Landscape architect Yvonne Tan, director of DP Green, has been on the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards judging panel for six straight years. She is also the first vice president of the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects.

For Tan, some noteworthy projects in the awards this year were the boutique developments in the prime districts.

One such project was One Draycott, a 64-unit boutique condo on a 17,442 sq ft freehold site. Developed by SDB Asia, the property arm of Selangor Dredging Bhd, the project was completed in April. “The developer and the architect managed to do artful things despite the site constraints,” says Tan.

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At the 117-unit The Hyde on Balmoral Road by developer Aurum Land, the landscape’s fresh approach impressed Tan. She liked how the fitness zones and children’s play areas were cleverly integrated into greenery, given the tight space and terrain. The 50m “constellation pool” is a key feature, designed like a life-size art piece.

Tan also liked the consideration given to the generous outdoor spaces, with pavilions for people to socialise and entertain, including dining and barbeque pavilions. The large outdoor plaza with terraced seating is a unique urban feature not typically offered in private residential projects that allows residents to mingle. The rooftop houses more amenities, including a clubhouse with private dining and kitchen facilities, a residents’ lounge and an infinity pool.

“Nowadays, people prefer entertaining friends and family in their condo facilities rather than at home,” says Tan. “New projects include air-conditioned private dining rooms and outdoor dining pavilions in landscaped areas, such as by the pool or lawn.”

She adds that more projects provide naturally ventilated communal spaces instead of enclosed rooms; for instance, courtyards or pavilions, reading corners, and other themed programme spaces.

A boutique development that stood out in terms of its planning and design was Far East Organization’s 119-unit Parksuites at Holland Grove Road. The project cleverly integrated the site with the neighbouring public park, notes Tan.

She liked the design of the retail cluster with amenities such as a clinic, a dentist, a vet, F&B outlets and even tuition centres. “You have pretty much everything you need there,” she says.

Read also: DP Green’s Yvonne Tan on the future of landscape architecture

Several large-scale condos stood out, too, in terms of their landscape design. One was the 716-unit Whistler Grand by City Developments. “The landscape design was well thought-out, including a wheelchair ramp leading into the pool,” she notes.

According to Tan, the success of landscape design is gauged by its aesthetic appeal and functionality, specifically, how well it serves the residents’ needs.

Another development whose landscaping impressed Tan was Amo Residence by joint developers UOL Group, Singapore Land Group and Kheng Leong Co. The 372-unit condo has twin 25-storey towers occupying just 40% of the site footprint. This freed up 60% of the 136,481 sq ft site for landscaping. Tan was impressed by the development’s waterscape — with seven pools, including a 50m lap pool.

The 816-unit The Continuum’s landscape design was “very thoughtful”, notes Tan. The private condo, by a joint venture between Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, has two freehold sites separated by Thiam Siew Avenue. What stood out for Tan was the pre-War bungalow that the developers will be conserving and converting into a clubhouse on one of the two sites. Set in a heritage inspired garden, it will be named Thiam Siew House. The other clubhouse will be a new-built contemporary glass house. The facilities on each site will be themed accordingly and linked by a serpentine bridge. Residents can enjoy facilities on both sites.

Tan observes that more projects are offering a myriad of lifestyle facilities. “You see more projects with resort settings outdoors and formal residents’ lounges indoors,” says Tan. “These facilities used to be the domain of high-end projects. Increasingly, we are seeing them in mid-tier projects.” According to Tan, more developments are also featuring hospitality-style amenities. “It’s pairing unique hospitality experiences while creating Instagram moments within the development,” she says.