New interiors, quality materials
The driveway was also expanded to accommodate more cars. “We wanted a broad and long driveway to create a sense of arrival,” says Chia.
He did not spare any expenses when it came to landscape design. He even arranged for British sculptor, Mehrdad Tafreshi, to fly to Singapore to design three sculptures for the garden, including a metal leaf sculpture made of copper for his water feature. An automated irrigation system has been installed, so that the plants are watered twice a day. Smart home features including Cisco home security have been installed in the house.
The GCB at Lornie Road has three bedrooms. Chia’s eldest brother, who was an architect, had renovated the property in the 1970s. He had added two wings on either side of the house: one of the wings has been turned into a guest suite and the other is the new living room. The guest suite has a view of the garden and the water feature with Tafreshi’s metal leaf sculpture.
While the layout of the house has remained intact, all the interiors are new: from the limestone flooring on the first level, to the powder room and guest bedroom on the first level. Even the two bedrooms on the second level have also been updated, with the addition of a walk-in wardrobe and concealed storage space. The biggest bedroom on the second level is the one adjoining the rotunda. The space can be used as a work area, a dressing room or a study.
Yio estimates that the final tally for the design and renovation works, including landscaping, is more than $4 million. A significant amount went to the landscaping and the kitchen design, with all the new Miele appliances, quartz countertops and the high level of finish, he says.
The house was completed in April last year, so Chia had the opportunity to hold several parties and this year’s Chinese New Year celebration before the Covid-19 lockdown. “We did hold some celebrations here,” says Chia. “We were thinking of using the house more often this year, but unfortunately because of Covid-19, we couldn’t.”
Even though none of his family members lives in the house, a live-in caretaker cleans and maintains it. “Houses become rundown very quickly if there’s no one living in them,” says Chia. The house comes with a separate helpers’ quarters and garage.
Over the years, Chia has been approached by those seeking a big GCB plot, either for their own use, or to carve into two smaller plots — one for their own use, and another to sell. “But I have not been keen [to sell] because I wanted to make sure that we get to enjoy the house until we are tired of entertaining,” he says. “It’s a brand new house after all.”
The existing house has a total built-up area of 4,500 sq ft and occupies a site area of just 13%, says Archetype’s Yio. The new URA regulation introduced in July last year allows an increase in site coverage to 40%. “This means the footprint of the house can be extended by another 10,000 sq ft, the equivalent of another 2½-storey detached house,” he adds. He has even identified an area where the new extension can be built on the property.
According to Samuel Eyo, managing director of Lighthouse Property Consultants, there are only a handful of GCBs in the Caldecott Hill Estate that sit on land parcels of more than 30,000 sq ft. They include two GCBs on Andrew Road and another on Olive Road. Eyo reckons the redevelopment of the former MediaCorp campus on Andrew Road is likely to lead to rejuvenation of the prime District 11 neighbourhood.
Elevated site, views of MacRitchie
“The attraction of this site on Lornie Road is that it is elevated, and enjoys unblocked views of MacRitchie Reservoir,” says Eyo. He believes the site will appeal to multi-generational families — those who want to live together, but still maintain their privacy. “The site is big enough to build up to two more detached houses, without subdividing it,” he adds.
It is also likely to appeal to young families who want a new house that they can move into immediately, adds Eyo. “Over time, as the family gets bigger and the children grow up, they may want to build an extension to the existing house. Alternatively, in the future, if they decide to downsize, they can subdivide the site into two smaller GCB sites, sell one of them, and retain the other for their own use.”
Chia is not keen on selling his family home, as it was handed down to him and his siblings. “My mother gave it to the four of us,” he says. “It has sentimental value for us.” The siblings subsequently got the property valued so that those who wanted to, could sell their shares. “We felt it was only fair that we didn’t tie people’s hands if they have other financial commitments,” Chia explains. Today, Chia and his sister Jennifer are the owners of the property, with Chia holding the bigger share.
He would consider selling the house if he gets an offer of $50 million ($1,523 psf). “‘5’ is my lucky number, that’s why my car number plates are all ‘5’,” says Chia.
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