Innovation meets nature at The Clement Canopy

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

October 25, 2019 1:00 PM SGT

SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - When it was completed in 4Q2018, the twin 40-storey residential towers of The Clement Canopy were the tallest residential concrete structures in the world that were completely built using prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) methods.

Since then, the project has paved the way for other high-rise residential developments in Singapore to be built using PPVC methods. Not only did the methods improve overall quality control, they also shortened the handover time to new owners. Now, most of the residential sites on the government land sales (GLS) list this year have projects with similar PPVC requirements.

Efforts by Clement Canopy’s developer UOL Group to let nature take centre stage and showcase that high-rise, high-density living can coexist with a lush and green landscape have also helped the 505-unit condo win the Innovation Excellence Award for a completed development in the Central Region, as well as the Landscape Excellence Award in the same category, at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2019.

Several connected leisure pools between the blocks highlight the lush landscape (Picture: Dragages Singapore)

This adds to the accolades the development received last year when it also won the Top Development Award for an uncompleted development in the Non-Central Region, and the Landscape Excellence Award in the same category, at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2018.

‘Lego-style’ construction

Located at Clementi Avenue 1 in District 5, the condo is built on a GLS site that was awarded to UOL in 2015. It was one of the first sites awarded which stipulated that the construction needed to adopt the use of PPVC for at least 65% of the total constructed floor area within the residential development.

At the Clement Canopy, all of the ground-floor structures such as the multi-storey carpark, ground-floor podium, and condo amenities were constructed using conventional methods. But the pair of 40-storey residential towers were built using “Lego-style” modular construction. Employing PPVC methods meant that construction was less dependent on on-site labour and also reduced construction wastage.

The showflat of a two-bedroom unit at The Clement Canopy. At least 65% of the total constructed floor area was built using “Lego-style” modular construction (Picture: Samuel Issac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

Construction was undertaken by leading modular construction company Dragages Singapore, a subsidiary of French industrial group Bouygues Construction. Dragages also built the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport extension using PPVC, and was behind the conventional construction of the ultra-luxury Sculptura Ardmore.

Originally scheduled for completion in 4Q2019, the project was completed nearly six months ahead of time and by July this year, several residents had already moved into their new homes.

Living in nature

Another centrepiece of the development is the landscape on the ground floor, where functional spaces are inserted among the lush greenery, as if to suggest that nature existed before the built structures. The distinctly urban form of the concrete and glass residential towers also contrasts elegantly with the organic shapes that feature the ground floor.

Between both blocks are several connected leisure pools whose organic form meanders around the lush plants and trees, dotted along the way by functional spaces such as an aqua gym, a spa bed, and a dining pavilion.

The ground floor pool meanders around the lush plants and trees

Due to the relatively minimal basement works on the site, it was also possible for larger trees to be planted around the site. This is in line with the developers’ vision of creating a high-rise home in nature. When mature, some of the trees could grow up to 30m with a dense top canopy to provide shade.

In total, the area set aside for plants and water features covers 47% of the total site.

Successful development

On its own, The Clement Canopy had already garnered much interest from potential home buyers, given its proximity to educational institutions around Kent Ridge and business parks at one-north. The condo also offers unobstructed views over the surrounding low-rise houses as well as that of Pasir Panjang port.

The showflat of a four-bedroom unit at The Clement Canopy

UOL’s vision for The Clement Canopy has indeed resonated with buyers. More than 200 units were sold during the first weekend launch in 2017, and in the first year of sales, 439 units (87%) were sold at an average price of $1,361 psf.

The last two units were sold earlier this year. These were a four-bedroom, 1,346 sq ft unit on the second floor which went for $1.94 million ($1,439 psf) in January; as well as a three-bedroom unit of 990 sq ft on the 21st floor which fetched $1.44 million ($1,455 psf) in March.

For price trends, recent transactions, other project info, check out The Clement Canopy project research page

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