Vincent Chew, general manager of TSky Development, receiving the Top Boutique Development award for Cairnhill 16 from Angeline Yap, managing director of V-Zug Singapore & Southeast Asia (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Cairnhill, a luxury residential enclave just off the Orchard Road shopping belt, began as a nutmeg plantation owned by Charles Carnie, who built a sprawling estate atop a hill during the days of British colonial rule. At the turn of the 20th century, the Cairnhill area became known as an address for the wealthy, with several prominent local businessmen owning houses there.
Today, the Cairnhill area has become synonymous with high-end residential offerings, including luxury condos and conserved terrace houses in an enclave bounded by Cairnhill Road, Cairnhill Circle, Clemenceau Avenue North and Scotts Road.
Located in prime District 9, the estate enjoys proximity to various amenities, from malls and eateries on Orchard Road to medical facilities such as Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Paragon Medical. Clubs such as The American Club and Tanglin Club are a five-minute drive away, while schools nearby, such as Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and St Margaret’s Primary School, also make the area appealing for families.
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Construction is well underway for Cairnhill 16, the 15-storey residential tower by TSky Cairnhill, a consortium comprising TSky Development which holds a 51% stake; Ocean City Global Limited, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Sino-Ocean Group (30% stake), Seacare Property Development (10%) and Min Ghee Investment (2018) with a 9% stake. Nestled within the Cairnhill estate and comprising just 39 units, the freehold boutique development is at the top of Cairnhill Rise, next to the Cairnhill Arts Centre.
The 39-unit Cairnhill 16 will comprise a mix of two-, three- and four-bedders (Picture: TSky Development)
At the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023 event on Oct 6, Cairnhill 16 clinched the title of Top Boutique Development for uncompleted projects. The Top Development award recognises well-rounded projects that achieve high scores across all judging categories.
The award marks a new win for TSky Development, the 60:40 joint venture between Singapore-listed construction companies Tiong Seng Holdings and Ocean Sky International. The joint venture was formed in 2017 to undertake property development projects.
Cairnhill 16 is the second project by TSky Development, the first being Sloane Residences. The completed 52-unit condo on Balmoral Road saw its final four units sold in January, after the project received its temporary occupation permit last November.
Cairnhill 16, launched for sale at the end of 2021, has seen similar success. Caveats lodged with URA show that the last unit at Cairnhill 16, a 1,292 sq ft, three-bedroom-plus-study apartment on the second floor, was sold by the developer for $3.55 million ($2,667 psf) on Aug 26. With the sale, Cairnhill 16 is fully taken up, with units sold at an average price of $2,885 psf. The development reached a transacted price high of $3,215 psf.
The drop-off area incorporates generous landscaping (Picture: TSky Development)
Cairnhill 16 is a redevelopment of the former Cairnhill Heights, which TSky Development purchased en bloc for $72.6 million in April 2018. Measuring around 15,408 sq ft, the freehold site is within walking distance of the Newton MRT Interchange Station.
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Given the verdant greenery that populates the Cairnhill estate, TSky Development says the design concept for Cairnhill 16 was driven by nature. Working with LAUD Architects, the developer envisioned the project as an oasis in the city that would give its residents a sense of well-being.
The pool area (Picture: TSky Development)
As a result, Cairnhill 16 incorporates plenty of greenery. Given the compact nature of the site, TSky Development says it opted for “vertical greening”, with two sky terraces on levels 2 and 7 and a rooftop garden integrated into the tower.
Within the condo grounds, lush greenery frames the facilities, which include multiple pools, a deck, lounge areas and a gym. In one corner, a large feature tree is a focal point for the condo’s two-storey, multi-purpose pavilion. Using various species of trees and plants that differ in height and density, Cairnhill 16’s landscaping aims to create an idyllic garden environment for its residents.
The rooftop garden, which includes a cooking and dining area (Picture: TSky Development)
Residences at Cairnhill 16 comprise a mix of two-bedders of 775 sq ft, three-bedders of 1,055 sq ft, three-bedroom-plus-study units of 1,292 sq ft, and four-bedroom units of 1,744 sq ft. The diverse unit mix aims to cater to a large range of buyers, be it young couples, or families that need a larger space.
According to the developer, all units were crafted to balance luxury with efficient space planning. There is private lift access for all units.
Most units have a generous ceiling height of 3.2m, while apartments on the 14th floor have a ceiling height of 4.2m. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the corners of bedrooms, offering an expansive view of the surroundings.
Read also: Sloane Residences fully taken up at an average price of $2,882 psf
To maximise the utility of space, living and dining areas occupy one area regular in shape, allowing owners the flexibility to configure the space to their liking. The area also opens out to the balcony, which can serve as a further extension of the space.
To accentuate the premium nature of the development, high-end finishes and fixtures were chosen, such as large-format marble tiles in the living and dining area, kitchen appliances from Swiss brand V-Zug that include a fridge integrated with the kitchen cabinetry, and sanitary ware from Grohe.
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