The 117-unit Jui Residences is a freehold, mixed-use development in District 12. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Jui Residences is the only completed mixed-use development to clinch the Landscape Excellence Award at the EdgeProp Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2023. This is the second year the project has been conferred an award by the judging panel. Jui Residences won the coveted Top Development Award for a mixed-use, completed development at EPEA 2022.
Located on the bank of the Kallang River in Bendemeer, Jui Residences was developed by SDB Asia, the property development arm of Malaysian-listed Selangor Dredging. The entire development in District 12 comprises a new 18-storey residential block built next to the conserved former National Aerated Water Building. Jui Residences was completed in September 2021.
The project was designed by London-based architectural firm Carver-Haggard, and the landscape consultant was international design firm Okashimo.
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In winning the Landscape Excellence Award this year, Jui Residences demonstrated to the judges all-rounded excellence. The development scored in landscape aesthetic values, the blending of liveability and wellness, consideration towards biodiversity and habitat creation, as well as in landscape replacement area and green plot ratio.
The landscape design of Jui Residences leans into its proximity to the Kallang River, and highlights the development’s position as a riverfront residence with a close connection to green spaces and park connectors. The development has direct access to the adjacent 7.87km-long Kallang Park Connector, which links Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park to Kallang Riverside Park.
The Kallang River and Kallang Park Connector are next to Jui Residences. (Picture: SDB)
The most prominent landscaped element is a vertical greenscape that faces the Kallang River. Contributing to the overall landscape aesthetic value of the development, the greenery blends with the trees and vegetation that are found along the park connector. All the greenery in the development is irrigated with a smart-irrigation drip system for more efficient water usage and water sustainability.
The greenery even extends to a public plaza that maximises the use of the prominent frontage along Serangoon Road. This plaza features a landscaped lawn that is set against the restored white, pink and blue façade of the conserved National Aerated Water Building.
Residents of Jui Residences have a chance to take in the view of the Kallang River and the surrounding neighbourhood from a sky terrace on the fifth floor. This communal area features an infinity lap pool, an aqua fitness pool, a wading pool, and a deck with lounge chairs. There is also a landscaped terrace which acts as a fitting backdrop for a multipurpose activity area and viewing deck.
The judges also scored the project highly in terms of its consideration towards the biodiversity and overall habitat creation efforts. For example, about 50% of the plants utilised throughout the landscaped areas in the development are either native to Singapore or Southeast Asia. This makes them suitable for the local climate and hardier, which lowers the overall cost of maintenance and replacement.
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The development scored highly for its blending of liveability and wellness, biodiversity and landscape aesthetic. (Picture: SDB)
All the design elements at Jui Residences pay homage to the art deco style of the conserved building, which is the visual centrepiece of the whole development. The standalone, two-storey building was built in 1954 and was a bottling plant for many soft drinks popular at that time.
Some of the art deco-inspired elements that make up part of the new residential block include vertical flutes along the façade, arched detailing on the balconies, and scalloped curves along the architecture.
Within the residential units, the art deco-inspired elements are showcased through an arched fascia that overhangs each balcony. Meanwhile, the bedrooms feature herringbone timber flooring, and the selection of interior finishes is also inspired by art deco elements.
The sky terrace on the fifth floor. (Picture: SDB)
Overall, the judges of this year’s EPEA complimented Jui Residences for its attention to the interaction between the landscaped areas and inhabitants of the condo. This created a sense of place for residents as well as consideration of adequate amounts of recreational and social spaces. Biophilia, or the importance of nature, was also suitably demonstrated throughout the development, and complemented the existing conservation building.
A combination of all these factors helped push for a healthy sales momentum when the project was initially launched for sale in September 2018. The developer sold 29 units (25%) over the weekend of Sept 22 and 23. At the time, the average selling price was about $1,700 psf.
All 117 units at Jui Residences had been sold by August 2021, in just under three years since it was launched on the market. The average price had climbed to about $1,840 psf by the end of August 2021, according to a tabulation of caveats by EdgeProp Singapore.
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With most residents settling into their new homes at Jui Residences, it was clear to the EPEA 2023 judges the greenery and landscape elements of the development have a positive impact on the neighbourhood, which makes it deserving of the Landscape Excellence Award.
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