Special Feature

Couple’s two-bedder at South Beach Residences offers panoramic views and easy accessibility

By EdgeProp Singapore

/ Brought to you by South Beach Consortium Pte Ltd |

March 1, 2021 11:00 AM SGT

Since moving into their two-bedroom unit at South Beach Residences two years ago, Mr Teoh Teik Kee, private investor and his wife, Dr Hwang Yee Cheau, CEO of TP Dental Surgeons and adjunct associate professor at NUS Faculty of Dentistry, have spent most of the major public holidays in the comfort of their home.

Their living room faces the Marina Bay, offering views of Singapore’s iconic skyline, from Esplanade, to Marina Bay Sands and the CBD, while the rooms offer views of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Raffles Hotel and Chijmes. “Whether it’s fireworks during New Year’s Eve or the National Day Parade, we have front-row seats,” says Hwang. “Since Padang is in front of us, we are ensured of a completely unobstructed view of all these beautiful historical buildings.”

The 1,625 sq ft apartment is the ideal entertainment pad to showcase Singapore, adds Teoh. Apart from the stupendous 270-degree panoramic views of the city from day to night, the integrated development also has world-class restaurants on the basement of South Beach Avenue. The restaurants include cafe Wild Honey, Japanese shabu shabu & sukiyaki restaurant Black Cow and Michelin-guide restaurant Akira Back. Recently, Japanese fine-dining omakase restaurant Sushi Masaaki also opened its doors at South Beach Avenue.

The evening view of Marina Bay from Teoh and Hwang’s unit. (Photo: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

Hwang’s favourite is Madame Fan at The NCO Club, a beautiful restaurant that specialises in modern Cantonese cuisine. “How often can you find a restaurant in a historical building like this? Furthermore, we’re just within walking distance from it,” says Hwang. Madame Fan is housed in the former Non-Commissioned Officers’ (NCO) Club, now a pre-war heritage building gazetted for conservation by the URA. It is one of the four historical buildings that are part of the integrated development of South Beach.

“For my birthday celebration later this year, I intended to book rooms for friends at JW Marriott Hotel, which is within the same tower as South Beach Residences. Then, we would go to Madame Fan at The NCO Club for the party together,” Hwang shares. As residents of South Beach Residences, the couple enjoys privilege rates at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, which occupies the first to 21st storeys of the South Tower.

Designed to impress

Teoh and Hwang were among the first early-bird buyers at South Beach Residences. The development caught their attention as early as 2015, when it was still being built. “We identified that South Beach Residences offered the only residential units in such a unique location,” says Teoh.

Thus, they jumped on the chance to view and purchase their unit as soon as the project was launched in September 2018. They also appreciated that the residential units were already built at their launch, so they could go into the actual units to see which ones they liked before committing.

A two-bedroom unit on the 44th floor of South Beach Residences, one of the few available units at South Beach Residences. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

“I think many disregarded the property when it was launched because it was a 99-year leasehold property. But the million-dollar views are hard to come by. Some of our friends who visited and experienced the views and convenience of living here now regret not buying a unit here,” says Teoh.

The award-winning design of the South Beach integrated development, designed by renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners, was another big draw for the couple. The South Tower— comprising residential units on levels 23 to 45 and the 634 guest rooms of JW Marriott Singapore South Beach— and the North Tower, are connected via South Beach Avenue, covered by its iconic canopy. The North Tower comprises Grade-A office spaces and counts Facebook, LEGO and Sanofi among its anchor tenants. The canopy also has photovoltaic cells that generate solar energy and the wave-like structure provides natural ventilation that cools the building in Singapore’s hot climate.

The design of South Beach mixed development blends environmentally conscious design and green technologies in an innovative way. It has won two BCA Green Mark Platinum awards (residential and commercial) and the prestigious FIABCI Singapore Awards, topping the Sustainable Development category and also the Singapore Good Design Mark (SG Mark) Platinum Award.

Foster + Partners also designed several iconic buildings in Singapore, such as the Supreme Court and more recently, the floating spherical Apple Store at Marina Bay Sands.

The unit is designed with an “east meets west” theme by Maria Warner Wong of WOW Architects. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

The interior of Teoh and Hwang’s unit is designed with an “east meets west” theme by Maria Warner Wong, design director and co-founder of WOW Architects. The living room, which has modular furniture that makes it easy for entertaining, has striking teal blue walls. Hwang shares: “This was my idea, because this blue makes it feel like the night sky is brought indoors.”

“We also love the two balconies and the full-length windows. They make the unit windy and breezy and are hard to come by in this area,” says Teoh. “You can have breakfast or just relax on whichever balcony, depending on whether you want a sunset view or a sunrise view.”

The couple knocked down the wardrobe in the master bedroom and placed a daybed in its stead. They also gave the room sliding doors so it can be used to entertain, as a study, or as a guest bedroom when required. There is another room with an attached bathroom and a sizeable balcony. The kitchen is fitted with Miele appliances.

The bedroom of another two-bedder unit in the property, which comes with a spacious attached balcony where one can relax on. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

Teoh and Hwang are also full of praise for the Signature Residential Service in South Beach Residences. A team of well-trained hosts attend to residents’ requests and needs, such as making reservations and sending up deliveries, raising the bar of luxury.

Hwang says: “When I was entertaining at home for the first time, I didn’t realise that the unit uses an induction cooker. I called the concierge and they helped me to cook my food at the barbecue pit on level 32. They really went the extra mile for us.”

There is also concierge staff stationed at the lobby in Basement Two, who serve welcome drinks and also carry out health protocols. “Our guests are always wowed when they step into the basement lobby from the carpark,” says Hwang.

Connected yet exclusive

The integrated development also has world-class restaurants on the basement of South Beach Avenue, such as cafe Wild Honey, Japanese shabu shabu & sukiyaki restaurant Black Cow and Michelin-guide restaurant Akira Back. (Photo: South Beach Consortium Pte Ltd)

Being directly connected to Esplanade MRT Station and linked via underground walkways to Raffles City Shopping Centre and City Hall MRT Station, the development offers easy accessibility. “When there is no traffic, I can reach my office at Ngee Ann City in 15 minutes,” says Hwang.

For an integrated development that has residential, hospitality, office, retail and F&B elements, as well as four historical buildings, Teoh notes that the space planning is very thoughtful, with spacious car parks and well-delineated spaces. “On our level, there are two lifts for four units only. The four-bedroom units have their own private lift, so there is a great sense of exclusivity and peace,” he adds.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak last year, Teoh is currently working from home. “It’s so convenient to hold meetings here with my business associates because of the accessible location,” he notes.

At the same time, given the ongoing worldwide travel restrictions, Teoh says he is taking the time to explore Singapore. “I take walks to Kampong Glam, Bugis, and around the bay. It’s so well-connected that if I wanted to, I could cycle from here to Gardens by the Bay, and all the way to Changi,” he adds.

The view towards eastern Singapore taken from two-bedroom showflat at South Beach Residences. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

But Teoh is more of a swimmer. He frequents the infinity pool on level 22 of South Beach Residences, where he exercises while enjoying the views of Marina Bay Sands, Fullerton Hotel and Singapore’s CBD. On the same floor, there are function rooms, an indoor and outdoor gym, as well as outdoor lounge chairs. The sky garden on level 32 is equipped with a kids’ pool, a floor chess area, a reading room and an outdoor dining area.

South Beach Residences is developed by City Developments Limited and IOI Properties. Units here range from 940 sq ft two-bedders to 6,400 sq ft five-bedroom penthouses. The four-bedroom units are fully sold, with two-bedroom, three-bedroom and penthouse units still available.

The two-bedroom unit has a layout spacious enough to accommodate a study for working from home. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

In the remaining available two-bedroom units—some of which face a partial sea view towards eastern Singapore—the layout is spacious enough to accommodate a study for working from home. The owner also can choose to have a workstation in the balcony for breezy, good views.