Cairnhill Conservation Terrace and Family Lounge Area with a bridge leading to a formal dining room
David Tan, chairman of TID Associates, one of Singapore’s most renowned Interior design companies, always dreamed of “walking through water”. To achieve this effect in his home on the 114 Cairnhill Road Rene Tan, co-founder of RT+Q Architects, designed a walkway that has a backdrop with overflowing water along either side.
Beyond the entryway there is an elegant living area with a feature wall that is an intricate antique door that comes from India which was once a feature of Tan’s house in London. The house on Cairnhill Road is fitted with a built-in lighting system and Bose’s audio system. “I invested a significant amount of money for that,” he says. “The light can be set to provide the appropriate temperature and mood, no matter if you’re in a peaceful, contemplative or having a party at your home.”
Tan’s obsession with good music and lights goes from the beginning of his career, during the time that TID (Total Integral Design) was known as “the disco design experts”. This was also when he realized that light “seduced people to remain”. The company was founded in 1979. TID created a number of clubs and discotheques that were built in Singapore during the 1980s, including the exclusive Club The Library to discotheques such as Studio M at Plaza Hotel and Xanadu at Shangri-La Hotel. TID’s popularity grew far beyond Singapore and he also created clubhouses in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai and Seoul. “We were the reigning disco King of the night,” he relates.
In the 90s, TID collaborated with the then Public Works Department (now CPG Corp) to design the interior of Parliament House that was completed in July 1999 with an estimated expense at $115.2 million. The brand new Supreme Court building, which was opened in 2005 was created by the British architects Foster and Partners. The firm, however, CPG was the local architect and collaborated with TID on the interiors. Tan hopes that to be known by the title of “the design director who created the Parliament House as well as The Supreme Court”.
In the past forty-two years Tan developed an vast portfolio of properties, from private yachts and private homes of wealthy individuals, luxurious hotels, One-degree 15 marina club, as well as boutiques of luxurious brands like Bulgari, Fendi, Hermes and Tiffany & Co. Although these luxury brands have internal or appointed concept designers They also work with local design firms on implementation projects and also. “We are honored to work with these brands in the past as well as at present,” says Tan. TID manages some of the projects associated with these luxury companies, not only in Singapore but also in a few of the most important markets of Southeast Asia too, he says.
Culture, heritage, soul
In terms of his pastime or investment in real estate, Tan prefers something that is a product with “soul or heritage, as well as cultural value”. Tan explains: “That is what gives the item its value and it isn’t able to be duplicated.” Tan’s collection of cars includes the Porsche 964, which he bought in 1989, and took to Germany to be restored about two years later. “I continue to drive the car,” he says. Another example is an British hand-built sports car called Morgan that he bought in 1983. The car was recently taken to the UK for a full restoration as well, and is kept there until his return.
He’s equally cautious in his investments in real estate. Being aware of the importance of heritage properties He bought not three but three terraced homes, located situated at 114, 116 and 118 Cairnhill Road in the late 1980s. The location was chosen because of its proximity to facilities like shopping malls located on Orchard Road and the short drive to the CBD. “When I first purchased this property it became at the central point of many events,” he says.
There are only 40 properties on Cairnhill Road, and they were believed to have been constructed around 1900. It wasn’t until 1989 that these houses on Cairnhill Road and those at Emerald Hill Road were designated for preservation by the URA together with the shophouses located in the historical regions in Chinatown, Little India and those that lie along Singapore River. Singapore River.
The three houses on Cairnhill Road were being in the possession of tenants who were subject to the Rent Control Act when Tan bought the properties. To persuade them to move to a new location, he offered the property $250,000. The old lady who lived at the address 114 Cairnhill Road acknowledged Tan for his kindness, but also gave Tan a few words of advise: “If you choose to sell the properties later , make sure you sell the two other units, but don’t list this one because it’s a great one”, Tan recalls.
He inquired of the elderly woman what she meant by the word and she told him that the house was once home of famous banker and social philanthropist Tan Chin Tuan in his young age. Former OCBC chairman later bought the Tan Chin Tuan Mansion at 42 Cairnhill Road in 1939. He was a resident for over 60 years before his passing in 2005, at the age of 99. The mansion was constructed during the 20th century by the previous owner an entrepreneur and patron of the philanthropic cause Tan Kah Kee.
TID’s Tan followed the elderly lady’s suggestion. Over the time, he sold the two terraced houses he owned however, he remained at the 114 Cairnhill Road, which was his main home.
A new extension is now in place, with covered parking
In the past he made an application and received permission from URA to begin an extensive renovation, which included a rear extension of 2,200 to 2,500 square feet. While the majority of the neighbors have built-up areas of around 4,000 sq feet the Tan’s property includes a total floor space of between 6,500 and 6,700 sq feet. The major renovation, which was carried out by TID together with RT+Q the project was completed in the year 2010.
The house is surrounded by two internal courtyards. One courtyard is covered by a skylight and is situated within the space between living and formal dining area, with bridges connecting both. “When seen in the living area, the view appears like the dining area is floating in the pond” Tan says. Tan. The other courtyard that is open is fully landscaped and located next to the kitchen.
The staircase was created to be “a suspended staircase” and a brand new internal glass lift for each floor was installed.
As Tan enjoys entertaining The house has two dining areas as well as two kitchens equipped with top of the line Miele appliances. The main wet kitchen is located on the first floor, and there is a another dry kitchen that is gourmet located on the second level. Both kitchens have ample storage space, with the gourmet kitchen equipped with two wine storage compartments. The kitchen located on the mezzanine is linked to a casual dining room on one hand and a lounge to the opposite. The lounge can be opened to an entertainment area. This space is perfect for intimate gatherings since guests can park their vehicles at the rear and then walk directly to the entertainment area at the mezzanine level.
The second floor is the private space in which Tan has a huge master suite that has windows that look out onto greenery, a his and hers walk-in closet and a master bathroom that has floating bathtub. The study is furnished with an Terence Conran desk which he bought at his Conran Shop in London. In this study, there is also a hidden staircase, as well as an entrance to the “secret room” in the attic. The room was previously the bedroom of his son. There’s an en-suite guest bedroom on the upper floor as well.
The attic has an additional room with an en-suite bathroom as well as in the area where there are facilities -the fifteen-meter lap pool with a steam room, shower, as well as an area for barbeque cooking with a private terrace that has a view of the lush greenery. There’s also an area for storage that is accessible from the attic that is perfect for storage of ski equipment and other luggage. The house is home to five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
The house located at the address 114 Cairnhill Road was under renovation, Tan relocated to his weekends residence at Sentosa Cove. After the renovations had been completed Tan and his family returned to Cairnhill. After four years the wife of the owner decided she would prefer a smaller. Tan bought an apartment at the Interlace which is the 1,040-unit condo that is famous for its hexagonal form that was designed around eight courtyards by German architect Ole Scheeren.
Lifestyle Changes in lifestyle
Tan was inspired to revamp The penthouse of The Interlace for their use. “There are just two penthouses in The Interlace that have an open spiral staircase leading onto the terrace on the top,” Tan says. “I designed two dining areas which include an air-conditioned indoor dining room and an outdoor dining space. Why would you want to live in the tropical climate if you don’t like dining outdoors and indoors?”
The penthouse he lives in located at The Interlace features windows that overlook the greenery. In many prime neighborhoods the view is of the buildings around He states. “At The Interlace, I look out my window and observe the sunrise, sunset, the greenery and even the ocean.”
While Tan as well as his spouse lounge in their penthouse in The Interlace and the terraced home at Cairnhill Road is leased to tenants. The tenants are international. First, he was an American CEO of a multinational corporation The second tenant was an Dutch banker and the most recent tenant is the British leader of a global professional consulting company and his family.
According to Tan Tan, the rent in the past was $14,000 per month, however, the market for rental has improved in the last year. The most recent tenant is paying an average monthly rent of $18,750. “If I had waited a bit longer, I could have received $22,000. But I got an apartment within a matter of one week and am therefore not grieving,” he says.
What he loved most about his home located in Cairnhill was the area to entertainguests, as well as its proximity to shops in the vicinity of Orchard Road and F&B outlets. “You walk down the street and you’re at Paragon and you can take your assistant down to get milk, if you require it,” he says. “I used to visit Newton Food Centre on my electronic scooter to buy the char kway teow. It’s right near.”
Tan was initially planning for his Cairnhill property in the interest of his grown children. However, they now have properties that they own. “They don’t require Cairnhill as a property located at Cairnhill,” he says. So, he’s taken the decision to place the property for auction. He has chosen Jerry Tan, founder of JTResi which is a boutique company that focuses on residential high-end property as his sole marketing agent. “Jerry is a very dear friendof mine, as we were able to purchase retrofit and sell properties,” he says.
Tan chose high-quality materials for his remodel of the property in Cairnhill in the year 2010. The flooring was made of marble for the ground floor, and the upper floors are white oak. The bathrooms feature complete travertine tiles, and feature high-end, Toto water closets. Instead of a single-phase power supply that is the norm for the majority of homes, Tan has a three-phase power source to the house. “All you’ll need in is your art collection as well as your furniture and life style,” he says.
New rich, old rich
In the past two years, JTResi made a name for itself in the high-end residential market, by marketing and selling projects like MCL Land’s Waterfall Gardens, SC Global Developments’ The Marq on Paterson Hill and GuocoLand’s Goodwood Residence.
JTResi’s Tan believes that the next purchaser of the property at Cairnhill Road could be “young possibly with new money , and might be permanent residents (PR)”. This could be who is younger in the wealthy families of the past. Since these terraced homes are considered to be landed residential property and are limited to Singapore residents, PRs who purchase these properties must obtain an approval of the Singapore Land Authority’s Land Dealings Approval Unit. “For PRs instead of paying the $25 million price for penthouses you now have the option of getting something unique,” he says.
Before it was an area for residential development, Cairnhill was a nutmeg orchard which was owned by Charles Carnie. Carnie was the very first person to construct his house there. In the event that the nutmeg apple orchard failed the house was purchased by Carnie in 1884, and was redeveloped into an office for the director at Chartered Bank. The houses with terraces on Cairnhill Road were built later in the first decade of the 1900s. As time passed Cairnhill was transformed into a luxury residential enclave. Cairnhill region grew into a prestigious residential area in the District 9.
The house, which is a conservation terrace, is to be sold through expressions of interest from JTResi. The most recent property cooling measures announced on December 16 won’t make any pressure on the market according to JTResi’s Tan believes. “There are some assets that are unique, and due to their low number they are highly sought-after such as Good Class Bungalows are one example, while conservation terraced homes is yet another” Tan said.
These properties are a source of pride as well. “These conservation properties cannot be duplicated unlike condominiums and conventional land property,” adds JTResi’s Tan. “Conservation properties that are freehold located in prime residential area such as Cairnhill are distinct from other properties. They are rarely available for sale. Once sold, they are rarely available for sale again.”