Occupying an undulating plot of 100,337 sq ft, View at Kismis comprises a total of 186 units, across six blocks of five storeys each
Situated on elevated ground, View at Kismis, on Lorong Kismis, is set to offer residents an experience of refined rustic charm. The development has been designed to emulate a vineyard, shares Chan Sze Chin, appointed architect for the development and director at JGP Architecture. The idea was inspired by the project’s location. In Malay, Kismis is raisin, a form of dried grape, Chan says. “One of the by-product of grapes is wine, which evokes with it a certain finesse and class.”
Occupying an undulating plot of 100,337 sq ft, View at Kismis comprises a total of 186 units, across six blocks of five storeys each. This is the first development in Singapore that is inspired by a Modern Tuscany theme, say joint developers Roxy-Pacific Holdings and Tong Eng Group.
View at Kismis is the first development in Singapore that is inspired by a Modern Tuscany theme
Capitalising on a one-of-a-kind site
To differentiate the project from other neighbouring developments, JGP Architecture decided to incorporate the unique terrain into the layout and design of the buildings as well as the facilities. This concept was inspired by Tuscan wine valleys. To emulate this, the six residential blocks are lined in two parallel blocks that are staggered to maximise corner views and to add interest to the form.
As opposed to the conventional way of laying the blocks adjacent to each other, the residential blocks on both sides are tilted slightly. The implications of this are twofold: it allows a north-south orientation to avoid the rising and setting sun, and enhances views for each unit.
“Due to the staggering of the blocks, the communal facilities along the ‘Central Valley’ will be revealed one by one as the resident progresses through the valley,” says Chan. Facilities include a 25m lap pool, a jet pool, a family pool, sanctuary stream and spa cove that are placed at the centre of the development, mimicking a cascading stream running through a valley, he explains.
He adds: “Imagine flying a helicopter through the Grand Canyon, with a meandering water- way made up of our swimming pool and series of social and play pools below.”
To that end, Boonyasiriwat Thanapong, the appointed landscape architect and managing director at Ecoplan Asia, comments that there is a “visual surprise” at every corner in the development, such as a cantilevered gym and clubhouse over the swimming pool. “As a buyer, you get to choose what kind of views you want to see from your home, be it a waterfall valley, a more manicured lawn, or a green wall concept,” adds Thanapong. By doing this, “we made our buildings fit as a congruous part of the landscape”, Chan says.
Maximising spaces
Greenery covers 40% of the surface area on the site. The architects made a clever move by utilising the rooftop space as communal spaces, beautifying it with plants to increase the green footprint in the development. To top it off, two of the rooftops come with water features – a champagne wet deck and a bubble pool. The rooftops of all six blocks also feature covered pavilions. This provides residents a view of Bukit Timah Hill during the day and lifestyle options across all generations.
View at Kismis contrasts the rustic colour palette of its façade with sleek exteriors through curtain-walling, which allows a full face of the building to be made entirely out of glass, says Chan. “It is actually one of the most expensive ways to construct a wall, and traditionally it is reserved for high-end buildings,” he adds. Besides allowing for better views, this maximises the interior of a room, as curtain walls, made of glass, are thinner than brick walls. “The whole idea is to let the owners have more usable space,” he says.
The kitchen at units at View at Kismis come with wood laminate cabinets, paired with charcoal quartz countertops
Thoughtful fittings and provisions
The interiors of the units at View at Kismis are designed with considerations of both the functionality and the aesthetic aspects. “Every detail from the colour scheme, the materials, down to the woodgrain of each laminate, are carefully selected to bring out the essence of the Modern Tuscany rustic charm,” says Sujono Lim, director at Sujonohun Pte Ltd, project and showflat designer for the development. The kitchen, for instance, comes with wood laminate cabinets, paired with charcoal quartz countertops. To achieve a seamless design, the fridge and washing machine are camouflaged as part of the kitchen cabinets.
To fully utilise the space, the kitchen comes with a hanging shelf, a pull-out tray and a spice rack. Meanwhile, the kitchen in the five-bedroom units come with an additional appliance cabinet and wine chiller.
The wardrobes feature thoughtful touches to give the owner more freedom and space to work with. To this end, the wardrobe is not compartmentalised into smaller divisions. What stands out is also the master bath of the five-bedroom unit type, which boasts his-and-hers sinks and a bathroom mirror that spans the entire width of the bathroom. For the lady of the house, the mirror bents out at a degree on both sides, allowing a fuller view while putting on makeup.
The finishes of the units at View at Kismis are chosen to reflect a rustic charm
Beauty World Rejuvenation
View at Kismis is in a strategic location. It is a 10-minute walk to Beauty World MRT station and the upcoming integrated transport hub outlined in the URA Draft Master Plan 2019. It is also within proximity to the renowned Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre. Additionally, the 24km Bukit Timah Rail Corridor is just an 8-minute drive away. Besides this, a variety of educational institutions are within 1km, such as Bukit Timah Primary School, Pei Hwa Presbyterian and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The PIE and BKE are respectively a five- and seven- minute drive away.
Flexible unit mix at attractive prices
View at Kismis has a mix of two- to five-bedroom apartments. All layouts are designed with functionality and efficiency in mind. All the two-bedroom units come with spacious living and dining areas. Meanwhile, the two-bedroom + guest units are able to fit a single-size bed and come furnished with a single door fullheight wardrobe. The location of the guest room provides residents with the flexibility of using the space as an enlarged living space or bedroom, or even a utility room.
Five-bedroom apartments are considered a rarity in the Lorong Kismis neighbourhood. At View at Kismis, the five-bedroom apartments feature three en suite bedrooms. Prices start at $880,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
The master bath in the five-bedroom unit type, boasts a his-and-hers sink, and a bathroom mirror that spans the entire width of the bathroom
Esteemed developers
The developers of View at Kismis, Roxy-Pacific Holdings and Tong Eng Group, have over decades of experience building distinctive buildings. Listed on SGX mainboard since March 2008, Roxy-Pacific is engaged in the development and sale of residential and commercial properties. Since 2013, the company has extended their expertise, expanding to Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Japan and Maldives.
Meanwhile, Tong Eng Group has owned and developed more than a hundred acres of land, comprising office, retail, landed homes and condominiums. Tong Eng serves to provide the most impeccable of finishes, designing spaces with the most optimum of layouts.
At View at Kismis, the joint developers will strive to deliver excellence, adding vibrancy while transforming the Toh Yi Drive neighbourhood.
Call 61009818
Visit WWW.ROXYPACIFIC.COM.SG/VIEWATKISMIS
This article appeared in The EdgeProp Pullout Issue 889 (July 8, 2019) of The Edge Singapore.