Units Of The Week Issue #32

The Alessandrea is located along the stretch of Alexandra Road before you get to Queenstown. It stands out quite starkly compared to the modern new launches beyond it, and not in a good way. But it is hard to fault it too much, it is after all creeping onto twenty years of age at this point.

It isn't particularly near the MRT station either, although it does enjoy good road connectivity, and of course, a very central location.

So what else does the Alessandrea have to offer?

For one, it is a freehold property - something not too common in this neck of the woods. Plus I really like the interior here, it's soft, not in your face, and looks highly cosy and comfortable. It does feature premium fittings and furniture as well - Hansgrohe toilet fittings, Kohler toilet bowls and Toto sinks, among others.

Let's not kid ourselves here, $1 million for a leasehold HDB apartment is quite an eye-watering sum - even if its location is in the very trendy and appealing Tiong Bahru district. Then again, it's not like $1 million for an HDB is really anything new. Even in this crazy time, there are still people dropping these 7 digit sums elsewhere around Singapore.

So what's good about this unit? Firstly, it is a ground floor apartment, so no need to walk up any flights of steps here. At 990 square feet for a 1 bedroom apartment, it is extremely sizeable and features oodles of space for one person or even a couple.

I like the decoration in the apartment too, it definitely fits the area it is in like a glove, and the views out into the air-well/courtyard is quite something.

Not too far off from the magical $1 million 7 digit mark, this 1 bedroom 1 bathroom unit is the exact same size as the Moh Guan unit above, and in a fairly similar location in the Tiong Bahru vicinity.

You do have steps to climb here, however, as this one is located on the 3rd floor. That said, its higher floor does afford a greater level of sunlight to the unit - hence its brighter and more open nature.

As with the above, 990 square feet is definitely overly generous for a 1 bedroom apartment, but if you are after a hip location and want lots of living space this is certainly one to look out for.

If anything, this 1 bedroom unit is like the complete opposite of the above 2 units. It's a condo, on a super high floor, new, modern, and double the psf.

For those who haven't read it yet, we do have an in-depth review of the Principal Garden here. But to cut a long story (review) short, the Principal Garden does offer a great living environment. It's rather quiet, has good facilities, and a stunning number of swimming pools that you can choose from.

Admittedly, the interior space here isn't all that great but for a modern 1 bedroom unit I don't think anyone would be complaining all that much!

I'm not quite sure what it is about this area that attracts people of the same tastes to congregate here, it's almost as if no one has a boring cookie cutter interior here.

But I guess that's all part of the charm (and expense) of living in the Tiong Bahru estate. Other than the convenience and proximity to good food, it does offer a unique environment that is hard to come by anywhere else in Singapore.

Other than that, you should know the drill by now after seeing the first two properties here. It's a walk up on the second floor, with just the 1 bedroom covering 925 square feet of interior space. The result? It's hugely open and if living room space is what you're after this will definitely be up your alley.