To Continued from Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Artist Impression of 368 Thomson

Let focus this part of article on the newly launched Thomson 368 by CDL.

368 Thomson is sitting at the former developments of Concorde Residences, Bright Building & Balestier Court. It is sitting on a freehold land of slightly more than 60,000 sf. It consists of a residential tower of 36 storey with 157 units, which is expected to be completed in year 2015.

Existing site for 368 Thomson with the Arte & Tan Tong Meng Apartment as the backdrop

Enough say of the surrounding site in my earlier articles. What is ‘striking’ is that the residential enclave of CDL’s empire being broken up by the prominent reddish tower Tan Tong Meng Apartment (which the enbloc did not work out). The strategy of CDL in Balestier developments would have changed if they had earlier succeeded in acquiring the Tan Tong Meng apartment. They could have easily consolidated all these plots and developed them as a mega big residential development. Of course CDL might have adhered to the current approach of separate parcels for different project launch as to minimize their risk to the property economic cycle.

The prominent red & white Tan Tong Meng Apartment along Thomson Road

DEVELOPMENT DESIGN

It is not difficult to notice that all CDL developments in the aforesaid area are planned in priority of views rather than North South facing to avoid harsh local weather. It is also applicable to 368 Thomson.

Nothing spectacular of the design of the 36 storey high rise of 157 units, with most façade fully cladded with glazing. There seems to be a trend for all developments, which I would have thought  the high usage in glass would have scored low in the Green Mark exercise that the Government is promoting. Though one is able to use low E (low emissivity) glazing to cut down the radiant heat, I would personally think the RC wall will be a better insulation against the harsh afternoon sun we have in the region. Have you not realize that one is able to stay in an older apartments which is well ventilated without turning air-conditioner, while aircon is a must for the new developments with full glazing?

 Of course I cannot deny that the view and design of building will be much enhanced with glazing. Maybe this is a balance that the developer and architect try to balance and weigh.

SITE PLANNING

368 Thomson Site plan

368 Thomson has 2 accesses to its development. Some people may applaud on its convenience of having an additional access to Jalan Raja Udang. It is the existing road from current Bright Building as shown in the photo. Personally I do not think the additional access is necessary given that the Jalan Raja Udang is by the side of Thomson Road which could be easily reachable if one exit from the main entrance.  

Existing access road from Bright Building

I would have though the road access will be more better utilized by replacing it with communal facilities such as more water feature, or garden or even a tennis court. For a development of this size, it is quite a disappointment to many that 368 Thomson does not come with a tennis court.

In terms of facilities, 368 Thomson boasts of facilities like:

• Playground
• Multi Purpose deck
• Outdoor fitness
• Garden of Solitude
• Eco Stream
• Lattice Walk
• Walk of Lights
• sky Terrace 3rd storey
• Main Pool
• Thermal Jet Pool
• Children Pool
• Sun Deck
• Pool Deck
• BBQ Area
• Alcove Seats
• Gymnasium

I will it strange that they name the 3^rd storey communal area as ‘sky terrace’ (do not think one will view much sky at that level with most tree canopy blocking the view), and find it even stranger that they did not choose 4^th storey as the ‘sky terrace’ to skip the usual perceived unlucky number which an usual a developer will do.

368 Thomson comes with 170 lots from basement, level 1 & level 2, which is considered decent for 157 units.

UNIT TYPES

site plan showing the adjacent development units

The architect adopted a simple & straightforward in its unit plans. With only 4 unit types ranging from 1+Study  to 4 bedroom design, each of the 5 stacks are replicated throughout every floor(excluding Penthouse unit types). As a buyer, you may have realized the bonus of such straightforward. Many of times the building defects such as leakage happens. In 368 Thomson, the standard floor plate takes away the worry that there is change of dry to wet area in the floor plate with change in unit types which may lead to leakages from above to your floor.

schematic unit distribution

From the unit sizes, CDL appears that it does not favor mickey mouse units. Their smallest unit 1+Study bedroom unit types already comes at 689 sqft, which could easily be a 2 bedroom unit to many developments.

In the above site plan, the unit numbers of each development including the Arte, Vista Residences & 368 Thomson are overlaid so the readers could get a clear idea of view that the unit could get. I summarized the following 368 Thomson below:

• Stack #01 & #02: 2-bedrooms (62 units): 872/883sqft  - Facing Thomson main road with view to City  
• Stack #03: 3-bedrooms (31 units): 1302sqft  – Facing Tan Tong Meng Tower & reservoir view.
• Stack #04: 1 + Study (31 units):  689sqft  – Facing the Arte development and Jalan Raja Udang. 
• Stack #05: 4-bedrooms (31 units): 1722sqft  – Facing 3 corners from Jalan Raja Udang, Balestier Road and partial Thomson Road. Paranomic view to city. The only stack comes with Private lift access.
• 5-bedroom penthouses (2 units): 3337/ 3391sqft

To be continued