Units Of The Week Issue #75

Gambir Ridge is a small development along Bartley Road with just 77 units. Built recently in 2015, it is a freehold development, which will definitely be a draw in this part of town.

While it does front the busy Bartley Road, it is in walking distance to Bartley MRT station on the Circle Line - just a 5/6 minute walk - which is not bad at all. So where the front facing units will have to contend with some traffic noise, this one is an inner-facing ground floor unit. It does give off a very landed home feel too, which is great for those looking for such a vibe but are on a tighter budget.

This is a 3 bedroom unit sized at 1,120 square feet. It's got all you need for family living today, with a small yard area as well as a utility room. The best part is that because it is located on the ground floor, you do have a higher than usual ceiling. The owners have incorporated a loft in the living, which gives additional usability to the space as well.

While a walk-up apartment will always be a niche product (it's definitely not well-suited for the elderly), the trade-off is that you are usually in a low density development, and as with its old age, it does mean that you have a more spacious floor plan.

This is a massive 2 bedroom walk-up apartment in Balestier (sized at 1,421 square feet), and more importantly, it is on a 999-year lease - which is as good as a freehold one. The interior design has such a different look about it, and the result is the space looks really open, and that sloped roof really adds a ton of character to the unit as well.

Lastly, you are surrounded by lots of great eateries, but the nearest MRT station is Novena at a less than desired 12-minute walk away.

Evania is a boutique development with just 35 units. Let's start with its good points first, with so few units, it is an exclusive one (maintenance is pretty reasonable too), and its freehold status is certainly a major plus point.

But, as it isn't located on a very big piece of land, it does mean that the units are quite tightly packed together. So unfortunately you will be situated quite close to your neighbours (which is why many have installed a zip-track).

Back to the positives, for a 3 bedroom unit, it is very generously sized at 1,420 square feet - bigger than many new launches that you see today. Balcony space is minimised too (for the best as well, given the close proximity), so you do have substantial indoor living space. I like the decor as well, it's modern and the neutral colours makes it easy to pair with any new furniture that you might want to bring in.

As seen from our review on High Park Residences, it is one of those developments that parents with young children will absolutely love. Set on a big piece of land, it comes complete with kid-friendly facilities such as multiple slides, a flying fox, boxing ring and a foosball table (among others).

Although for the smaller units, unit sizes are frankly quite average (comparing amongst newer developments), this ground floor 2 bedroom unit makes up for it with a really sleek minimalist interior. Do note that it comes with just the one bathroom, however, for those who are more concerned about privacy this might not be the right one for you.

Perhaps this should have been included last week instead, but this Executive Maisonette at Ubi is definitely one for those that are prepared to pay a premium for bigger living spaces. At a size of 1,636 square feet, it is way bigger than the average HDB unit, and comes set over 2 floors, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

I like the Scandinavian style of the apartment too. The neutral colours are very soothing to look at, and it just evokes a sense of calm looking at the big open spaces. It's also a 7-minute walk to Ubi MRT station on the Downtown Line too - pretty good if you ask me!