The Continuum stands out with iconic development on two freehold sites

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

October 13, 2023 9:30 AM SGT

Koon Wai Leong, General Manager of Hoi Hup Realty receiving the Top Development award for The Continuum from Cecilia Chow, Editor of EdgeProp Singapore (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

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Designing a condo is a process heavily dictated by a site’s characteristics. In planning the project, developers must work within a site’s limitations and develop design solutions that maximise efficiency while creating homes attractive to buyers.

The Continuum, the upcoming condo by Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, is a prime example of developers finding innovative ways to overcome site constraints. The project’s site comprises two freehold land plots on either side of Thiam Siew Avenue, a quiet lane nestled between Haig Road and Tanjong Katong Road in District 15. Before the sale, the land featured prewar bungalows and semi-detached houses, with a total land area of 263,794 sq ft.

The Continuum sits on two freehold plots at Thiam Siew Avenue, with each plot housing three residential towers with a total of 408 units (Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

The developers had jointly purchased the two plots en bloc for $815 million in November 2021. Located within walking distance to two MRT stations — Paya Lebar Interchange MRT Station (for the East-West and Circle Lines) and Dakota MRT Station on the Circle Line — the sites are close to amenities in the nearby Paya Lebar, Joo Chiat and Katong areas.

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While many speculated whether the joint developers would launch two separate condos or purchase the road to create one larger, combined site, the answer came less than a year and a half later when Hoi Hup and Sunway previewed The Continuum in April.

Working with P&T Architects, the developers’ approach was to create a mega-development with the plots linked by a private pedestrian overhead bridge. Each plot, designed as a self-contained condo, will have three residential towers with 408 units. Dubbed the North and South condos, respectively, each plot will have its own entrance, drop-off area, and basement parking. Together, the two sites will house a total of 816 homes.

The overhead bridge linking the two sites runs from a ramp at the landscaped deck on the North plot to the clubhouse on the South plot. The bridge, weaving through the landscaping and elevated over pools, is designed to be a new landmark in the neighbourhood.

A bridge will link the North and South plots of the development (Picture: Hoi Hup Realty, Sunway Developments)

Tang Kok Thye, associate partner at ADDP Architects and one of the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) judges, sees the bridge as an elegant solution, allowing residents to enjoy both plots’ expanse.

He attributes the ingenuity of this design to The Continuum’s success at the EPEA this year, where it clinched the award for Top Development. It also picked up awards for Landscape Excellence, Marketing Excellence and Showflat Excellence.

Hoi Hup and Sunway jointly won the EPEA’s inaugural Top Sustainable Developer title. The new award category recognises developers with the highest-scoring development based on a sustainability scoring system created by CPG Corp that follows BCA Green Mark 2021 rating criteria. Terra Hill, Hoi Hup and Sunway’s 270-unit condo at Yew Siang Road was the top-ranking development for this year’s EPEA submissions, followed by The Continuum.

Bridging old and new

Thiam Siew Avenue is named after the late property tycoon and hotelier Wee Thiam Siew. An illustrious businessman, Wee served as the chairman of tobacco dealership Ban Leong & Co. He also owned The New 7th Storey Hotel on Rochor Road, the Lion City Hotel (situated at the junction of Geylang and Tanjong Katong Roads) and the Hollywood Theatre on Tanjong Katong Road.

Wee constructed rental houses on Thiam Siew Avenue before the war. After he died in 1972, the properties at Thiam Siew Avenue went to his descendants. The Wee family subsequently sold the properties — comprising 22 freehold residential plots with 25 houses — to Hoi Hup and Sunway.

Aware of the site’s history, the joint developers preserved Thiam Siew Avenue’s name and chose one of the original pre-war bungalows for conservation. Named Thiam Siew House, the bungalow is being converted into a clubhouse on the North plot with facilities such as a library and a function room.

The North plot will feature a conserved bungalow from the original site that will serve as a clubhouse (Picture: Hoi Hup Realty, Sunway Developments)

Thiam Siew House is a strong juxtaposition to The Continuum’s second clubhouse on the South plot. Inspired by a glowing lantern, the two-storey clubhouse called the Glass House has a contemporary design with angular lines and floor-toceiling windows. The contrasting designs of the clubhouses were an intentional choice, signifying a connection between the old and the new at the development.

Wide array of lifestyle facilities

Residents can enjoy numerous condo facilities on both sites, each with its own pools, gardens, playgrounds, and clubhouses. Each site also has its own rooftop garden, featuring amenities including a jacuzzi, hot tub, outdoor lounge and gym. “The sites are shared, but also self-contained,” says EPEA judge Tang, adding that this provides convenient access for residents in those plots.

The playground area in the North plot (Picture: Hoi Hup Realty, Sunway Developments)

Care was taken to ensure that each site differs, offering all residents a wider selection of lifestyle amenities. For example, in the North condo, Thiam Siew House is the focal point for a “Heritage Zone”, which offers calming landscaping and decor inspired by the rich heritage of the Katong area. There is also a “Wellness Zone” surrounding a 33m lap pool with a jacuzzi and barbecue area and a “Fitness Zone” with additional pools, jacuzzis and a multipurpose lawn.

The South plot has a bigger “Play Zone” with a multipurpose recreational court, while the Glass House includes a sound room suited for karaoke parties. In addition, the South condo’s two pool zones offer a variety of aquatic attractions, from Vichy shower beds and hydrotherapy amenities to a 50m lap pool and a children’s splash area. The variety of facilities offered across the different zones recognises the various lifestyle needs of residents.

The hammock deck at the Sky Garden in the South condo (Picture: Hoi Hup Realty, Sunway Developments)

Signature and Prestige homes

The developers’ thoughtful planning extends to the design of the homes at The Continuum. Units are split into two collections: The Signature and Prestige units. The Signature units start from one-bedroom-plus-study units of 560 sq ft, ranging to four-bedroom apartments of up to 1,518 sq ft. Select Signature units come with a bigger foyer or a dry kitchen.

The Prestige units are the three-bedroom-plus-study, four-bedroom-plus-utility and five-bedroom units, ranging from 1,227 to 2,282 sq ft. Besides offering larger homes, Prestige units will also have private lift access, timber flooring in the bedrooms and marble flooring in the living and dining areas. Master bathrooms will also be fully tiled with marble, with four- and five-bedders coming with a walk-in wardrobe.

Showflat for two-bedroom-plus-study unit (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

All the units at The Continuum come with a storeroom, a full-height cabinet near the entryway that houses the distribution board, and a shoe rack. Master bedrooms are also tailored to fit a king-sized bed comfortably and include a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe, a full-height mirror and a built-in side dresser. Common bedrooms can all fit a queen-sized bed.

The apartments are furnished with kitchen appliances from V-Zug, a fridge from Samsung and bathroom accessories from Laufen and Gessi. It is also decked out with smart home facilities, such as a video doorbell and smart air-conditioners in the living room and master bedroom that can be controlled through an app.

Well-rounded marketing

Besides its meticulous design and planning, judges for this year’s EPEA recognised The Continuum for its marketing efforts. Hoi Hup and Sunway harnessed a holistic marketing strategy that promoted the development through various channels, including online, print, radio, television and alternative mediums.

The strategy was paired with an impressive sales gallery to showcase the development. The developers invested nearly $6 million to build the gallery, which spans two storeys. The scale model is displayed at the centre of the main hall with a double-volume ceiling. There are two showflats for the Signature units on the first floor, while two showflats for the Prestige units occupy the second floor. A spacious lounge area with plenty of seating for prospective home buyers and agents is also available.

Showflat for a five-bedroom apartment (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

With its sales initiatives, the condo saw 216 (26.5%) units sold during its launch weekend on May 6 and 7. As of Sept 25, caveats lodged with URA show that 269 units have been sold at an average price of $2,737 psf.

Check out the latest listings for The Continuum properties

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