AWARDS: Far East Organization, the constant innovator

By Lin Zhiqin

/ EdgeProp |

October 29, 2017 10:00 AM SGT

There is a team at Far East Organization whose work is to constantly rethink the needs of customers and translate that into the design of living spaces that meets their changing lifestyles, says Augustine Tan, the company’s executive director of property sales and corporate affairs. “We believe that as developers, we must continue to be innovative.”

According to Tan, Far East Organization also takes an integrated approach in serving its customers. The process starts with collecting and considering customers’ input at the inception of a project, prior to the conceptualisation of design. It continues through construction and handover of the completed products to the property owners. Subsequently, a survey is conducted to get feedback that is used to improve the quality of products and services.

Tan: We go beyond meeting building specifications to make sure customers enjoy our product

This approach has served Far East Organization well. Some of its developments, such as Alba, Greenwood Mews and The Scotts Tower, were shortlisted for awards in the Development Excellence and Development Innovation categories. Hillsta, which was jointly developed by Far East Organization, Sekisui House and China Construction, bagged the Development Innovation Award. Centro Residences and Eight Courtyards won the Value Creation Excellence Award.

Ultra-luxury residences

The freehold Alba, Boulevard Vue and Skyline @ Orchard Boulevard are part of Far East Organization’s Inessence brand of ultra-luxury residences. Every Inessence residence shares four pillars: a prime location on and around Orchard Road; a unique design by an architectural visionary; thoughtfulness in space and details; and a singular pursuit of craftsmanship in personalisation and bespoke customisation. Another feature of Inessence is the “white plan concept”, which offers buyers the option to customise the layout of their units.

Alba, located on Cairnhill Rise, is designed by Bernardo Fort-Brescia, a founder of Arquitectonica, a Miami-based architecture firm with projects in 58 countries. The tower has a distinctive Y-shaped layout designed to offer more living space and capitalise on scenic views. It houses 48 units and a penthouse. There is also a 8,396 sq ft townhouse that sold for $21.5 million in October 2010, according to URA caveat data.

Alba is part of the Inessence brand of ultra-luxury residences

Designed by Takashi Sugimoto of the world-renowned Super Potato Japan, Boulevard Vue has 28 exclusive residences on a site of about 45,000 sq ft. On each level from the fourth to 29th is a 4,478 sq ft apartment. URA caveat data shows that on Feb 15 last year, a unit was sold for $15.9 million ($3,550 psf) and another unit three floors below it was sold for $15.2 million ($3,400 psf). The buyers are said to be the founder of jewellery company Pandora and his son.

There are also two penthouses at Boulevard Vue. The 8,051 sq ft duplex penthouse on the 30th and 31st floors was sold in November 2009 for $33.4 million ($4,150 psf). Another 11,098 sq ft penthouse on the 32nd and 33rd floors also comes with a roof terrace. Each penthouse has four designated car park lots while the other units have three.

Skyline @ Orchard Boulevard is designed by Pritzker Prize Laureate Fumihiko Maki of Maki & Associates. Each of its 40 luxury residences has a balcony that overlooks Orchard Road. Skyline @ Orchard Boulevard is also home to Fusion, a 3.5m-tall stainless-steel sculpture by Italian artist Michele Righetti, who is known for his visually striking sculptures such as The Merchants of Singapore in Clarke Quay.

SOHO and SOLO

Located on Scotts Road, The Scotts Tower is the signature project in the Far East SOHO Series, which is inspired by the SoHo (South of Houston Street) district in Lower Manhattan. SoHo is the fashion epicentre of New York City, which boasts Bloomingdale’s and flagship stores of luxury retail brands such as Chanel, Prada and the Apple Store as well as bars, bistros, cafés and gourmet restaurants. Starting with The Scotts Tower, Far East Organization hopes to capture the constant evolution of space, spirit of creativity and cultural diversity that has made SoHo in New York what it is.

The Scotts Tower is the signature project in the Far East SOHO Series

The Scotts Tower is designed by renowned Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, who also designed the Singapore University of Technology and Design campus. Van Berkel designed The Scotts Tower as a 31-storey “vertical city” with 231 apartments. The curved, triple-volume sky frames at the facilities decks on the upper level of the first and 25th floors are designed to have a gemstone effect when lit up. The upper level of the first floor has a 50m lap pool and a children’s pool. Standalone pods offer space for a wide range of activities, from barbecues and parties to fitness and massage. The sky terrace on the 25th floor offers an unobstructed 270-degree view of Singapore’s prime districts of Orchard Road, Goodwood Hill, Ardmore Park and beyond. There is also an infinity pool, Jacuzzi, sky bar and lounge deck.

The SOHO-type units at The Scotts Tower offer homebuyers the option of converting a bedroom into an elevated platform bed with additional storage space and study area below. Every unit is furnished with Gaggenau kitchen appliances, full-marble flooring, granite kitchen countertops and automated roller blinds and shades in the balcony, living room and bedrooms.

To meet the demand for creative flexible workplaces that are mobile, encourage collaboration and allow for social interaction, Small Office Loft Office (SOLO) units will be offered at the upcoming Woods Square in Woodlands Central, a joint venture between Far East Organization, Far East Orchard and Seki sui House. There will be 101 SOLO units with a floor-to-floor height of 5m and platform furniture, which offers more volume than typical office units. Woods Square will also have extensive landscaped areas and meetings and business pods incorporated into the green sky terraces scattered throughout the development. Designed with a car-lite future in mind, Woods Square will also offer bicycle parking and shower facilities.

Hillsta is winner of the Development Innovation Award

In 2015, Far East Organization entered a new phase of organisational development and reaffirmed its mission as a Christian enterprise. “We want to act from the heart, to serve with love and grace,” says Tan. “That means we go beyond meeting building specifications to make sure customers enjoy our product.”

Far East Organization has raised the bar for property development in Singapore with its innovations and well-executed projects. Thus, it is the winner of the Top Developer award. “This affirms Far East Organization’s commitment to live out our brand vision — ‘Inspire Better Lives’,” says Tan.

This article appeared in EdgeProp Pullout, Issue 803 (Oct 30, 2017).

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