.
Plenty of closet spaces.
If the air conditioner is not switched on, some tenants open the the
glass pane windows. The air comes in from the louvers of the
windows. |
The bedroom 2 has a small
balcony which may only be used to keep potted plants as it is too small
for a table and two chairs.
Many shophomes do not have much privacy as there will be a row of houses
in front and at the back.
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The bedroom 3 is small but
can accommodate one single bed. It may be an attic room as some shophomes
are 2-stories with a higher attic room.
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The master bathroom is modern with marble clad walls and floors.
It has a separate shower stall as well as a long bath.
In the early 1990s, master bathrooms do not have a separate shower stall
but an attached shower hose above the bath tub. |
The
3 panels of the wooden louvered windows of the master bedroom seen from
the loft (a room below the attic room).
In some houses, the loft is closed up to become a guest room.
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Subdivisions
(condo & house details) has some of the details of the
advertised condos. |
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Tel: +65 9668-6468,
e-mail
judy@asiahomes.com for viewings |
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ŠAsia USA Realty (Singapore) asiahomes.com
Pte Ltd. Website:
asiahomes.com.
Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8,
#01-1477,
Singapore 319074, Republic of Singapore
Estate Agents Licence No. L3007306B
Salesperson Name/Registration No. Sing Kong Yuen/R030822Z
Asia USA Realty (Singapore) asiahomes.com Pte
Ltd
Finding Affordable Homes For Expatriates |
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