Special Feature

Close to the city, yet surrounded by greenery

By The Interlace Connections

/ Brought to you by CapitaLand Singapore |

July 18, 2016 2:49 PM SGT

For shipping manager Chong Yoke Chye and his three adult sons, all of whom are avid joggers, The Interlace provides the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding green belt.

It was love at first sight when Chong Yoke Chye, 58, and his family of four eyed the ample sporting facilities and lush landscaped grounds of The Interlace, a condominium along Depot Road. “I go jogging a lot, and so do my kids,” says the father of three boys aged 25 to 31. The 1-kilometre jogging track, which skirts the borders of the sprawling 8-hectare site and connects its various courtyards and gardens, was therefore the most attractive feature. 50m lap pool at the Water Park Courtyard and the state-of-the-art gym were a close second.

The Chong family, who toured the development almost immediately after it was completed and handed over to residents in late 2013, was keen on The Interlace’s other recreational facilities, such as the BBQ promenade, karaoke rooms and theatrettes. Yoke Chye’s sons were also particularly fond of the Spa Valley Courtyard, which houses the massage pool, spa pool lagoon, Jacuzzi and Waterfall Grotto. The Spa Valley Courtyard is just one of eight themed courtyards interspersed throughout the property.

It was love at first sight when Chong Yoke Chye and his sons toured the ample sporting facilities and lush landscaped grounds of The Interlace

GENEROUS UNITS

So the decision to settle down in a three-bedroom unit was made very quickly. That the units were generously proportioned was a plus – considering how small the units in newer condominiums in the downtown core tend to be – but not a main consideration. “The units here are all pretty big but because my children are grown up, we thought we would get one that was just the right size for us,” says Yoke Chye, a shipping manager who is planning to retire soon. His sons Shao Ming, 31 and Shao Soon, 28, are both engineers, while Shao Siong, 25, is a recent graduate looking for employment in the banking/finance sector.

The Chongs were among the first to buy their home soon after the project’s Temporary Occupation Permit in 2013. They chose a 1,260 sq ft three-bedder. One of the main characteristics of the development that attracted them was the spacious layout of the units – with most units ranging in size from 1,873 sq ft for a three-bedder to 6,308 sq ft for a luxurious penthouse with private roof terrace. Many of the units come with private enclosed spaces or even private roof terraces.

Youngest son and recent graduate Shao Siong in his bedroom-cum-study

Second son Shao Soon in the family room of the spacious three-bedroom unit

A VERTICAL VILLAGE

Of course, the most distinctive feature of The Interlace has to be its unique architecture, designed by world renowned architect OMA/Ole Scheeren, and developed by a consortium led by CapitaLand. Thirty-one apartment blocks, each six storeys in height, are stacked in a hexagonal configuration and laid out around the eight courtyards. The interlocking blocks create a series of stepped volumes, some partly resting, others partly floating, like a vertical village. The sum effect is one of an interlaced structure – from which the development gets its name – that weaves individual apartments into the fabric of an inclusive community.

Because of this design, the development’s 1,040 units come in various configurations and facings. “I wanted something that’s very quiet and peaceful,” says Yoke Chye. Of the apartment he picked, he says: “This, to me, is a perfect unit. You can see the AYE but you’re not so close to it that you can hear the traffic. And the height (on the ninth floor) is just right.” The family moved into their new home at The Interlace five weeks after they received their keys and did a simple renovation.

Among the more interesting fittings that Yoke Chye chose are pendant lights that resemble The Interlace’s stepped architecture. “We bought the unit without knowing much about the architect. But after that, I did some research and learned that the architect designed a lot of well-known buildings,” he says, referring to the China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing, the MahaNakhon in Bangkok, as well as the Prada Epicenters in New York and Los Angeles.

The Interlace is famous in its own right, too, having won multiple awards, such as Best Architecture at the 2010 Asia Pacific Property Awards and World Building of the Year at the 2015 World Architecture Festival, affectionately dubbed ‘The Architectural Oscars’.

What the Chong family likes is the spaciousness of the 8-hectare site at The Interlace, with its lush tropical foliage

GREENERY EVERYWHERE

Thanks to the way the apartment blocks are stacked, the number of horizontal surfaces supporting roof gardens and landscaped terraces could be maximised. These extend the outdoor space on multiple levels, providing views above the tree line to the surrounding courtyards, the Central Business District and the Straits of Singapore beyond. In total, these provide green areas that equate to 112% of the development site area.

“There’s greenery everywhere,” says Yoke Chye. “I also appreciate the spaciousness of the property. I don’t think you can find a condominium of this size that’s so close to the city.” The 8-hectare site, with its towers abundant in lush tropical foliage, reinforces the idea of a vertical village embedded in nature.

LOCATION, LOCATION

Besides the proximity to the city, Yoke Chye – who has been a city dweller all his life – also appreciates The Interlace’s immediate vicinity, especially since it is nestled within a green belt. “The location is superb,” he says. “Within 20 minutes of walking, you’ll hit Kent Ridge Park, HortPark, Labrador Nature Reserve and Mount Faber Park.”

On weekends, when he has more leisure time, Yoke Chye will take the free shuttle bus from The Interlace to VivoCity. From there, he will take the Marang trail to Mount Faber Park, jog all the way to Kent Ridge Park, and then take the train from Kent Ridge MRT station home. “It’s a total distance of 9.3 km, with two treetop walks and scenic trails along the way,” he adds.

When the avid jogger is pressed for time, he will work out at the gym and run five laps around the 1km track. “I start running at 10.30pm and the jogging track is very well-lit. It’s really like running in a park,” says Yoke Chye.

His sons go for runs on their own as well, and occasionally get together with the neighbours for bouts of street soccer. And when it comes to family bonding time, the Chongs love nothing better than to enjoy one another’s company over BBQ at one of the barbeque pavilions.

More than 100 units snapped in just one week!

15% discount for selected units. With a downpayment from as low as $250k*, move into your dream home immediately and save on loan interest payments for 12 months!

The CapitaLand Stay Then Pay programme is applicable for selected units only.

*Based on the selling price of a $2.5M unit (excluding any stamp duties payable)

Visit our sales office at 216 Depot Road #03-70. Open daily from 11am to 6pm.

6273 0340 / theinterlace.com.sg

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