Five-bedroom bungalow at Namly Avenue on the market for $36 mil
By Timothy Tay
/ EdgeProp Singapore |
The five-bedroom bungalow sits on a 14,387 sq ft plot on Namly Avenue. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua)
The Chin family have witnessed firsthand the transformation of their neighbourhood since they moved into their family home, a two-storey bungalow on Namly Avenue, more than 30 years ago. Back then, their next-door neighbour lived in the last remaining bungalow built on stilts in that part of Bukit Timah, and the sprawling campus across the road was named Chinese High School.
The neighbour’s bungalow was demolished in 2012 to make way for a contemporary house and the school is now Hwa Chong Institution, but the now-retired Mr and Mrs Chin have steadfastly maintained their classically-designed bungalow. However, they have renovated the house to suit the family’s needs over the years.
As their children have moved into their own residences, the owners are looking forward to downsizing their home. They have enlisted real estate veteran Steve Tay, executive director of Steve Tay Real Estate, to market the five-bedroom bungalow on Namly Road for $36 million.
A touch of history
The property sits on a regular-shaped 14,387 sq ft plot that is slightly elevated from the street level. The plot has a wide frontage of about 32m and accommodates a large garden and lawn in front of the house.
The view from the second-floor balcony overlooking the garden and the Hwa Chong Alumni House across the street. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua)
Over the years, Mr and Mrs Chin have dedicated hundreds of hours tending to their garden, which has flourished under their care with a wide range of native flora, including fruit trees and flowering plants. The trees fronting the road have grown tall with dense foliage that blocks most of the noise from the road.
Two main rooms in the house overlook this garden: the en suite master bedroom on the ground floor which features a veranda that looks out to the garden, as well as a family room on the second floor.
The bungalow features a colonial-inspired design that is characterised by its white exterior, high vaulted ceilings and tiled roofs. A low wall along the master bedroom veranda and front porch carries an interesting bit of architectural history. Mrs Chin recalls that the original wall featured a design that did not appeal to them, so they approached their next-door neighbour for permission to make a cast of the wall around their straits-era stilted bungalow.
This results in the eye-catching cross-shaped wall infill that adorns the front of the bungalow today, adding to the charm of its colonial-inspired aesthetic. After the neighbour sold the bungalow in 2009 and a new Good Class Bungalow (GCB) was built, it is also the last remnant of a bygone style of bungalows in the Bukit Timah area.
“Although the house features a distinctive colonial-inspired architecture and design elements, it is not under any conservation guidelines. Instead, the overall charm of the house is a direct result of the owners’ tastes and preferences,” says Tay.
Building up for the future
When the Chin family bought the property more than 30 years ago, it consisted of a single-storey bungalow. To accommodate their family, they built a two-storey extension which is connected to the original bungalow. This extension comprises all five bedrooms and separates the private residential quarters from communal areas like the living room and kitchen.
“Even then, the owners were designing and preparing their family home to accommodate multi-generational living in the future. And this foresight would pay off for the family down the line when their son moved his family in to live with them a few years ago,” says Tay.
During the renovation process, the ceiling over the living room of the bungalow was removed to showcase the double-volume ceiling and vaulted roof supported by timber beams. As a result, the living room has a large uninterrupted space that feels even more palatial. Mr Chin says that they keep the doors to the backyard shut most of the time, because the wind that flows through the living room can be strong and sometimes causes a mess.
The living room is large and spacious, accentuated by the high vaulted ceiling.
Apart from the living room, this section of the house also features a spacious kitchen with a centre island, a helper’s room and a private study. There is also a backyard with a unique feature — a household kiln which has been frequently used by Mrs Chin to fire clay into ceramic pieces, one of her artistic hobbies in her retirement.
Another centrepiece of the house is a spacious front porch that links the driveway to the main entrance and living room. “We love our patio, and we spend much of our free time while we are in the house lounging there,” says Mr Chin. “The spaciousness is enjoyable, and it is within sight of the lush garden and leafy green trees.”
This large open-air area nearly doubles the amount of space to accommodate guests, says Tay. He adds that the variety of large spaces throughout the house provides the flexibility for the next owner to reimagine each area to suit their specific needs and lifestyle.
The spacious front porch is a favourite spot where the owners lounge. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua)
“Overall, this is a very cosy house with an efficient and functional layout that has been thoughtfully designed by a family to meet their needs. It is difficult to imagine that the total built-up area is slightly more than 7,000 sq ft and can comfortably accommodate three generations,” says Tay.
From one family to the next
The bungalow has been on the market for about two months and a few prospective buyers have stepped forward with offers to buy the property, says Tay. “However, the owners hope to see their family home change hands to an owner who respects the character of the house. They see it almost like a transfer of ownership from one family to the next,” he says.
A family which appreciates the style and charm of this home may opt to modernise the interior while retaining the architectural style, says Tay. He adds that it is also a refreshing alternative compared to most of the modern and contemporary designed GCBs and bungalows available on the resale market.
“Based on our experience in the prime landed homes market, the sale of this bungalow for $36 million is a rare opportunity for a variety of landed home buyers. It is increasingly challenging to find an available landed home on the market at this price-point which does not require demolition or extensive renovations before moving in,” says Tay.
The kitchen has plenty of workspace and is well-kept. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua)
He says that most prospective buyers are still cautious of the relatively high construction and material costs associated with redeveloping a sizeable GCB or bungalow. Moreover, a persistent labour crunch has resulted in longer construction timelines.
“If we take stock of the current crop of landed homes that are available in the market today, I do not believe we would be able to find a relatively new GCB or bungalow going for less than $50 million in most prime-district neighbourhoods,” says Tay.
Ultimately, this home will resonate with a buyer who appreciates the well-planned layout of the house, the spaciousness of each bedroom and living area, and hopefully the existing character and charms of the architecture, says Tay. “The qualities of this home are more than adequate to meet the family needs of most buyers in the market; coupled with a very palatable price, this is a rare chance.”
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