Real estate

The Singapore city penthouse tour in a Lamborghini Huracán

Despite the density of the Singapore CBD, its condos are surprisingly generous. The luxury of an open-air pool, not to mention the astonishing luxury of a tennis court; the pinnacle of a private rooftop pool. Few global capitals offer such privileges – but in Singapore, you can pick and choose. For a price, of course.

The amenities are complemented, as you’d expect, by luxe interiors, concierge services, and some of the most dazzling views on the island. But perhaps most head-turning of all is the architecture, and the impressive line-up of global design leaders who’ve contributed to the city skyline.

Here, we take the tour – in the Lamborghini Huracán EVO RWD – through some of the top condo penthouses in the city area.

The Sail at Marina Bay

Completed in 2008, the Sail was perhaps the first project to redefine city living. There’s no sacrifice to the stellar bayside location, and even today it is unsurpassed in its sheer wealth of amenities – which would be the envy of many less central condos. Think expansive open-air pools and kids’ pools, sun decks, gym and aqua-gym, concierge, lounge, and a decadent pair of tennis courts.

The duplex penthouse is fantastically spacious at 6,300 sqft, with a layout tailored to entertaining (and showing off the views) across both levels. Downstairs you have an expansive formal living and dining area, with plenty of room for a grand piano or grander art piece to break things up. At one end, a light-filled breakfast room or bar adjoins the dry kitchen, while at the other is an ensuite guest bedroom which could doubtless be requisitioned for a study. Just outside is the rooftop terrace and full-sized private pool. Upstairs, there’s a family room with yet more views and a wet bar, along with four further bedrooms including the master suite. And yes, back to those views – which stretch from the city to Marina Bay to MBS. It’s easy to see why the project sold out within two weeks of launching.

One Shenton

One Shenton is a true city-slicker residence, right in the thick of the CBD – and city-centre locations don’t come any better than this: opposite SGX, minutes to major office towers, and next to Lau Pa Sat and its famous Satay Street. While most of the 341 residences are smaller-format city pads, the three crowning Sky Villas enjoy grand proportions and private leisure amenities.

Set across three floors, the lower level is home to all four ensuite bedrooms (including a hotel-grade master with private terrace) and double-volume family room. The middle floor offers a long stretch of more formal entertaining, including an elegant private lift lobby and arrival area looking out across the family room below. The living and dining lead to a wonderfully large kitchen and back of house around one corner. On the top floor, an enclosed bar, mahjong room or cigar lounge – according to one’s needs – spills out onto the rooftop terrace and private pool encased by the last architectural flourishes of Carlos Ott’s shimmering towers.

Marina Bay Residences

Spacious open-plan living flooded with light and views in every direction – it’s hard to think of a better aspect, with the corner apartments commanding city, bay, MBS and sea views all the way round to Sentosa. The five bedroom penthouse (there are several, and larger, formats) takes full advantage, with a ‘great room’ that spans the full width of the building and comprises a corner formal lounge, an additional armchair space, breakfast area in front of the dry kitchen, and finally the corner formal dining room. And all of them soaking in the views.

The master suite enjoys a private balcony, parents’ retreat, good-sized walk-in and an equally good-sized distance from the further three bedrooms, with a family or media room and an array of balconies overlooking the CBD, Singapore Strait and Sentosa.

The condo itself enjoys one of the most remarkable swimming pools in the city, with a spa, sun deck, lawn and jaw-dropping bay and Marina Bay Sands views.

V on Shenton

Never mind the striking and sun-minimising facade by UNStudio or the chic amenities level with an open-air pool, spa and sun deck. We’re sold on the secret lair in the SuMisura-designed duplex penthouse. The main level boasts indulgent, overheight ceilings throughout, impeccable finishes and furnishing, spacious lounge-dining and three ensuite bedrooms – plus a fourth, conceived as a study, hidden behind the elegant wall panelling off the dining area.

Upstairs is a family room or bar, opening to an impressively large rooftop terrace with dining and barbecue, lounges galore and cityscape views.

Eden Residences Capitol

The only condo in the City Hall area, Eden Residences Capitol is also the only lower-rise
and ultra-low volume project, with just 34 apartments and five penthouses. Despite this exclusivity, the amenities are generous, with a lush terrace that lives up to the Eden theme and includes lawns, gardens and a selection of pools, as well as a function room, gym, rooftop deck and concierge by Kempinski.
The penthouses are all duplex, each with private pool and terrace, and each commanding a truly unique aspect looking out across the Padang landmarks to Marina Bay and MBS. The grand double-volume living and dining have floor-to-overheight-ceiling windows that bring light and landmarks into the room, with a staircase leading off and a gallery landing for added effect.

Lavish furnishing, a parents’ retreat, and luxe ensuite and walk-in make for truly plush master suites, and there is currently a choice of three or four further bedrooms. Exceptionally well appointed, the floorings are marble and timber, the kitchens feature Miele espresso machine, wine chiller and dishwasher, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and the wardrobes are imported.

One Bernam

The newest kid coming to the block is a chic designer pad in Tanjong Pagar on the south side of the city. Smaller one to three bedroom pied-à-terre formats are elegantly presented with V-Zug black glass appliances and brushed-metal Gessi fittings.

Three penthouses range from a modest 1,744 sqft to a more generous five bedroom 4,306 sqft simplex. The latter comes with separate formal lounge and dining, dry kitchen and extensive Asian kitchen, family room and four exceptionally generous ensuite bedrooms. Plus – the master suite, which is almost an enfilade of bedroom with retreat, dressing room with vanity, and a luxe bathroom with bath and shower room.

Wallich Residence

The last new penthouse at Wallich Residence has now sold, but the four penthouses and single, infamous super remain among the most extravagant properties conceived for the CBD.

Crowning Singapore’s tallest tower, the penthouses weigh in at 3,509 sqft of lavish living and dazzling views. An exclusive lift services the four, opening to a private lift lobby and then a larger foyer, which is where the views begin. In one direction, the bedrooms. In the other, a dining hall and dry kitchen, large formal living, and then a divine corner lounge bathing in light and sea views. Next to this, a fourth bedroom has been brilliantly re-imagined as a bar, with a line-up of stools, marble counter and polished metallic verticals.

Back down on the amenities level, albeit at a height of 180m, the stellar infinity pool, sun deck, lawn and terrace are in a class of their own. Not to mention the private dining, board room and observation decks.

Tempted? A generous four bedroom with study apartment is still on the market, although it comes minus the private lift lobby, and the bar.