《联合早报》Dec 1, 2007
新加坡分层地契局(Strata Title Board)驳回东海岸一带——芬兰花园(Finland Gardens)卖方的申请。这意味，星控股(Sing Holdingsv一年前承诺购买的芬兰花园交易，至今仍然无法成交。
星控股董事经理李思豪昨天接受本报的电访时说：“我并没有在场聆听审讯，但根据卖方的律师透露，分层地契局是以‘没有完全符合法定条例’而驳回有关销售申请的。”
他表示，公司正在考虑下一步应该采取什么行动，不过他不排除要求卖方向分层地契局提出上诉的可能性。
星控股是在去年11月通过新成立的联营公司，承诺以4950万元买下芬兰花园集体出售私宅地段的。以每平方英尺建筑面积计算，有关收购价相等于504元。
这个拥有48个单位的共管公寓，建于80年代，位于东海岸台和东海岸道之间，是个占地约9万8309平方英尺的永久地契房地产。星控股原本计划在这个地段发展排屋和聚落式住宅项目。
Sunday, December 2, 2007
滨海南住宅区概念设计比赛揭晓
《联合早报》Dec 1, 2007
滨海南住宅区概念设计比赛揭晓 三个新加坡设计作品和一个香港设计作品在滨海南住宅区概念设计比赛中脱颖而出。
新加坡市区重建局和新加坡建筑师学会在9月中宣布为滨海南一块住宅地段举行设计比赛，邀请建筑师、规划师和相关学系学生提出全新规划概念。
这块位于滨海南花园和新加坡海峡之间的60公顷地段，比占地54公顷的滨海南花园还要大，预计可兴建1万1000个住宅单位，也将建一所小学、一所中学、酒店、商店和社区设施，未来甚至可能有地下公路和铁路系统。
市建局和建筑师学会昨天联合发表文告公布得奖名单。胜出的设计来自香港的Compass Studio、新加坡的邱德荣、SKPS-Project和盛邦（Surbana）。它们各获得1万元的奖金。澳洲的Chor和新加坡的ZONG Architects则获得特别奖，奖金各5000元。
Compass Studio的设计作品善于把对比强烈的概念完美结合，例如高与低、水与绿地等。邱德荣在设计中引进更多街头活动，而且定位为城市的一部分，而不是自处一隅的住宅区。SKPS-Project在设计中应用了极为良好的城市规划策略。盛邦则以高矮并列的设计带出变化多端的远景和市区风景线。
建筑师学会会长戴礼翔指出，参赛作品犹如一堂城市规划史，糅合了历久不衰的概念和划时代的设计。
他说：“参赛作品很显然地都朝向整合的方向，是一个把城市规划、建筑设计、景观设计、交通规划和可持续性结合起来的总蓝图，许多设计是以历久不衰的概念重新包装展现。另一方面，评审也看到不少非一般和新颖的概念，还为此进行过不少辩论。”
“更重要的是，这场比赛让私人界在新加坡城市景观的发展方面有了更多的参与机会。”
市建局城市设计与发展署长范秀玲说，参赛作品让市建局留下深刻印象，为规划中的滨海南住宅区提供不少创新的设计点子。主办单位在两个多月里总共收到来自香港、澳洲、印尼、印度、美国、新加坡等国的30份参赛设计。这30份作品配合建筑师学会主办的新加坡建筑节在政府大厦展出至本月8日。
有分析家指出，就规模和重要性而言，滨海南新住宅区的面积和人口比单选区略小，可被看作继榜鹅之后的另一个新镇。此外，由于地段被滨海南花园及海域围绕，自成一格，分析家因此认为这个地区会超越第九邮区，成为区域性高级住宅区，有望吸引超级富豪将此视为第二个家。
滨海南住宅区概念设计比赛揭晓 三个新加坡设计作品和一个香港设计作品在滨海南住宅区概念设计比赛中脱颖而出。
新加坡市区重建局和新加坡建筑师学会在9月中宣布为滨海南一块住宅地段举行设计比赛，邀请建筑师、规划师和相关学系学生提出全新规划概念。
这块位于滨海南花园和新加坡海峡之间的60公顷地段，比占地54公顷的滨海南花园还要大，预计可兴建1万1000个住宅单位，也将建一所小学、一所中学、酒店、商店和社区设施，未来甚至可能有地下公路和铁路系统。
市建局和建筑师学会昨天联合发表文告公布得奖名单。胜出的设计来自香港的Compass Studio、新加坡的邱德荣、SKPS-Project和盛邦（Surbana）。它们各获得1万元的奖金。澳洲的Chor和新加坡的ZONG Architects则获得特别奖，奖金各5000元。
Compass Studio的设计作品善于把对比强烈的概念完美结合，例如高与低、水与绿地等。邱德荣在设计中引进更多街头活动，而且定位为城市的一部分，而不是自处一隅的住宅区。SKPS-Project在设计中应用了极为良好的城市规划策略。盛邦则以高矮并列的设计带出变化多端的远景和市区风景线。
建筑师学会会长戴礼翔指出，参赛作品犹如一堂城市规划史，糅合了历久不衰的概念和划时代的设计。
他说：“参赛作品很显然地都朝向整合的方向，是一个把城市规划、建筑设计、景观设计、交通规划和可持续性结合起来的总蓝图，许多设计是以历久不衰的概念重新包装展现。另一方面，评审也看到不少非一般和新颖的概念，还为此进行过不少辩论。”
“更重要的是，这场比赛让私人界在新加坡城市景观的发展方面有了更多的参与机会。”
市建局城市设计与发展署长范秀玲说，参赛作品让市建局留下深刻印象，为规划中的滨海南住宅区提供不少创新的设计点子。主办单位在两个多月里总共收到来自香港、澳洲、印尼、印度、美国、新加坡等国的30份参赛设计。这30份作品配合建筑师学会主办的新加坡建筑节在政府大厦展出至本月8日。
有分析家指出，就规模和重要性而言，滨海南新住宅区的面积和人口比单选区略小，可被看作继榜鹅之后的另一个新镇。此外，由于地段被滨海南花园及海域围绕，自成一格，分析家因此认为这个地区会超越第九邮区，成为区域性高级住宅区，有望吸引超级富豪将此视为第二个家。
Missing Lawyer May Have Fled With $6m
Source : The Straits Times, Dec 1, 2007
THE tally continues to rise. About $6 million may have gone missing together with lawyer Zulkifli Amin, who disappeared last week.
Police are now looking into how much of the missing money belonged to clients, among other things.
Mr Zulkifli, a lawyer of about seven years’ standing, skipped town last week.
His two other partners in the firm, Sadique Marican & ZM Amin, alerted the Law Society and the police.
Several clients also showed up at the firm’s office in Raffles City last week complaining of bounced cheques and stalled property deals.
While police investigations are ongoing, the Law Society has also moved in to examine the firm’s clients’ account.
The firm’s lawyers are also helping affected clients work out alternative arrangements.
The case has become a talking point in legal circles as it is the first since new rules came into force this year to protect clients’ money.
Among the new rules: two signatures are needed to withdraw sums higher than $30,000.
The rules kicked in after ex-lawyer David Rasif fled with more than $12 million of clients’ money last year.
But unlike Rasif, who had a one-man firm, Mr Zulkifli worked in a partnership, which means the remaining two partners may have to make good the loss.
There was a similar case about a decade ago when one lawyer faced a similar dilemma after his partner, Lim Yee Kai, made off with around $417,000 in clients’ money.
Lim is still on the run.
His partner ended up paying about $400,000 of a debt that soared to some $600,000 when legal and insurance costs were factored.
He could not keep up with the payments and was made a bankrupt in 2003.
But partners can be exempted from liability in some instances, said lawyer Manoj Nandwani. This can happen if they can show they were not aware of the fraud committed by a colleague or did not turn a blind eye to what was happening, he said.
Asked if the new rules needed more teeth in light of the latest incident, lawyer Montague Choy said: ‘You may change the rules… but then someone might show up to work around whatever’s new in place to the point where there are so many rules that it becomes not commercially viable to operate.
‘I do not think the problem is with the rules.’
Lawyer Amolat Singh said the case could trigger a move for clients’ deposits to be held by a separate stakeholder, rather than by lawyers.
‘We are the only profession required to hold such money, unlike doctors or accountants, who do not have to be part-time bankers.’
THE tally continues to rise. About $6 million may have gone missing together with lawyer Zulkifli Amin, who disappeared last week.
Police are now looking into how much of the missing money belonged to clients, among other things.
Mr Zulkifli, a lawyer of about seven years’ standing, skipped town last week.
His two other partners in the firm, Sadique Marican & ZM Amin, alerted the Law Society and the police.
Several clients also showed up at the firm’s office in Raffles City last week complaining of bounced cheques and stalled property deals.
While police investigations are ongoing, the Law Society has also moved in to examine the firm’s clients’ account.
The firm’s lawyers are also helping affected clients work out alternative arrangements.
The case has become a talking point in legal circles as it is the first since new rules came into force this year to protect clients’ money.
Among the new rules: two signatures are needed to withdraw sums higher than $30,000.
The rules kicked in after ex-lawyer David Rasif fled with more than $12 million of clients’ money last year.
But unlike Rasif, who had a one-man firm, Mr Zulkifli worked in a partnership, which means the remaining two partners may have to make good the loss.
There was a similar case about a decade ago when one lawyer faced a similar dilemma after his partner, Lim Yee Kai, made off with around $417,000 in clients’ money.
Lim is still on the run.
His partner ended up paying about $400,000 of a debt that soared to some $600,000 when legal and insurance costs were factored.
He could not keep up with the payments and was made a bankrupt in 2003.
But partners can be exempted from liability in some instances, said lawyer Manoj Nandwani. This can happen if they can show they were not aware of the fraud committed by a colleague or did not turn a blind eye to what was happening, he said.
Asked if the new rules needed more teeth in light of the latest incident, lawyer Montague Choy said: ‘You may change the rules… but then someone might show up to work around whatever’s new in place to the point where there are so many rules that it becomes not commercially viable to operate.
‘I do not think the problem is with the rules.’
Lawyer Amolat Singh said the case could trigger a move for clients’ deposits to be held by a separate stakeholder, rather than by lawyers.
‘We are the only profession required to hold such money, unlike doctors or accountants, who do not have to be part-time bankers.’
STB Rejects Finland Gardens' Collective Sale
Source : The Straits Times, Dec 1, 2007
Lawyer says rare decision is based on sale price and less than 80% approval
THE Strata Titles Board (STB) threw out the collective sale application of Finland Gardens in Siglap after it failed to meet statutory requirements.
THE PRICE IS NOT RIGHT: Owners of eight units in Finland Gardens in Siglap are objecting to the collective sale of the 48-unit block. Their grounds include not getting the best price for the estate. -- PHOTO: CREDO REAL ESTATE
The rare decision to axe a bid for a sale en bloc followed five days of hearings that took place in July and early September.
The STB delivered its decision on Wednesday in an oral announcement but has yet to disclose the grounds for rejection. It may do so at a later date.
Mr Denis Tan, the lawyer for the owners objecting to the sale, heard the oral announcement. He said: 'The board dismissed the application on the grounds that it found there was no 80 per cent majority and that the sale price was not obtained in good faith.'
The Finland Gardens sale required approval from at least 80 per cent of the owners.
Mainboard-listed company Sing Holdings bought the freehold 48-unit site in November last year for $49.5 million. The owners of each unit would stand to reap about $1 million to $1.27 million, depending on the size of the unit.
The owners of eight units objected to the sale; their grounds included not getting the best possible price for the estate.
In addition, they argued that a higher offer had come in after Sing Holdings' offer, but the sale committee, instead of asking Sing Holdings to come up with a better price, had simply asked the company to match the later offer.
Clinic manager Valerie Chia, 46, said she and owners of the other seven units had objected to the sale from the start, more than a year ago.
The managing director of Sing Holdings, Mr Lee Sze Hao, said he would be asking the majority owners to file an appeal against the STB decision.
An industry observer said the ruling is significant because there is a general perception that collective sales are usually approved.
'If you look at collective sale rules, their purpose is to facilitate such sales,' he said.
Finland Gardens, located in the Siglap area at East Coast Avenue and East Coast Terrace, has a land area of 98,309 sq ft.
It comprises 48 units of walk-up apartments housed in two three-storey blocks.
Sing Holdings partnered Forum Asian Realty Income II to buy the estate. The United States-based fund holds a 30 per cent share of the joint venture.
In late October this year, the STB threw out the collective sale application for Airview Towers at St Thomas Walk.
Developer Bukit Sembawang, which had agreed to pay $202.17 million to buy the site in April, said recently that the application had been dismissed on a technicality. The sellers are planning to file an appeal, it added.
En-blocked
# The STB vetoed the collective sale bid in an oral decision after five days of hearings in July and early September. It has yet to disclose the grounds for rejection but may do so at a later date.
# An industry observer said the ruling is significant because there is a general perception that collective sales are usually approved.
# Mainboard-listed Sing Holdings bought the site last November for $49.5 million. The owners of each unit would stand to reap up to $1.27 million.
# The managing director of Sing Holdings, Mr Lee Sze Hao, said he would be asking the majority owners to file an appeal against the STB decision.
Lawyer says rare decision is based on sale price and less than 80% approval
THE Strata Titles Board (STB) threw out the collective sale application of Finland Gardens in Siglap after it failed to meet statutory requirements.
THE PRICE IS NOT RIGHT: Owners of eight units in Finland Gardens in Siglap are objecting to the collective sale of the 48-unit block. Their grounds include not getting the best price for the estate. -- PHOTO: CREDO REAL ESTATEThe rare decision to axe a bid for a sale en bloc followed five days of hearings that took place in July and early September.
The STB delivered its decision on Wednesday in an oral announcement but has yet to disclose the grounds for rejection. It may do so at a later date.
Mr Denis Tan, the lawyer for the owners objecting to the sale, heard the oral announcement. He said: 'The board dismissed the application on the grounds that it found there was no 80 per cent majority and that the sale price was not obtained in good faith.'
The Finland Gardens sale required approval from at least 80 per cent of the owners.
Mainboard-listed company Sing Holdings bought the freehold 48-unit site in November last year for $49.5 million. The owners of each unit would stand to reap about $1 million to $1.27 million, depending on the size of the unit.
The owners of eight units objected to the sale; their grounds included not getting the best possible price for the estate.
In addition, they argued that a higher offer had come in after Sing Holdings' offer, but the sale committee, instead of asking Sing Holdings to come up with a better price, had simply asked the company to match the later offer.
Clinic manager Valerie Chia, 46, said she and owners of the other seven units had objected to the sale from the start, more than a year ago.
The managing director of Sing Holdings, Mr Lee Sze Hao, said he would be asking the majority owners to file an appeal against the STB decision.
An industry observer said the ruling is significant because there is a general perception that collective sales are usually approved.
'If you look at collective sale rules, their purpose is to facilitate such sales,' he said.
Finland Gardens, located in the Siglap area at East Coast Avenue and East Coast Terrace, has a land area of 98,309 sq ft.
It comprises 48 units of walk-up apartments housed in two three-storey blocks.
Sing Holdings partnered Forum Asian Realty Income II to buy the estate. The United States-based fund holds a 30 per cent share of the joint venture.
In late October this year, the STB threw out the collective sale application for Airview Towers at St Thomas Walk.
Developer Bukit Sembawang, which had agreed to pay $202.17 million to buy the site in April, said recently that the application had been dismissed on a technicality. The sellers are planning to file an appeal, it added.
En-blocked
# The STB vetoed the collective sale bid in an oral decision after five days of hearings in July and early September. It has yet to disclose the grounds for rejection but may do so at a later date.
# An industry observer said the ruling is significant because there is a general perception that collective sales are usually approved.
# Mainboard-listed Sing Holdings bought the site last November for $49.5 million. The owners of each unit would stand to reap up to $1.27 million.
# The managing director of Sing Holdings, Mr Lee Sze Hao, said he would be asking the majority owners to file an appeal against the STB decision.
October Property Loan Growth Hits 8-Year High
Source : The Business Times, December 1, 2007
Bank lending to sector reaches $105.7b, up 18%
Bank lending to the property sector continued to accelerate in October, growing at the fastest annual pace in eight years, according to new data from the Singapore central bank yesterday.
Overall loans growth in the banking sector also picked up in October, the latest estimates from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) show.
Loans to the broad property sector, comprising consumer home loans and business loans to the building and construction industry, reached $105.7 billion at end-October - up 18.1 per cent from a year ago.
The year-on-year expansion was the fastest since October 1999, when property-related lending grew by 19.5 per cent.
Over the month, property-related loans grew 3.2 per cent from $102.4 billion at end-September, the fastest monthly pace since Nov 1998.
Consumer home loans, which include mortgages as well as short-term 'bridging loans' offered by banks to buyers of new homes who are waiting to receive the cash from selling another property, grew 14.3 per cent from a year ago to $71.8 billion, the fastest since October 2004. Over the month, the growth was 1.9 per cent, slightly slower than the 2 per cent growth in September.
Much of the period covered by latest data precedes the government's withdrawal on Oct 26 of the deferred payment scheme for private property purchases, which was aimed at discouraging speculative buying.
David Conner, chief executive of OCBC Bank, said at the release of the group's third-quarter results on Nov 6 that he expects to see an increase in demand for mortgages over the next two years, partly due to the withdrawal of the scheme, as buyers of new private homes will now have to pay a larger portion of the cost of a property while it is being built instead of deferring payments until the building is completed.
Meanwhile, loans to businesses in the building and construction sector rose 27.1 per cent over the year - the fastest since December 1996 - and 6 per cent over the month to $33.9 billion at end-October.
Total customer deposits grew 20.8 per cent over the year to $311.9 billion at end-October, while total loans grew just 15.5 per cent to $224.1 billion.
On a monthly basis, however, loans growth has outpaced growth in deposits since June. Over the month of October, loans grew 2.4 per cent compared to 1 per cent for deposits.
With the rapid expansion in loans, the ratio of loans to deposits in the banking system has recovered slightly to 71.8 per cent at the end of October, after falling as low as 67.1 per cent at end-May - the lowest in the published MAS data series, which started in Jan 1991.
Overall, loans to businesses grew at a faster pace than consumer loans, both on a monthly basis and when compared to a year ago.
Loans to businesses grew 18.5 per cent over the year and 2.6 per cent over the month to $120.1 billion. Other than the building and construction industry, the rapid growth in business loans was mainly due to expansion in loans to financial institutions and to the transport, storage and communications sector.
Meanwhile, consumer loans expanded 12.2 per cent over the year and 2.2 per cent over the month to $103.9 billion, driven mainly by the surge in home loans. Share financing and credit card lending also continued to grow, although these account for less than 8 per cent of total consumer loans.
The number of credit cards in circulation grew 15.3 per cent over the year and 2.4 per cent over the month to 4.45 million at end-October, excluding supplementary cards. But the total credit card rollover balance - that portion of the credit card debt that is subject to interest charges - dipped slightly over the month to $2.85 billion.
Bank lending to sector reaches $105.7b, up 18%
Bank lending to the property sector continued to accelerate in October, growing at the fastest annual pace in eight years, according to new data from the Singapore central bank yesterday.
Overall loans growth in the banking sector also picked up in October, the latest estimates from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) show.
Loans to the broad property sector, comprising consumer home loans and business loans to the building and construction industry, reached $105.7 billion at end-October - up 18.1 per cent from a year ago.
The year-on-year expansion was the fastest since October 1999, when property-related lending grew by 19.5 per cent.
Over the month, property-related loans grew 3.2 per cent from $102.4 billion at end-September, the fastest monthly pace since Nov 1998.
Consumer home loans, which include mortgages as well as short-term 'bridging loans' offered by banks to buyers of new homes who are waiting to receive the cash from selling another property, grew 14.3 per cent from a year ago to $71.8 billion, the fastest since October 2004. Over the month, the growth was 1.9 per cent, slightly slower than the 2 per cent growth in September.
Much of the period covered by latest data precedes the government's withdrawal on Oct 26 of the deferred payment scheme for private property purchases, which was aimed at discouraging speculative buying.
David Conner, chief executive of OCBC Bank, said at the release of the group's third-quarter results on Nov 6 that he expects to see an increase in demand for mortgages over the next two years, partly due to the withdrawal of the scheme, as buyers of new private homes will now have to pay a larger portion of the cost of a property while it is being built instead of deferring payments until the building is completed.
Meanwhile, loans to businesses in the building and construction sector rose 27.1 per cent over the year - the fastest since December 1996 - and 6 per cent over the month to $33.9 billion at end-October.
Total customer deposits grew 20.8 per cent over the year to $311.9 billion at end-October, while total loans grew just 15.5 per cent to $224.1 billion.
On a monthly basis, however, loans growth has outpaced growth in deposits since June. Over the month of October, loans grew 2.4 per cent compared to 1 per cent for deposits.
With the rapid expansion in loans, the ratio of loans to deposits in the banking system has recovered slightly to 71.8 per cent at the end of October, after falling as low as 67.1 per cent at end-May - the lowest in the published MAS data series, which started in Jan 1991.
Overall, loans to businesses grew at a faster pace than consumer loans, both on a monthly basis and when compared to a year ago.
Loans to businesses grew 18.5 per cent over the year and 2.6 per cent over the month to $120.1 billion. Other than the building and construction industry, the rapid growth in business loans was mainly due to expansion in loans to financial institutions and to the transport, storage and communications sector.
Meanwhile, consumer loans expanded 12.2 per cent over the year and 2.2 per cent over the month to $103.9 billion, driven mainly by the surge in home loans. Share financing and credit card lending also continued to grow, although these account for less than 8 per cent of total consumer loans.
The number of credit cards in circulation grew 15.3 per cent over the year and 2.4 per cent over the month to 4.45 million at end-October, excluding supplementary cards. But the total credit card rollover balance - that portion of the credit card debt that is subject to interest charges - dipped slightly over the month to $2.85 billion.
Plying The Capella Resort - Ultra-Luxury On Wheels
Source : The Business Times, December 1, 2007
The hotel will be the first in S'pore to have the Phantoms
The ultra-luxury Capella Singapore resort on Sentosa will have two ultra-luxury limousines to provide a bespoke chauffeur service to its well-heeled guests when it opens later next year.
Imposing: The standard-wheebase model costs $1.5 million, but the pair ordered by Capella Singapore will come with special options
The Pontiac Land Group hotel will be the first in Singapore to have a Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine in its fleet. The standard-wheelbase model is priced at $1.5 million, and the Capella Singapore's pair will be ordered with options specially designed for hotel use, such as a deeper boot to carry more luggage, and a cooler box under the rear seats to store cold towels.
It is not yet known what colours have been specified for the vehicles.
Stephanie Kwee-Ng, director of Pontiac's associate company Millenia Hotel, explains that the Phantom was a natural choice for the Norman Foster-designed property.
'As seen in the careful selection of our architect, interior designers, sculptors and artists, we share a common ethos with Rolls-Royce - uncompromising design,' she says.
Ms Kwee-Ng reveals that the group expressed interest in the Phantoms at the early stages of the hotel development.
'Our consideration to purchase two Phantoms began 12 months ago, and we are delighted to have just confirmed our order,' she says, adding that there is an option to purchase two more.
'We believe all our guests at Capella Singapore are VIPs. Each of them will have the opportunity to enjoy the Phantoms.'
The Phantom was introduced here in 2003 and today, there are a total of 20 privately owned Phantoms on the road. The Phantom was the first Rolls-Royce model to be made by the firm under its new BMW owners after the German carmaker bought over the hallowed British marque. The second Rolls-Royce model is a convertible, the $1.8 million Drophead Coupe. The first car was delivered here last week.
Until now, the most expensive car used by a hotel here has been a Bentley Flying Spur, which is slightly less than half the price of a standard-wheelbase Phantom. The Raffles Hotel ordered one in May 2006, to complement its classic Daimler and long-wheelbase BMW 7 Series models.
Beyond Singapore, the nearest hotels to use the imposing Phantom are in Hong Kong. The Peninsula Hong Kong has 14 of the extended-wheelbase version; the Island Shangri-La has one. Elsewhere in Asia, Chinese and Japanese hotels also deploy the Phantom.
The $400 million Capella Singapore is described as 'nestled amidst 30 acres of verdant rolling hills'. It will offer 111 manors, villas and suites, and is expected to open its doors in the final quarter of next year. In the second phase of the development, the property will give new meaning to the term 'long-staying guests', when 60 people will get the option of living in the resort for up to 20 years.
Other properties which Pontiac also owns are the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, Conrad Centennial Singapore and The Regent Singapore.
The hotel will be the first in S'pore to have the Phantoms
The ultra-luxury Capella Singapore resort on Sentosa will have two ultra-luxury limousines to provide a bespoke chauffeur service to its well-heeled guests when it opens later next year.
Imposing: The standard-wheebase model costs $1.5 million, but the pair ordered by Capella Singapore will come with special optionsThe Pontiac Land Group hotel will be the first in Singapore to have a Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine in its fleet. The standard-wheelbase model is priced at $1.5 million, and the Capella Singapore's pair will be ordered with options specially designed for hotel use, such as a deeper boot to carry more luggage, and a cooler box under the rear seats to store cold towels.
It is not yet known what colours have been specified for the vehicles.
Stephanie Kwee-Ng, director of Pontiac's associate company Millenia Hotel, explains that the Phantom was a natural choice for the Norman Foster-designed property.
'As seen in the careful selection of our architect, interior designers, sculptors and artists, we share a common ethos with Rolls-Royce - uncompromising design,' she says.
Ms Kwee-Ng reveals that the group expressed interest in the Phantoms at the early stages of the hotel development.
'Our consideration to purchase two Phantoms began 12 months ago, and we are delighted to have just confirmed our order,' she says, adding that there is an option to purchase two more.
'We believe all our guests at Capella Singapore are VIPs. Each of them will have the opportunity to enjoy the Phantoms.'
The Phantom was introduced here in 2003 and today, there are a total of 20 privately owned Phantoms on the road. The Phantom was the first Rolls-Royce model to be made by the firm under its new BMW owners after the German carmaker bought over the hallowed British marque. The second Rolls-Royce model is a convertible, the $1.8 million Drophead Coupe. The first car was delivered here last week.
Until now, the most expensive car used by a hotel here has been a Bentley Flying Spur, which is slightly less than half the price of a standard-wheelbase Phantom. The Raffles Hotel ordered one in May 2006, to complement its classic Daimler and long-wheelbase BMW 7 Series models.
Beyond Singapore, the nearest hotels to use the imposing Phantom are in Hong Kong. The Peninsula Hong Kong has 14 of the extended-wheelbase version; the Island Shangri-La has one. Elsewhere in Asia, Chinese and Japanese hotels also deploy the Phantom.
The $400 million Capella Singapore is described as 'nestled amidst 30 acres of verdant rolling hills'. It will offer 111 manors, villas and suites, and is expected to open its doors in the final quarter of next year. In the second phase of the development, the property will give new meaning to the term 'long-staying guests', when 60 people will get the option of living in the resort for up to 20 years.
Other properties which Pontiac also owns are the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, Conrad Centennial Singapore and The Regent Singapore.
Shaping The Homes Of Marina South
Source : The Straits Times, Dec 1, 2007
High-rise blocks depicting hills and canals for boat rides are among the suggested features of four winning proposals
WATERFRONT-GARDEN living that's just minutes away from the city. That is what residents at the future Marina South Residential District can expect.
No date has been set for when people can move in.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has set aside 60ha of land between Gardens at Marina South and the Straits of Singapore, which will host some 11,000 homes, with a mix of commercial, hotel and community facilities for all to enjoy.
To get ideas for this project, the URA and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) held a competition in September.
Open to students and professionals in planning, architecture and landscape, both locally and internationally, it drew 30 entries.
Participants had to illustrate how high-density living can co-exist with a waterfront garden concept, and set a new landmark in residential development.
A five-member panel, including Mr Tai Lee Siang, SIA president, and Ms Fun Siew Leng, director of urban planning and design at URA, chose four winners who each won $10,000.
The winning ideas will serve as an inspiration and catalyst for the masterplan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The four winning and other entries are on display at City Hall, Level 3 Chambers, till Dec 8, from 10am to 10pm. Admission is free.
PHOTOS: SURBANA
Design by Surbana, Singapore
THIS proposal adopts two broad housing strategies.
The first is the Blue strategy, where 30- to 50-storey-high residential towers sit directly on a vast expanse of water in a radial manner. This allows residential owners to have breathtaking views.
Carparks and vehicle movements will be limited to the basement levels, freeing up the ground level for water-themed playgrounds.
In the second Green strategy, most of the rooftop spaces will be semi-public gardens. Public gardens and spaces are also carved out between apartment blocks, creating a closeness to nature.
An internal canal system will allow residents to take boat rides around the area.
PHOTO: COMPASS STUDIO
Design by Compass Studio Limited, Hong Kong
The overall design of this proposal resembles rolling hills - depicted by high- rise residential blocks of various heights - that overlook a low-rise village.
The towers are arranged such that they have views of the Gardens at Marina South and the seafront.
Connecting the buildings are several high-level terraces called 'Sky Cloud Gardens', and they will be used for leisure activities.
Nearer the waterfront will be a low-rise eco village. Traffic here is restricted to green means of transportation, preferably electric cars.
PHOTO: SKPS PROJECT
Design by SKPS Projects, Singapore
The focus here is on creating more open areas and creating a waterfront space for communal and commercial use. Garden decks will link this area to the Gardens at Marina South.
The residential buildings will be lifted 10 storeys above ground, so the space below can be used by the public. There are also plans to plant rainforest
PHOTO: KHOO TEIK RONG
Design by Khoo Teik Rong, Singapore
Khoo Teik Rong was inspired by the many canals he saw in Amsterdam and wanted to recreate the same atmosphere. His canals will be artificially created and connect the Gardens at Marina South to the sea. There are also plans for the canals to be lined with street-level shops.
His residential blocks will consist of high-rise ones as well as townhouses and waterfront homes.
High-rise blocks depicting hills and canals for boat rides are among the suggested features of four winning proposals
WATERFRONT-GARDEN living that's just minutes away from the city. That is what residents at the future Marina South Residential District can expect.
No date has been set for when people can move in.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has set aside 60ha of land between Gardens at Marina South and the Straits of Singapore, which will host some 11,000 homes, with a mix of commercial, hotel and community facilities for all to enjoy.
To get ideas for this project, the URA and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) held a competition in September.
Open to students and professionals in planning, architecture and landscape, both locally and internationally, it drew 30 entries.
Participants had to illustrate how high-density living can co-exist with a waterfront garden concept, and set a new landmark in residential development.
A five-member panel, including Mr Tai Lee Siang, SIA president, and Ms Fun Siew Leng, director of urban planning and design at URA, chose four winners who each won $10,000.
The winning ideas will serve as an inspiration and catalyst for the masterplan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The four winning and other entries are on display at City Hall, Level 3 Chambers, till Dec 8, from 10am to 10pm. Admission is free.
PHOTOS: SURBANADesign by Surbana, Singapore
THIS proposal adopts two broad housing strategies.
The first is the Blue strategy, where 30- to 50-storey-high residential towers sit directly on a vast expanse of water in a radial manner. This allows residential owners to have breathtaking views.
Carparks and vehicle movements will be limited to the basement levels, freeing up the ground level for water-themed playgrounds.
In the second Green strategy, most of the rooftop spaces will be semi-public gardens. Public gardens and spaces are also carved out between apartment blocks, creating a closeness to nature.
An internal canal system will allow residents to take boat rides around the area.
PHOTO: COMPASS STUDIODesign by Compass Studio Limited, Hong Kong
The overall design of this proposal resembles rolling hills - depicted by high- rise residential blocks of various heights - that overlook a low-rise village.
The towers are arranged such that they have views of the Gardens at Marina South and the seafront.
Connecting the buildings are several high-level terraces called 'Sky Cloud Gardens', and they will be used for leisure activities.
Nearer the waterfront will be a low-rise eco village. Traffic here is restricted to green means of transportation, preferably electric cars.
PHOTO: SKPS PROJECTDesign by SKPS Projects, Singapore
The focus here is on creating more open areas and creating a waterfront space for communal and commercial use. Garden decks will link this area to the Gardens at Marina South.
The residential buildings will be lifted 10 storeys above ground, so the space below can be used by the public. There are also plans to plant rainforest
PHOTO: KHOO TEIK RONGDesign by Khoo Teik Rong, Singapore
Khoo Teik Rong was inspired by the many canals he saw in Amsterdam and wanted to recreate the same atmosphere. His canals will be artificially created and connect the Gardens at Marina South to the sea. There are also plans for the canals to be lined with street-level shops.
His residential blocks will consist of high-rise ones as well as townhouses and waterfront homes.
Striking Ideas Thrown Up For Marina South Project
Source : The Straits Times, Dec 1, 2007
4 winners in design competition boast features such as terraced buildings, 'floating' blocks
IT'S been a hazy vision up to now but the first stunning proposals for the Marina South Residential District, unveiled yesterday, indicate that a design revolution is brewing on Singapore's waterfront.
'FLOATING' BLOCKS: Surbana planned for 30- to 50-storey-high blocks on shallow pools, making them appear to float on water. -- PHOTO: SURBANA
The four proposals - picked from a design competition that attracted 30 entries from India to Australia - promise an intoxicating cocktail of architectural flamboyance and ecological innovation in what has been touted as Singapore's future No. 1 residential hot spot.
It is the first time a design competition has been held as part of the planning process for a residential district here.
INSPIRED BY ROLLING HILLS: Compass Studio's proposal had high-rise residential blocks overlooking a low-rise eco-village. -- PHOTO: COMPASS STUDIO
And the ideas thrown up have not been seen here before: They include elevated condominiums, terraced buildings resembling cascading gardens, and 'floating' housing blocks with Amsterdam-style canals.
The winners, who each get $10,000, include local architecture firm Surbana, Hong Kong's Compass Studio and national serviceman Khoo Teik Rong, an architecture graduate from Melbourne's RMIT University.
The designs remain just suggestions at this stage and may not be part of the final plan, but they serve as a striking starting point for the ambitious project.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will now compile a final plan for the 60ha site, which will be developed over 15 to 20 years and will have up to 11,000 homes.
The competition, organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the URA, asked entrants to unscramble what amounted to a Rubik's cube of design challenges.
At the basic level, 11,000 housing units had to be incorporated with commercial, hotel and community facilities on a prime site near the upcoming Gardens at Marina South and Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.
But proposals had to show how high-density living could be achieved while retaining the ambience of a waterfront garden.
The judges also looked for environmental sustainability and a sense of community, while calling for designs that would allow Marina South to showcase the City in a Garden vision.
Mr Khoo, 23, drew on inspiration from a visit to Amsterdam and opted for canals to run through the site to make the area more intimate.
'I didn't want a site that would have only large-scale buildings,' he said.
The Surbana team had a 'green and blue' strategy. Green in the form of plants on the roofs of low-rise buildings, which would be terraced to give the appearance of gardens sloping to the marina.
Blue covered their housing idea - 30- to 50-storey-high blocks placed on shallow pools, making them appear to float on water.
Compass Studio, meanwhile, used hills as its inspiration - it wanted high-rise buildings to resemble hills that meet the lower plains. It also proposed a low-rise eco-village.
The fourth winner was SKPS-Project, a group of five architects, mostly from Singapore. They proposed lifting residential blocks 30m above the ground and planting trees underneath.
Reacting to the designs, Mr Mink Tan of Mink Architects said they were visually evocative, with 'a mix of everything'. 'If done successfully, this can be a...shining example of Asian urban living.'
Ex-SIA president John Ting of AIM & Associates was encouraged by the designs, but said more refinement was needed. He suggested the land can be split into smaller parcels and various architects let loose: 'Then we can learn how to work the land better.'
Property developers and consultants were more hardheaded, telling The Straits Times that it was too early to judge if the designs were commercially viable.
The 30 entries are on display at City Hall until Dec 8.
4 winners in design competition boast features such as terraced buildings, 'floating' blocks
IT'S been a hazy vision up to now but the first stunning proposals for the Marina South Residential District, unveiled yesterday, indicate that a design revolution is brewing on Singapore's waterfront.
'FLOATING' BLOCKS: Surbana planned for 30- to 50-storey-high blocks on shallow pools, making them appear to float on water. -- PHOTO: SURBANAThe four proposals - picked from a design competition that attracted 30 entries from India to Australia - promise an intoxicating cocktail of architectural flamboyance and ecological innovation in what has been touted as Singapore's future No. 1 residential hot spot.
It is the first time a design competition has been held as part of the planning process for a residential district here.
INSPIRED BY ROLLING HILLS: Compass Studio's proposal had high-rise residential blocks overlooking a low-rise eco-village. -- PHOTO: COMPASS STUDIOAnd the ideas thrown up have not been seen here before: They include elevated condominiums, terraced buildings resembling cascading gardens, and 'floating' housing blocks with Amsterdam-style canals.
The winners, who each get $10,000, include local architecture firm Surbana, Hong Kong's Compass Studio and national serviceman Khoo Teik Rong, an architecture graduate from Melbourne's RMIT University.
The designs remain just suggestions at this stage and may not be part of the final plan, but they serve as a striking starting point for the ambitious project.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will now compile a final plan for the 60ha site, which will be developed over 15 to 20 years and will have up to 11,000 homes.
The competition, organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the URA, asked entrants to unscramble what amounted to a Rubik's cube of design challenges.
At the basic level, 11,000 housing units had to be incorporated with commercial, hotel and community facilities on a prime site near the upcoming Gardens at Marina South and Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.
But proposals had to show how high-density living could be achieved while retaining the ambience of a waterfront garden.
The judges also looked for environmental sustainability and a sense of community, while calling for designs that would allow Marina South to showcase the City in a Garden vision.
Mr Khoo, 23, drew on inspiration from a visit to Amsterdam and opted for canals to run through the site to make the area more intimate.
'I didn't want a site that would have only large-scale buildings,' he said.
The Surbana team had a 'green and blue' strategy. Green in the form of plants on the roofs of low-rise buildings, which would be terraced to give the appearance of gardens sloping to the marina.
Blue covered their housing idea - 30- to 50-storey-high blocks placed on shallow pools, making them appear to float on water.
Compass Studio, meanwhile, used hills as its inspiration - it wanted high-rise buildings to resemble hills that meet the lower plains. It also proposed a low-rise eco-village.
The fourth winner was SKPS-Project, a group of five architects, mostly from Singapore. They proposed lifting residential blocks 30m above the ground and planting trees underneath.
Reacting to the designs, Mr Mink Tan of Mink Architects said they were visually evocative, with 'a mix of everything'. 'If done successfully, this can be a...shining example of Asian urban living.'
Ex-SIA president John Ting of AIM & Associates was encouraged by the designs, but said more refinement was needed. He suggested the land can be split into smaller parcels and various architects let loose: 'Then we can learn how to work the land better.'
Property developers and consultants were more hardheaded, telling The Straits Times that it was too early to judge if the designs were commercially viable.
The 30 entries are on display at City Hall until Dec 8.
Green Living Scores In Design Contest For Homes In Marina South
Source : The Business Times, December 1, 2007
URA selects 4 schemes out of 30 entries from S'pore, overseas architects
A LOW-RISE eco-village, canal streets, a coastal shopping promenade and terraced communal green roofs - coupled with dramatic views and contrasting skylines. This is the living environment suggested by the winning entrants in a competition to get ideas on how Marina Bay should look.
Eco-friendly: Surbana's winning entry for the MSRD design competition. URA said in September that it was setting aside 60 ha for 11,000 units.
In September, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said it will set aside 60 hectares - the Marina South Residential District (MSRD) - for 11,000 homes.
A design competition to inspire innovative ideas to distinguish the area was announced at the same time.
When the competition closed on Nov 12, 30 entries had been received from local and overseas architects. Foreign submissions came from Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, India and the US.
Four schemes have been selected and another two received special mention. The winners are Hong Kong's Compass Studio and Singapore's Khoo Teik Rong, SKPS-Project and Surbana. Special mention was given to Australia's Chor and Singapore's ZONG Architects.
The four winners will get $10,000 and the two special mention schemes $5,000.
'We are impressed with the numerous interesting and novel ideas from the competition,' said URA's director for urban planning and design Fun Siew Leng.
'They will serve as a starting point to stimulate reflection and inspiration to develop Marina South into a distinctive waterfront garden district for generations to come.'
MSRD will also have 1.6 million sq ft set aside for hotel use and 678,000 sq ft of commercial space. The entire project will be developed over 15 to 20 years, once supporting infrastructure has been put in place.
URA selects 4 schemes out of 30 entries from S'pore, overseas architects
A LOW-RISE eco-village, canal streets, a coastal shopping promenade and terraced communal green roofs - coupled with dramatic views and contrasting skylines. This is the living environment suggested by the winning entrants in a competition to get ideas on how Marina Bay should look.
Eco-friendly: Surbana's winning entry for the MSRD design competition. URA said in September that it was setting aside 60 ha for 11,000 units.In September, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said it will set aside 60 hectares - the Marina South Residential District (MSRD) - for 11,000 homes.
A design competition to inspire innovative ideas to distinguish the area was announced at the same time.
When the competition closed on Nov 12, 30 entries had been received from local and overseas architects. Foreign submissions came from Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, India and the US.
Four schemes have been selected and another two received special mention. The winners are Hong Kong's Compass Studio and Singapore's Khoo Teik Rong, SKPS-Project and Surbana. Special mention was given to Australia's Chor and Singapore's ZONG Architects.
The four winners will get $10,000 and the two special mention schemes $5,000.
'We are impressed with the numerous interesting and novel ideas from the competition,' said URA's director for urban planning and design Fun Siew Leng.
'They will serve as a starting point to stimulate reflection and inspiration to develop Marina South into a distinctive waterfront garden district for generations to come.'
MSRD will also have 1.6 million sq ft set aside for hotel use and 678,000 sq ft of commercial space. The entire project will be developed over 15 to 20 years, once supporting infrastructure has been put in place.