Special Feature

Timeless, elegant detached house on Vanda Crescent going for $22.3 mil

By Shelley Han

/ Shinoken & Hecks Pte Ltd |

July 15, 2022 4:21 PM SGT

The 9,460 sq ft bungalow on Vanda Crescent is up for sale at $2,357 psf (Photos: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

Within the Vanda private residential enclave, located off the main roads of Bukit Timah in prime District 11, lies Vanda Crescent - a gently upward-sloping road flanked by tall trees, mature shrubs and manicured gardens, along with other detached properties.

One of the houses, tucked strategically away from the road, is an intriguing and unique property. At first glance, the house has a captivating exterior – a cantilevered façade cast from concrete hangs from the roof, while a beautiful large travertine stone feature wall lies below.

Upon closer inspection, it soon becomes clear that the exterior, while beautiful, is also purposeful, providing a sense of privacy to the home. The concrete façade effectively shields the second floor of the house from public view, while the stone wall conceals the home’s main entrance.

The house is tucked away by the driveway, offering a sense of privacy

This seamless combination of luxurious design and functionality is a hallmark of the entire home, says Shelley Han, team director at Shinoken & Hecks. “There is no wastage of space,” she adds. Designed by its owners in collaboration with Adrian Goh of RG Architects, the 2½-storey property that comes with a basement has been home to the Koh family for the last few years.

The family has decided to put the house on the market, offering a rare opportunity for a new owner to enjoy this stunning bespoke home. According to Shelley, who is exclusively marketing the property, the asking price is $22.3 million, or $2,357 psf on the property’s 9,460 sq ft land area. The house has a built-up area of approximately 8,500 sq ft.

Understated luxury

Stepping into the lovely home, one is greeted by a large, elegant living area, generously proportioned for ample seating and a full-sized grand piano. A Gaudi-inspired feature wall behind the piano acts as the room’s focal point while also cleverly camouflaging the staircase tucked behind it. Glass sliding doors on either side provide a sense of openness, flooding the room with natural light.

The living room features a Gaudi-inspired screen that camouflages the staircase tucked behind it

The Koh family acquired the site of the house in 2013. What drew them to the site was the land’s elevation, which provides a steady breeze and good ventilation, Mrs Koh says.

The family opted to take down the original house on the site to create their ideal home from scratch. They wanted a bright and open space where the family members could see each other easily throughout the house while also maintaining their own private space within. The house must also be able to comfortably accommodate guests. “We wanted it to be a place where we could have friends and family over,” Mrs Koh explains.

After some discussion with their architect, they opted for an H-shaped layout with high ceilings throughout. The house has two separate wings connected through a central corridor which overlooks a garden on one side and a pool on the other. Wherever possible, glass doors and panels were used, resulting in what feels like a large expanse of space, despite the various rooms throughout the house.

The home has an H-shaped layout, with two wings connected by a central corridor

Shelley Han, their agent, highlights that the home combines natural materials, clean lines and clever design elements that result in an overall feel of understated opulence. “It doesn’t have to be an ostentatious house to be luxurious,” she says. The house took about 1½ years to build, with the family moving into their new home in 2016.

Built with love

Besides the main living area, the first floor features an enclosed, fully-equipped gourmet kitchen, an open kitchen overlooking the dining area that comfortably fits a 12-seater, a casual living area where the family often gathers to lounge or watch TV, and a guest room.

The dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, overlooks the pool

The second floor houses the family’s bedrooms. The master bedroom comes with a balcony, an en suite bathroom, and a walk-in wardrobe. It is connected to another room that currently serves as a home office for Mr and Mrs Koh. Across the corridor in the other wing is an en suite bedroom belonging to the Kohs’ 14-year-old daughter, in addition to two other rooms, currently used as a guest room and a library respectively, making it a total of five en suite bedrooms.

Upstairs on the third floor, the Kohs have a room dedicated to building Lego bricks, a favourite family pastime. There is also a large roof terrace, which Mrs Koh says is often used as another venue for outdoor entertaining. Meanwhile, the basement has more offerings for guests: a lounge area with a huge glass panelling that provides underwater views of the pool. Here, the Koh family often invites family and friends to relax and enjoy tasting from their vast collection of champagne, wine and whisky in the wine cellar that can hold up to 5,000 bottles.

The lounge in the basement, where the Koh family often has friends and family over to enjoy wine from their vast collection housed in the spectacular wine cellar

It’s evident that the family loves to entertain, Shelley warmly mentioned, having been a family friend to the Kohs for many years. In fact, Han – a real estate veteran with over 20 years of experience in landed and prime area real estate – highly recommended the site on Vanda Crescent to the family and saw the entire house-building process from start to completion. “That’s how I know a lot of love was put into this house,” she says.

The

Mrs Koh is sad to be leaving the house, though she views that the time is right. Noting that her daughter is increasingly spending time away from home as she gets older, the house has started to feel too big for the three of them. When asked what she will miss the most about the house, she says the space and openness. “It feels close to the outside,” she adds, noting that the trees surrounding the property are home to a variety of birds and squirrels that amplify the feeling of being in nature.

The house uses glass doors and panels to help create an open look and feel

Perfect for families

Shinoken & Hecks’ Han sees the property as one well-suited for families, given its proximity to a number of good schools. Nanyang Girls’ High School, National Junior College and Raffles Girls’ Primary School are all within a five-minute drive, while other nearby schools include Methodist Girls’ School, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School and Nanyang Primary School.

The Vanda estate is also surrounded by a plethora of amenities, from shops and eateries off the Bukit Timah roads and F&B outlets at Greenwood Area, to neighbourhood malls such as The Grandstand and Serene Centre. In addition, Sixth Avenue MRT Station on the Downtown Line is within walking distance of the house.

Han: It doesn’t have to be an ostentatious house to be luxurious

All in all, Han believes that the beautifully-designed home, with its location on an elevated plot of land in such a prime estate, means it ticks all the right boxes for the future buyer. “It’s a very high-quality house, a good asset and a good investment,” she concludes. She is excited to know who will be the special one to own this sought-after property.