In the affluent Ardmore Park-Draycott Park residential enclave, not far from the Orchard Road shopping belt, stands an intriguing tower that evokes a bygone architectural era. Featuring a distinct curved facade, The Draycott is an amalgamation of three cylindrical towers, setting it apart from other buildings in the vicinity.

“I often see tourists stopping to take photos and share them on Instagram — it’s a highly recognisable and iconic building,” says Richard Jany, key executive officer and co-founder of Janys Real Estate.

Located in District 10, the condo is part of a small cluster of developments within a rhombus-shaped plot bounded by Stevens Road, Draycott Park and Draycott Drive, forming what Jany dubs as the “diamond island”. Here, there are only two other residential developments besides The Draycott: the 136-unit Draycott 8 and the 20-unit Eden. “Within this ‘diamond island’, there are only 288 high-rise apartments,” he adds.

Read also: Unit at The Draycott sold for $2.5 mil profit

The Draycott’s striking design was conceived by the late Timothy Seow, the prolific Singaporean architect whose portfolio includes some of the city’s earliest luxury condos built in the 1970s and 1980s, such as the 28-storey Beverly Mai on Tomlinson Road and the 27-storey Futura on Leonie Road. The UK-trained architect is also known for pioneering the “bungalows in the air” concept, designing spacious apartments that offered a level of privacy and prestige that were comparable to that found in landed homes.

Seow’s portfolio also expands to commercial projects, with his work still apparent across several landmark buildings in the city, such as Tong Building and Wisma Atria on Orchard Road, and the Indonesian Embassy on Chatsworth Road.

In contrast, several of Seow’s residential projects have made way for newer developments over the last couple of decades. For example, Futura, built in 1975, was sold en bloc to City Developments in 2007 and later demolished to make way for New Futura, a 124-unit luxury condo completed in 2017. Beverly Mai, which was built in 1974 and often described as Singapore’s first condo, was purchased by Hotel Properties in 2007. The firm subsequently redeveloped the site into the 70-unit Tomlinson Heights, which was completed in 2014.

The Draycott stands out not just for its iconic design, but also for the rarity of its unique architectural legacy. “A lot of older condos have, unfortunately, gone en bloc,” says Jany. “While The Draycott is among the few that remain, it stands out as an icon due to its distinctive circular design.”

Units for sale 

The Draycott is located on Draycott Park within prime District 10. Completed in 1980, it was developed by Tan Chwee Boon, the founder of tobacco distributor Ban Teck Seng, who later ventured into real estate.

Situated on a freehold site of over 161,000 sq ft, The Draycott comprises a 34-storey, tri-cylindrical tower housing 132 apartments across three stacks, as well as four-storey blocks with two-bedders and maisonettes.

Read also: Cairnhill Plaza unit reaps $2.25 mil profit

Within the tower, most units are three- and four-bedders of the same size — 2,637 sq ft — and there is also a duplex penthouse of 5,339 sq ft. In the low-rise residential blocks, the two-bedroom units are 1,313 to 1,604 sq ft while the maisonettes span 2,626 to 2,788 sq ft.

Following its completion, units in two of the apartment tower’s three stacks were sold to individual buyers, while the Tan family retained units in the third stack, which were largely leased out over the past decades. However, in late 2024, the family started releasing units from the third stack for sale.

Caveats lodged with URA show that since December 2024, nine units within the third stack at the tower have changed hands. They were sold at prices ranging from $5.81 million ($2,202 psf) to $6.42 million ($2,434 psf).

Richard and his daughter Sharon Jany, who are among the appointed marketing agents for the portfolio, say approximately 15 units from the stack remain available for sale. Asking prices for the units, all sized at 2,637 sq ft each, range from about $6.34 million ($2,404 psf) for lower-floor units to $7.8 million ($2,958 psf) for apartments on the higher floors.

Circular units with 290-degree views

The tower’s unique tri-circular design extends to the apartments themselves.  With just three units per floor, each apartment is afforded privacy, with no shared walls. They also enjoy up to 290-degree unblocked views,  afforded by the development’s circular layout.

The apartments have spacious interiors that were a hallmark of the “roaring 80s”, when Singapore’s growing pool of senior executives and expatriates drove demand for larger homes suited for both living and entertaining, says Richard. As a result, living and dining areas are expansive, designed to comfortably host 20 to 30 guests — a feature that is increasingly rare in newer developments today.

Read also: Draycott Eight unit sees $1.1 mil loss

Typical layouts comprise three or four bedrooms with en suite bathrooms,  including a master, junior master and common bedrooms — all of which can accommodate king-sized beds. Curved walls create additional surface area and allow for more natural light to filter into the interiors.

Beyond design, the development also stands out for its build quality. Construction and finishings for The Draycott were closely overseen by the Tan family with scrupulous care, according to Richard.

That attention to detail has carried through to the development’s maintenance over the years. “After completion in 1980, the development was managed and leased by the grandchildren,” notes Richard. “When a project is developed with such a long-term generational perspective, the quality tends to be different.”

He adds that materials such as teak flooring, which are no longer commonly used, have held up well, with units remaining structurally sound more than four decades on.

‘Oasis of peace’

The Draycott sits at the corner of Draycott Park and Stevens Road, opposite the former Raffles Girls’ School compound at Anderson Road and close to the Goodwood Hill landed enclave. In addition to neighbouring condos in the “diamond island” such as Draycott Eight and Eden, the development is close to notable luxury residences such at the 34-unit Sculptura Ardmore and the 58-unit The Arc at Draycott.

The neighbourhood is close to amenities on the Orchard Road shopping belt while maintaining a sense of privacy and quiet from the bustle of the main street, says Richard. The exclusive Tanglin Club and American Club are also within walking distance.

Richard says that the area is an “oasis of peace” given its low-density surroundings, adding that this quality is likely to be preserved given its adjacency to the Goodwood Hill conservation area.

Additionally, the roads surrounding the “diamond island” are not served by buses, adding to the exclusivity and tranquillity of the area. “It’s especially appealing for those who appreciate unblocked views of greenery,” he continues.

Attractive freehold proposition in prime district

According to Richard’s daughter Sharon, one of The Draycott’s key selling points is its freehold tenure, a rarity in prime districts where many newer developments are built on 99-year leases.

Recent new launches within prime districts include River Modern, a 455-unit development located in River Valley in District 9. The 99-year leasehold development moved a total of 410 units (90%) at its launch weekend in early March at an average price of $3,266 psf.

Prior to that, Skye at Holland, a 99-year leasehold condo along Holland Village Way in District 10, registered a 99% take-up rate during its launch weekend in October last year. Units were sold at an average price of $2,953 psf.

Closer to The Draycott, 21 Anderson — the newest development in the area — was launched in April 2024. Developed by Kheng Leong Co, the ultra-luxury development features just 18 apartments. The freehold development has since sold 14 units at an average selling price of around $4,930 psf, caveats show. This year, 21 Anderson has seen just one unit transact — a 4,489 sq ft, four-bedroom apartment that was sold for $23.1 million ($5,146 psf).

The most recent freehold development in the immediate vicinity is One Draycott, a 64-unit condo by SDB Asia completed in 2023. The development, which was launched in 2019, largely comprises two-bedroom apartments of 732 to 797 sq ft. Since its completion, caveats lodged show that 29 units have changed hands at the development at an average price of $3,147 psf.

Diverse mix of prospective buyers 

Given the size of the units at The Draycott and their higher absolute price quantum, Richard expects prospective buyers to be those with budgets typically geared towards landed properties. “Many are drawn to The Draycott for its large floorplates, which offer comparable space to some landed homes, but in a more desirable location,” he says.

Still, he observes that The Draycott continues to attract interest across the board, given its unique design. Last year, he uploaded a video that walked through the property in detail on Janys Real Estate’s YouTube channel, which has since garnered around 925,000 views.

The video has also drawn attention from potential buyers overseas. However, while Richard notes that there have been enquiries from countries such as Switzerland and the UK, many foreigners remain hesitant due to the 60% additional buyer’s stamp duty.

Instead, the property has attracted strong interest from many permanent residents seeking a quiet living environment in a central location. Many of these prospective buyers had previously rented or lived in the area, underscoring the appeal of the development’s location.

“While the property’s circular layout may not suit everyone, it appeals to those who prioritise being in this location, which is ultimately the most important factor when buying a property,” says Richard.

Singapore as a ‘safe haven’ 

Against this backdrop, developments such as The Draycott — defined by space, tenure and location — continue to stand out in Singapore’s evolving residential landscape.

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions, Richard expects Singapore to continue serving as a “safe haven”, due to the city’s stable economy and resilient market.

“Any single event is unlikely to have a major impact on Singapore’s property market,” he says. At the same time, ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking secure places to invest and live could drive additional demand. The pandemic, for example, boosted rental demand and pushed rental prices higher.

That said, he notes that any shifts resulting from current conflicts will likely be gradual. “The impact will not be felt immediately. The market is usually quite slow to adjust, if at all.”

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A look back at 1980s architecture in Singapore condos​

In the 1980s, Singapore saw the emergence of some of its earliest high-rise condos, shaped by a distinctly different architectural approach featuring expansive floorplates and unconventional designs. While many of these projects have since been demolished or redeveloped through en bloc sales, a handful have withstood the test of time — offering a rare glimpse of the architectural vision of another era.

Among these are two developments within the Core Central Region (CCR) — The Colonnade and The Arcadia — both of which are still standing today.

Developed by Pontiac Land, The Colonnade is a freehold development located along Grange Road in prime District 10 which was completed in 1986. It comprises a mix of two- to four-bedroom apartments spanning 2,883 to 3,994 sq ft.

Paul Rudolph, an American architect, was the mastermind behind the development’s unique design, which features a single tower of stacked, interlocking units arranged around a structural frame. While Rudolph had initially intended to utilise prefabricated units in constructing The Colonnade due to financial and technical constraints, the condo was ultimately built using pour-in-place concrete, which still captured the intended look of his initial design.

Along Arcadia Road, nestled within the greenery of the Adam Road enclave, sits The Arcadia. Known for its stepped-back, terraced design, the 164-unit development was designed by local architect Chua Ka Seng in collaboration with Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong & Goo. True to then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s “Garden City” vision for Singapore, the development, completed in 1983, features three cruciform pyramidal towers lined with planter boxes.

The Arcadia comprises spacious three- to four-bedroom residences ranging from 3,466 to 4,672 sq ft, offering a living experience akin to landed homes. There are also five-bedroom, simplex penthouses of 7,503 sq ft. The leasehold property has 52 years remaining on its 99-year lease.

Outside of the CCR, another distinct condo from the 1980s is Palisades, along Pasir Panjang Road in District 5. Completed in 1985, the 18-unit boutique development has a unique feature that belies its modest façade: a funicular lift that ascends at a 22-degree angle, transporting residents directly to their homes. The lift runs along the inclined slope on which the development sits, built into the side of Pasir Panjang Hill.

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