Tembusu Grand: Inspired by iconic heritage tree
/ EdgeProp Singapore |
Audrey Goh (centre) general manager, sales & marketing of MCL Land and Adeline Ong (right) head of sales & marketing of City Developments receiving the Design, Innovation, Marketing and Showflat Excellence awards for Tembusu Grand from Dr Sky Seah, academic director at National University of Singapore (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
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Tembusu Grand, a 638-unit condo on Jalan Tembusu in District 15, scored four wins at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2024. At the awards ceremony on Oct 30, the development walked away with the Design Excellence, Innovation Excellence, Marketing Excellence and Showflat Excellence titles under the uncompleted residential category for the Central area. The latest wins add to the People’s Choice award Tembusu Grand picked up at last year’s EPEA.
Tembusu Grand is a 638-unit development located off Tanjong Katong Road in prime District 15 (Artist's impression: CDL, MCL Land)
The development is a joint venture between City Developments (CDL) and MCL Land. It occupies a 210,622 sq ft, 99-year leasehold site that the developers had acquired through a Government Land Sale (GLS) tender for $768 million or $1,302 psf per plot ratio in 2022, beating seven other bids.
About a year later, Tembusu Grand was launched for sale in April 2023. During its launch weekend, the project sold 340 (53%) units at an average price of $2,465 psf. More units have been sold since then, with the development’s take-up rate standing at about 80%, based on caveats lodged on URA Realis as of Nov 3. The units have an average transacted price of around $2,460 psf.
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The project marks the third under a strategic partnership between CDL and MCL. In May 2022, the partners launched Piccadilly Grand, a mixed-use development on Northumberland Road in Farrer Park. The project has 407 residences on top of a retail podium and is directly linked to the Farrer Park MRT Station on the North East Line.
The towers feature a crown design inspired by the tembusu tree (Artist's impression: CDL, MCL Land)
Apartments at the 99-year leasehold development, which is expected to be completed in 2H2025, were fully sold last December. The retail podium, called Piccadilly Galleria, has a net lettable area (NLA) of 20,140 sq ft. Last month, the developers put Piccadilly Galleria up for sale by expression of interest at $75 million, or $3,724 psf based on the NLA.
The second project CLD and MCL collaborated on was the 639-unit executive condo (EC) Copen Grand — the first EC located in the upcoming Tengah Town. The development launched in October 2022 and was fully sold by the following month. Units at the EC fetched an average price of $1,335 psf.
The arrival area is adorned with greenery and water features (Artist's impression: CDL, MCL Land)
Attractive location
Tembusu Grand is located just off Tanjong Katong Road, close to the landed housing enclaves situated off Mountbatten Road and Dunman Road. Located in the historic Katong district, the area has a unique confluence of old-world charm and vibrant lifestyle offerings.
Tembusu Grand is close to various amenities, including shophouses with eateries, cafes and other retail offerings on Tanjong Katong Road and the nearby Joo Chiat area. Malls such as i12 Katong and Parkway Parade are also nearby, while recreational facilities, including the sprawling East Coast Park and the Singapore Sports Hub, are a five-minute drive away.
The development is a short drive to key areas such as the CBD, the Marina Bay Financial District, and Changi Airport via its proximity to major expressways like the East Coast Parkway, the Pan Island Expressway and the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway. In addition, the Tanjong Katong MRT Station (Thomson-East Coast Line) is less than a 10-minute walk away from Tembusu Grand, further bolstering its transport connectivity.
The development is located close to several schools. Tanjong Katong Primary School, Haig Girls’ School, Kong Hwa School, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School and Chung Cheng High School are within 1km of the development. Tao Nan School, CHIJ (Katong) Primary and Geylang Methodist Primary School are within a 2km radius.
The gym and the private dining area (Artist's impression: CDL, MCL Land)
Drawing inspiration from the tembusu tree
Jalan Tembusu, and by extension Tembusu Grand, is named for the tembusu tree that is native to Singapore and other parts of Asia. The hardwood tree can reach heights of up to 40m and is recognisable by its dark brown bark with deep fissures, along with its irregular shape featuring long branches that grow laterally.
The tembusu tree has a long and rich history in Singapore, with several specimens around the island designated as heritage trees by the National Parks Board. The most iconic of these is a tembusu tree situated at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Estimated to be around 170 years old, this towering 23m tree, known for its distinctive low-lying branch, is also featured on the back of the Singapore five-dollar note.
Tembusu Grand’s architecture draws from the tembusu tree’s unique form. Designed by ADDP Architects, the development features four blocks of 20 to 21 storeys. Dark brown tones that evoke the bark of the tembusu were chosen for the façade, while the towers’ crown design pays homage to the tree’s distinctive shape.
The three-bedroom-plus-study showflat (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Tembusu Grand has a wide variety of units, from one-bedroom-plus-study units of 527 sq ft to five-bedroom units of 1,711 sq ft. There are also two five-bedroom penthouses of 2,691 sq ft.
Natural-looking materials and finishes were selected for the interior spaces, keeping with the tembusu-inspired design. The well-appointed units are paired with premium appliances, including Miele, Liebherr, and Smeg kitchenware and bathroom fittings from Hansgrohe and Geberit.
Each unit comes with a smart home system that includes a digital lockset, smart video doorbell and smart air conditioning and lighting controls. Residents can also use a community app to book facilities and pre-register visitors. They will also have access to residential services such as parcel collection, laundry, transport bookings and other arrangements.
The study area in the two-bedroom-plus-study showflat (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Spaces for rest and play
There are over 40 facilities available at Tembusu Grand, offering residents a wide array of spaces for relaxation, recreational activities and entertaining guests. The facilities, spread across the first and fifth floors, are grouped into specially curated zones.
The development’s centrepiece is a collection of pools and other waterscapes framed by greenery, including a 50m lap pool, a wading pool, a water lily courtyard and a spa pool. At one edge of the lap pool stands a clubhouse that includes an entertainment room, a karaoke pod, a gaming pod and a function room. A second clubhouse, the Tembusu Club, lies at another end of the site and includes a private dining area and observation deck.
Other facilities include a tennis court, a co-working lounge, a yoga studio, and a playhouse. The amenities are nestled in verdant landscaping, including several lawns and thematic gardens that line the perimeter of the development, offering a multitude of spots to relax in nature.
The greenery is interspersed with interesting architectural elements. For instance, adjacent to the Tembusu Club is the gym, which is housed in a cantilevered structure that hangs over a cascading water wall. The gym, along with the private dining area in the Tembusu Club, has expansive views overlooking the development’s pools and manicured grounds.
The master bedroom in the four-bedroom showflat (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Showcasing unique selling points
In addition to being celebrated for its exceptional design and innovative features, this year’s EPEA judges were particularly impressed by Tembusu Grand’s marketing strategy and sales gallery. CDL and MCL Land implemented a thorough approach that showcased the development’s location and design concept. The strategy also highlighted the developers’ impressive track records and their successful collaboration on the recent Piccadilly Grand and Copen Grand projects.
Marketing materials were disseminated through various channels, such as television and radio commercials, advertisements in local newspapers, digital banner ads, social media posts and a dedicated website. At the development site, a prominent hoarding was installed, highlighting Tembusu Grand’s unique features.
Meanwhile, the sales gallery was crafted to provide a seamless and memorable experience for visitors. To highlight the development’s tembusu-inspired design, interior design firm Park Avenue Designs sourced an eye-catching artwork of a tembusu tree trunk that was installed within the sales gallery.
The kitchen and living area in the four-bedroom showflat (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Three showflats were constructed, showing the two-bedroom-plus-study, three-bedroom-plus-study and four-bedroom unit types. The interiors of the showflats were crafted to demonstrate the functionality of the layouts and the flexibility residents have to tailor them to fit their needs.
For example, in the two-bedroom-plus study showflat, the designer opted for a loft bed that accentuated the vertical space available in the second bedroom, with a study area located underneath. In the four-bedroom showflat, the balcony area was styled as an entertainment space, highlighting its potential as an extension of the living room.
Distinct design themes were selected for each showflat unit to highlight the range of interior design possibilities. The two-bedroom-plus-study unit features a Scandinavian concept, while the three-bedroom-plus-study and four-bedroom units showcase modern Japanese and classic luxury styles, respectively. Additionally, key design elements from each unit were integrated into the sales gallery, creating a sense of continuity as visitors transitioned from one showflat to another.
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