AWARDS: Westwood Residences rides cycling fad

Westwood Residences is a 480- unit, 99-year leasehold executive condominium located on Westwood Avenue in Jurong West. Completed in 2017, Westwood Residences comprises nine blocks of residential units that cater for diverse buyers. It has 28 unit types ranging from 689 sq ft, two-bedroom units to 1,518 sq ft, five-bedroom units. More than 90% of the tower blocks are designed with North-South orientation, and 50% of the units enjoy unobstructed views.

The units have a full-height glass façade for natural lighting. On Oct 3, Koh Brothers bagged an award for Innovation Excellence at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2018 for the development. Westwood Residences is jointly developed by Koh Brothers and Heeton Homes in an 80:20 tie-up.

As Singapore’s first bicycle-centric development, Westwood Residences “promotes a car-lite [society] and a healthy lifestyle, [and] its unique theme has a strong focus on facilities for active healthy living with bicycle-centric amenities for all ages”, says Yvonne Tan, director of DP Green and one of the judges of the EdgeProp awards.

The whole development was designed to be bicycle-friendly, with wider footpaths and marked bicycle paths. Every unit at the development has individual access to bicycle storage, which comprises a bicycle parking slot with a secure covered garage.

Westwood Residences has an outdoor mini velodrome, customised for cycling enthusiasts to hone their racing techniques. This is a first for a Singapore condominium. In keeping with the cycling focus, there is also a kid’s traffic garden and BMX adventure park. This not only allows children to cycle freely but also enables them to be educated on road safety through play. All these features impressed Edmund Tie & Co CEO, Ong Choon Fah, an EdgeProp awards judge. She notes that no other development “takes cycling to this level”.

Ong says: “It actually changes people’s mindsets about cycling, not just for leisure, but [also] as a mode of transport. It brings people together, whether you are a cycling enthusiast or just spending time with your family.”