The 495-unit Rivertrees Residences in Sengkang took home three awards at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2018. The development won in the Design Excellence, Landscape Excellence and Top Development categories.
Rivertrees Residences, off Sengkang West Avenue, overlooks the Punggol River. The condominium, developed by Far East Organization, Frasers Property and Japan-listed Sekisui House, was designed to capitalise on views of the Punggol River. The five towers are laid out such that more than 90% of the units have river views. Each tower slants away from the others to provide privacy for residents.
At the development, there are eight strata-titled landed homes called “Cove Houses” that are 10m to 15m from the river. The units were designed with “luxurious waterfront living” in mind, says Frasers Property, and were inspired by the houses in Sentosa Cove. These 1,528 sq ft, three-bedroom homes come with private parking and front a jogging path, which residents can use to access the jetty overlooking the river. “The units are nicely positioned at the peripheral of the development, integrating with the walkway beside the river,” says Lee Liat Yeang, senior partner of Real Estate Practice at law firm Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, and one of the judges for the EdgeProp awards.
Above all, the judges were most impressed with the “River Villa”, which is built by the riverbank and supported by stilt decks. It boasts an outdoor jacuzzi, spa facilities, living and function space and a kitchenette. Yvonne Tan, accredited landscape architect of landscape architecture firm DP Green and one of the EdgeProp awards judges, says the River Villa was the “highlight” of the site tour. “It offers exclusive, elevated views of Sungei Punggol, giving residents a facility often found in luxury forest resorts,” she notes.
Another EdgeProp awards judge, Ong Choon Fah, CEO of property consultancy Edmund Tie & Co, says the villa makes one “feel as though one is in Bali, away from the hustle and bustle”. Such facilities are what makes the development a “sanctuary” for residents to come home to, she adds.
Other amenities at the condo include a gym, tennis court, dining pavilions, steam room and five kinds of pools. The 50m lap pool is surrounded by three jacuzzis, each placed near barbecue pits for the ease of organising lawn parties. For the children, there is a life-sized chess board and a water play area.
Rivertrees Residences was designed such that more than 90% of its units will have views of the Punggol River
Next to the drop-off plaza at the main entrance, a shop unit enables residents to make their grocery runs. The developers also opted to spread the bicycle parking zone across the lower basement car park instead of having a dedicated bicycle keeping area. This offers residents added convenience as they have easy access to the park connector along the Punggol Reservoir.
When Rivertrees Residences first previewed in February 2014, it drew more than 500 visitors to its show suites. The average starting price was $1,099 psf in March 2014; it has risen 10% to an average of $1,209 psf from March to August 2018.
Units at Rivertrees Residences, which is fully sold, range from one- to four-bedroom units of 506 to 1,593 sq ft. The living and dining areas have marble flooring, while the bedrooms have timber flooring. Some units come with dual balconies — at the living room and master bedroom — that offer unobstructed views of the river.
So far, the highest purchase price achieved at Rivertrees Residences is for a 1,399 sq ft, four-bedroom unit, which was sold for $1.77 million ($1,265 psf) in February 2015, according to caveats lodged with URA. Meanwhile, the highest psf price recorded at the development was $1,364 — for a 570 sq ft, one-bedroom unit. The owner paid $778,000 for the ground-floor unit in August 2018. The unit first changed hands for $635,500 ($1,114 psf) in March 2014.
Rivertrees Residences is close to public transport and amenities. It is 10 minutes by foot from Layar LRT station, which connects to Sengkang MRT station on the North-East Line. The project is a one-minute drive from Seletar Mall and a nine-minute drive from Waterway Point. It is six minutes by car to Nan Chiau Primary School.