In major cities like New York, loft apartments are expensive with no partitions, but in Singapore, it can be as small as 579 sq ft unit with double-volume space and a mezzanine level.
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“The apartment fits the requirement of young couples like us looking for city living,” said Ms. Jeanne Lim, who was looking for an apartment unit in 2007 along with his husband Lawrence Mui.
The newly wed couple immediately fell in love with the loft unit when they were taken to see it.
“I had previously seen pictures of loft apartments in magazines and on the Internet,” said Mr. Mui, a sales manager. “It provides a kind of lifestyle that is very different from living in a regular apartment.”
Property developer SC Global was the first to introduce loft living in the country. It launched The Lincoln Modern near Newton in 2000. The 30-storey tower has 56 split-level loft apartments and each of the units feature double-volume 6m-high ceilings and windows.
The uniqueness of the loft’s design was acknowledged by the Royal Institute of British Architects and presented the condo its Worldwide Award for 2005, making it the first residential development in Asia to receive such recognition.
“The Lincoln Modern was ahead of its time with the introduction of a new concept of space in Singapore that remains unique even today,” said SC Global spokesman.
Since then, more and more property developers have tried to introduce loft living designs in their residential projects, but not every condo has it.
One industry expert said that by building lofts, fewer units can be made within a block, and “it suits only buyers of a certain kind”.
Indeed, trader C.S. Toh, who purchased an Icon loft, said that such small units were “most ideal for singles or childless couples. This was one of the reasons we were drawn to the development”.
The 41-year-old trader lives with his wife in a loft unit, and they do not plan to have children yet.
But for Mr. Mui, it was the apartment’s high ceiling that attracted him most. “We can hang a chandelier from the high ceiling, and the 6m-high window gives us a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.”
Over at The Rochester at Buona Vista, future loft homeowners will be able to live in lush greenery.
“Our loft apartments overlook the expanse of greenery of Rochester Park. Imagine waking up at the eye level of tree canopies – it will truly be a stunning window view,” said spokesman for United Engineers, the developer of the project.
When completed next year, the 366-unit condo project will feature 60 loft apartments.
The spokesman said most of the buyers are childless couples or singles and “creative home-office types”.
While loft units are likely to be just one or two-room units, one property developer is making one step further by introducing a five-room loft unit.
Wing Tai Holding’s Ascentia Sky by Tanglin has two mega 3,025-sq-ft lofts. Some of the units comprise three bedrooms on the first floor and two more rooms on the mezzanine level, which also has a family lounge area.
The mega lofts are yet to be launched but they have already been receiving inquiries from interested buyers. Each of the loft units is expected to work at around $4.3 million.
Why such apartment was introduced? Ms. Len Siew Lian, general manager for property at Wing Tai, answered: “We have interest from residents at the Tanglin bungalow enclave, as well as those with an extended family, who seek rare, large-sized five-bedroom apartments that can provide them with much needed space to suit their lifestyle needs.”
“These mega loft units offer them a landed feel up in the sky, providing premium views of the city and surrounding greenery, and the residents can enjoy full condominium facilities in a premier quality development.”
Even Singapore’s public housing has already caught in the loft living.
Currently, HDB is offering about 281 loft units in three projects – Punggol Sapphire, Treelodge@Punggol and SkyTerrace@Dawson.
Loft units in Punggol will be ready in 2011, while the Dawson loft units are expected to be completed in 2015. Each of the HDB’s loft unit ranges from 1,044 sq ft to 1,603 sq ft.