The term Smart Nation has been bandied around a lot in recent years, and the country has made great strides. There is one major obstacle in the way of achieving it however, and that is in the shape of another word that has been doing the rounds probably even more frequently – cashless. A country’s ability – or rather its people’s ability to go without cash and instead carry out transactions either via an app or at least with a card – is now seen as the main measure of how “smart” a nation is. And despite Singapore’s advancements in other areas, it is this that they may very well be judged on.
There is certainly a desire and a push to become a cashless nation. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is aiming to have a cashless transport network by the year 2020 and last month (August) put out a joint statement with TransitLink on the encouraging progress with its latest initiative, a pilot run in conjunction with Mastercard. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong even went as far as mentioning his nation’s desire to up its game and become a cashless state quicker in his speech at the National Day rally.
There are two ways of looking at the BCA Green Mark Scheme, which was launched back in January 2005. Both viewpoints are valid and much-needed additions to the residential building industry in Singapore. First of all, it is an initiative with which to encourage the industry to prioritise the environmental aspect of their projects. This should involve all parts of the industry, from designers and developers to the builders, and as a result should be embraced at every part of the process – from the initial conception, through to the design and eventually to the actual building of the project.
The second way of looking at the scheme is through the eyes of the end user, or the perspective buyer. It provides a credible system by which they can judge the “greenness” of their potential future home or investment. The awards use globally recognized benchmarks for best practice in both the design and performance of residential developments, and in doing so they shine a light on the work that forward thinking developers, designers and builders are doing, and in the benefits to home owners who buy and subsequently live in projects that have been awarded the green mark.
BCA Green Mark (Source : BCA)
So what makes a development green? There are many different techniques that are adopted, but some good examples include:
• Use of passive design features. By clever orientation, buildings can make the most of the Singaporean winds, as well as protecting the homes from the worst of the sun.
• Maximising the use of natural daylight.
• Choosing appropriate building materials, as well as fixtures and fittings.
• Utilizing appliances, techniques and designs that reduce the need for energy and electricity.
• Adopting appliances and facilities that save water.
The benefits of building and living in a green home are tangible and various, and can largely be separated into four distinct categories, namely financial, health environmental and corporate.
Financial Benefits
Green homes make the most of natural lighting and ventilation, and coupled with their use of energy efficient appliances the end result is a very real reduction in their energy and water usage, and hence a similar reduction in the property’s utility bills.
At a baser level, the design of green homes often employs innovative use of raw materials and resources meaning that less are required, once again resulting in reduced costs.
Green homes and buildings are also designed to minimise the need for costly modifications and alterations throughout their lifetime. This means it saves money in the short to mid-term, and also makes for an attractive proposition for future owners and tenants.
Health Benefits
Through their use of natural lighting and ventilation – both proven to have positive health benefits, green homes provide a healthier living environment.
They also reduce, or eliminate all together, the use of toxic chemicals, providing a healthier and happier home.
Environmental Benefits:
By their reduced reliance on natural resources, such as water, building materials as well as being more energy efficient, green homes have a far smaller carbon footprint, and a vastly reduced negative impact on the environment as a whole.
Corporate Benefits
If a company is seen to be championing environmentally friendly initiatives and techniques, it can only be a good thing for their corporate image. It also opens up many more marketing and business opportunities. It has also been proved that a green building is more valuable in terms of its leasing and resale value.
A spot that used to attract high numbers of people that were looking for entertainment in the evening, Zouk is now a location that is up for sale for any developer that is interested in investing in the area. The glory days of this location on the Jiak Kim Street are over, as a new chapter waiting to be opened by the developer that is going to bid the biggest sum to get this particular spot. The tender is about to open soon, so everybody interested in this particular sale should prepare a strategy that will provide the desired results.
How did it all start? A few months ago a developer that was interested in Zouk’s location promised to bid at least $689.4 million to get it. Seeing that there is a significant interest in this particular location, it was considered suitable for a tender to take place. The site has a total area of 13,482 sq. meters, each sq. foot having a starting price of $1,250, considering the bid mentioned previously. Specialists think that the space provided by the former Zouk is more than enough for a residential project that foresees 36 stories, which means an approximate number of 525 apartments and a ground floor that could easily have a commercial purpose.
Kovan is very much one of those neighbourhoods that largely flies under the radar of the majority of Singaporeans. Residents, in equal parts are happy to keep it that way, while desperate to tell anyone who will listen about what they consider to be a hidden gem.
Situated in the North East Region of the island, Kovan is actually a small suburb within Hougang New Town. Its boundaries are fairly ill defined and for most people it merges into the neighbouring Serangoon and Hougang proper. Officially however, it is the triangular area enclosed by Hougang Avenue 2, Yio Chu Kang Road and Upper Serangoon Road.
Traditionally, Kovan was home to members of the Teochew community, with several of its road names to this day bearing the names of the more prominent members of Teochew society. Its name in Teochew is “La gou Jio”, which literally translates to “6 miles from the Fullerton Hotel.”
Kovan has come to be characterised by its landed housing, with the vast majority of homes being made up of terrace houses, semi-detached properties and bungalows. In recent years however there has been a handful of Singapore condominiums being built in the area, as property developers seek to take advantage of this quiet neighbourhood that offers residents the benefits of a laid back, tranquil existence, while still being within easy commuting distance of the CBD.
That commute is made possible by Kovan MRT Station, on the North East Line. It is 7 stops from there to Dhoby Ghaut, which connects to the North South Line, from where City Hall and Raffles Place are 1 and 2 stops respectively. Kovan station, opened in 2004, features artwork by Eng Tow. Set in tiles in the floor, they depict the progress and development of the area between 1945 and today.
Kovan is well placed in terms of the major expressways, with the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), Central Expressway (CTE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) all within quick and easy access, meaning that in good conditions the city is only just over a 10-minute drive away. There are still a number of buses that serve the area, though the bus interchange was closed down when the MRT Station opened its doors, with most of the bus routes moving to nearby Hougang Central Bus Interchange.
As well as the MRT station, the other main amenities of note in the area are the Kovan Sports Centre, which boasts no less than 8 indoor futsal courts, and Heartland Mall which is home to a good number of retailers and food and beverage outlets. The area around the mall also has a bowling alley, a small neighbourhood park and several bars and cafes.
There is a lack of schools in the immediate area, though there are several international schools a short drive/bus ride away such as the DPS International School, Australian International School, Stamford American International School and Dimensions International College which makes Kovan and attractive proposition for expats.
New launch condo, Stars of Kovan is located just a stone’s throw away from Kovan MRT station. If you prefer new launch that is closer to the Hougang neighbourhood, you might want to take a look at Kingsford Waterbay.
Sengkang often flies under the radar when it comes to Singapore’s best residential options. The more you look into it, the more surprising that is, and there are undoubtedly many residents hoping it remains that way. Geographically speaking, Sengkang is situated in the North East Region, sandwiched between Seletar and Punggol to the north and Hougang and Serangoon to the south while Pasir Ris and Paya Lebar, and Yishun and Ang Mo Kio lie to the east and west respectively.
The Bartley Road in Singapore is holding a beautiful 78-unit freehold condominium, named Sun Rosier. Recently, the owners of this development decided to put it out for sale, opting for a collective sale and a price tag of $235 million. To their surprise, the Sun Rosier Condo got them a sum that was 15% higher than what they initially requested, reaching the amazing sum of $271 million. This means that each of the owners of this development is ready to make their bank accounts bigger with sums that range anywhere from $2.86 million and $4.77 million. But, as they stated, the competition between bidders was tight, as the offers were very close to one another.
