The Criterion draws winning inspiration from Chinese landscapes

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

October 25, 2019 7:00 PM SGT

The Criterion, a 505-unit executive condo (EC) located along Yishun Street 51, picked up the Top Development Award for a completed project in the non-Central area at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2019.

Tan Hui, vice president of projects at City Developments Ltd, receiving the award for The Criterion, the winner of the Top Development Award for completed project in the non-Central area (Photo: Albert Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

Designed by architectural practice Consortium 168, The Criterion has ten 13-storey blocks sitting on a land area of 193,108 sq ft. The blocks are orientated in a such a way that most of the units from the eighth floor and above will enjoy uninterrupted views of the Orchid Country Club golf course and the Lower Seletar Reservoir and beyond.

According to Consortium 168, the design of the project was inspired by traditional Chinese paintings or shan shui hua that depict landscapes of mountains with water elements. Hence, the blocks of The Criterion were conceived as hills with gardens, set amid a lake, which in this case is a 50m lap pool.

Developed jointly by City Developments Ltd (CDL) and TID – a joint venture between the privately held Hong Leong Holdings and Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan – The Criterion was launched in October 2015, and fully sold prior to its completion last December.

The 50m lap pool, with ten 13-storey blocks fronting it, was conceived as a lake set amid hills (Photo: CDL)

The launch of the project proved to be timely, as the government had raised the monthly household income ceiling for homebuyers of ECs to $14,000 in August 2015, from $12,000 two months ago.

According to CDL, The Criterion is “one of the ECs with the most facilities”, totalling 58. Fronting the 50m lap pool is the double-storey clubhouse, with function rooms on the first level and the gym on the second. As the clubhouse juts out into the pool, this gives the impression that it is floating on water.

Beyond the 50m lap pool is a spa corner with a microbubble spa pool, jacuzzi and steam room. There is also a children’s play area with a teppanyaki barbeque area and al fresco dining nearby so parents can enjoy themselves while keeping an eye on the children.

The double-storey clubhouse juts out into the pool, giving the impression that it is floating on water (Photo: CDL)

The development also has a fitness station, tennis court, a camping lawn, picnic lawn and a spice garden. There is a bicycle area that comes equipped with electrical bicycles for residents, solar charger for the e-bicycles, washing and pumping stations and a bicycle ramp.

A lot of attention has been paid to the design of the individual units as well. As The Criterion is an EC targeted mainly at HDB upgraders, the units are a mix of three- to five-bedroom apartments. Some units even have entrances from the balcony, which creates a landed property experience.

When the project was first launched in late 2015, the developer offered “flexi layout” for selected units to suit different lifestyle needs. For instance, a common bedroom can be converted into a walk-in wardrobe or a study, or combined with another to form an even bigger bedroom. Selected four- and five-bedroom premium units also come with deluxe wardrobe space that is more than double the size of standard units.

Some of the four- and five-bedroom premium units come with a deluxe wardrobe that is more than double the size of standard units (Photo: CDL)

In terms of orientation, most of the units are in a north-south direction to maximise cross-ventilation and natural light. The Criterion is also the first EC to provide energy-efficient Panasonic inverter air-conditioner system with Nanoe-G air purifier for all the units. The apartments are also fitted with premium appliances and fittings in the kitchens and bathrooms with well-recognised brands such as Hansgrohe and Whirlpool.

To complete the picture, all effort has been made to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability with natural ventilation at the lift lobbies and corridors, motion-sensor light fittings for common areas and enclosed staircases, as well as gas heater for all units. This has earned The Criterion a well-deserved BCA Green Mark Gold Plus Award.

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