The 1,206-unit JadeScape by Qingjian Realty is one of the most anticipated new launches this year. More than 9,000 people showed up at the developer’s sales gallery over the weekend of Sept 8 and 9.
JadeScape is a redevelopment of the former Shunfu Ville, which occupied a 398,110 sq ft site at the junction of Marymount Road and Shunfu Road. This is Qingjian’s first redevelopment of a large collective sale site with more than 1,200 units and it wants to make it “a masterpiece” project, says Yen Chong, deputy general manager of Qingjian Realty.
With a pipeline of 17 new developments that are expected to add more than 3,500 units to the market in 2H2018, developers are differentiating their projects to attract buyers. Qingjian Realty’s Chong is not overly concerned about the competition. “We are very confident about JadeScape’s concept,” she says.
Smart-home features
Qingjian has bundled new smarthome features in its hiLife app for its recent developments. It first rolled out the app, which it developed in collaboration with Samsung, in 2015. The app was first introduced at Riversound Residence, Qingjian’s 590- unit condominium in Sengkang, and has since been used in subsequent developments such as the mixed-use Le Quest in Bukit Batok, the 632- unit executive condo The Visionaire in Sembawang and the 497-unit iNz Residence EC in Choa Chu Kang.
“When Qingjian first introduced smart-home features, they were ‘good to have’,” says Chong. “Today, they are a ‘must-have’.” She points to all the other new launches this year, which also boast smart-home features.
In 2017, Qingjian provided WiFI in the common areas of iNz Residence. Subsequent projects, including JadeScape, will also have common areas that are “internet-ready”.
JadeScape, however, will have the most comprehensive smart-home features in a development by Qingjian to date, says Chong. Some of the new smart-home features at JadeScape are energy-saving air conditioners, with the waste heat being recycled for the water-heating units to reduce electricity consumption. Guests will be provided with a personal QR code at the entrance to the development so that they can enter the main gate and lift lobby. The hiLife app can be downloaded on residents’ mobile devices and used to control access to the main door of the unit as well as book condo facilities and schedule maintenance or repairs.
At JadeScape, Qingjian is also introducing its smart estate management services in its hiLife app. The estate management system is to facilitate interaction between condo management personnel and residents. For instance, residents will be able to highlight common areas that need repairs or maintenance, and the management will in turn be able to update residents when the repairs or maintenance works are completed. The app can also help facilitate the payment of conservancy fees.
According to Chong, more than 160 condos in Singapore, including Qingjian’s 10 projects, are using the hiLife app today. Given its success, Qingjian intends to roll out the app in regional markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Elderly friendly units
At JadeScape, Qingjian has introduced 63 “Gold Standard” units — one-bedders of 527 sq ft that will be fitted out with active senior living features such as cabinet and sink heights that can be comfortably reached by those in wheelchairs, wall cabinets with pull-down hydraulic racks, slip-resistant flooring and support bars in the bathrooms.
These units are located next to the three-bedroom units to promote multi-generational living. “The units cater for multi-generational families and are ideal for those who want to live close to their parents, but not too close so that they can still have their private space,” says Chong.
The Gold Standard units are not priced differently from the other one-bedroom units in the development despite the customisation, she adds. One-bedroom units of 527 sq ft at JadeScape will start from $838,000 ($1,590 psf). Two-bedroom units of 646 to 775 sq ft start from $988,000; three-bedroom units of 904 to 1,152 sq ft from $1.38 million, and four-bedroom units of 1,259 to 1,647 sq ft from $1.86 million. The five-bedroom units start from 2,099 sq ft and the two penthouses are 4,230 sq ft each.
JadeScape will be launched on Sept 22 at an average selling price of $1,700 psf.