Having designed showflats for several upscale projects in the Robertson Quay precinct over the past 15 years, Singaporean interior designer Peter Tay has had a ringside seat to its transformation. With its historic warehouses along the meandering Singapore River, Robertson Quay has always had a special allure for both Singaporeans and expatriates.
“The conversion of the old warehouses for alternative lifestyle uses in the area makes it interesting,” says Tay.
The latest project in the Robertson Quay precinct that Tay was involved in is Rivière, for which he designed two of the showflats. The fact that it is located on the site of the former Zouk nightclub on Jiak Kim Street makes it “all the more exciting”, he adds.
Zouk had been located on Jiak Kim Street for 25 years before relocating to Clarke Quay in 2017 when its lease was up. “Zouk is globally renowned, and many people have fond memories of it,” says Ong Choon Fah, CEO of Edmund Tie & Co (ET&Co). For the past three consecutive years, Zouk was ranked among the top five of 100 clubs around the world by DJ Mag.
Another significance of Rivière’s site is that it was the last available Government Land Sales (GLS) site along that prime stretch of the Singapore River. That explains why the URA received 10 bids at the close of the tender for the 99-year leasehold site at the end of 2017.
Singapore-listed Frasers Property emerged the winner of the 145,120 sq ft, site at Jiak Kim Street in December 2017. It paid $955.4 million or $1,733 psf per plot ratio (ppr) for the land.
Frasers Property appointed acclaimed Singapore-based architect Chan Soo Khian, principal and design director of SCDA Architects, to design Rivière. Chan designed the $5 million sales gallery with a vaulted ceiling and clean, open white space – a contemporary interpretation of an old warehouse. He also designed the one- and two-bedroom showflats within the sales gallery. Meanwhile, Tay designed the showflats for the three- and four-bedroom units.
According to Elson Poo, Frasers Property’s senior vice president of sales and marketing – residential, Rivière “celebrates the heritage of the Singapore River and the contemporary lifestyle of waterfront living. It’s a residence that people would aspire to live in”.
While most residential developments along the riverfront are capped at 10 storeys, Rivière has twin 36-storey towers. “It is going to be the new landmark in the area,” says Ong of ET&Co.
Frasers Property is developing a new four-storey block with 80 serviced apartments on the site. Adjacent to the new block is the three adjoining conserved warehouses that once housed Zouk. Built in 1919 – exactly a century ago – the warehouses have a total area of close to 18,300 sq ft. These warehouses will be conserved and restored. One of them will be converted into a lobby and reception area to serve the serviced apartment block next door. The other two warehouses will be converted into F&B outlets, a specialty grocer’s as well as other communal facilities and services that will serve both residents and guests in the serviced apartments.
As the site is located on a riverbend and enjoys a 300m river frontage, the two high-rise towers at Rivière are oriented such that almost every one of the 455 residential units is assured of a river view. Units on the higher floors will enjoy a multi-faceted view of the winding river and the city skyline, while the lower floors will enjoy direct riverfront views. The roof terrace will be accessible to all residents and offers panoramic 360-degree views of the city.
The Singapore River is not very wide, says Ong of ET&Co. Therein lies its charm: “It allows you to have an intimate relationship with the river, especially when it has interesting bends,” she adds.
Rivière is designed with a mix of one- to four-bedroom units. Units span the second to the 36th floor. Only four-bedroom units on the 36th floor – the topmost level – will each have a living room with double-volume ceiling.
Of the 455 units, one-bedders of 560 sq ft account for 70 units; two-bedroom units of 818 to 840 sq ft make up another 140 units; while three-bedroom units of 1,141 to 1,249 sq ft account for 210 units; and 2,002 sq ft, four-bedroom units with private lifts make up the remaining 24 apartments.
One-bedroom units are priced from $1.576 million ($2,814 psf); two-bedroom units start from $2.185 million ($2,671 psf); three-bedroom apartments are from $2.973 million ($2,605 psf); while four-bedroom units are from $5.346 million ($2,670 psf).
Rivière is designed to set a new benchmark in terms of luxury offerings. The developer is providing marble flooring for the living area; European white oak timber flooring for the bedrooms; German-brand kitchen appliances from Gegganau and cabinetry by Poggenpohl; bathroom sanitary fittings and sanitaryware from top-end German brands Gessi and Duravit respectively. The four-bedroom units have two-basin, vanity countertops featuring a unique fine-grain Italian marble called Palissandro Blue.
Frasers Property’s Poo adds: “Rivière will be a beacon of luxury along the Singapore River, offering a different and unique product in its neighbourhood.” He sees Rivière appealing to “the discerning and well-travelled, who value simplicity, attention to details and who appreciate quiet and timeless luxury”.
Since the project was officially launched last month, about 40 units have been sold. They range from a one-bedroom, 560 sq ft unit on the second level that fetched $1.55 million ($2,769 psf); to a four-bedroom, 2,002 sq ft unit on the 35th floor that went for $6.5 million ($3,274 psf), according to caveats lodged. The highest price psf achieved at Rivière so far was for a 560 sq ft, one-bedroom unit on the 36th floor that was sold for $1.85 million ($3,305 psf).
Of the buyers, 55% are Singapore citizens, while Singapore permanent residents accounted for 35%, and foreigners, 10%, according to Frasers Property.
For price trends, recent transactions, other project info, check out the Rivière project details page
“The one- and two-bedroom units at Rivière were especially popular with singles, couples and investors,” notes ET&Co’s Ong. “The project should command a premium in both prices and rents upon completion. Generally, units with unblocked river views are the first to be snapped up.”
Rivière is the only residential development with a bridge right at its doorstep, namely the Jiak Kim Bridge connecting it directly across the river. From there, residents will be able to walk to the F&B, lifestyle and entertainment hubs at Robertson Quay and Clarke Quay. The bridge also brings residents directly to Kim Seng Park and the picturesque Alexandra Park Connector.
“In the evenings, Robertson Quay comes alive,” says Ong. “You see families walking their dogs, children on scooters, people jogging or enjoying a leisurely stroll – it’s a confluence of people enjoying the river and the amenities it offers.”
Incidentally, SCDA Architects was also the masterplan and design architect for InterContinental Hotel Robertson Quay and The Quayside by RB Capital which opened in 2017. New F&B outlets at The Quayside include Boomarang Bistro & Bar, the Summerlong Mediterranean restaurant, and the Aburiyatei Japanese restaurant. There are also the Singapore Repertory Theatre and the STPI Gallery where art exhibitions and creative workshops are held, says Ong.
Other new hotels that have opened in the Robertson Quay area over the past three years include The Warehouse Hotel, a boutique, 37-room hotel converted from a former 19th century warehouse; Studio M Hotel designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni as a loft-style hotel; and M Social at Robertson Quay, an “avant-garde design hotel” created by French designer Philippe Starck.
“And you have the beautiful old shophouses in the Mohamed Sultan area which are also being rejuvenated,” adds Tay.
ET&Co’s Ong agrees. “It’s not just the riverfront, but the entire Robertson Quay precinct that is being transformed.”
From Rivière, the CBD is just a five-minute drive away, and one can also take the river taxi to Marina Bay.
Within a five-minute walk from Rivière is the Great World City mall, which is undergoing a $50 million revamp that is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Adjacent to Great World City is the upcoming Great World MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Another upcoming station on the same line that is also within a five-minute walk of Rivière is Havelock MRT Station. Both stations are scheduled to open by 2021.
“Rivière is very accessible, as a lot of amenities are within walking distance,” adds ET&Co’s Ong. “If you want tranquillity, you can stay within your home at Rivière. If you want to enjoy the buzz and the activity, you can just walk to the F&B and lifestyle areas at Robertson Quay.”
Check out the latest listings near Rivière, MRT Stations and Schools
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