One Draycott Lauded For Clever Design And Green Features, Racks Up Awards - Article

Joseph Liew, project manager of SDB Asia, receiving the Top Development award for One Draycott from Michael Allenspach, managing director of Geberit SEA (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore).

One Draycott, the boutique development by SDB Asia (a subsidiary of Malaysia’s Selangor Dredging Bhd or SDB), received its temporary occupation permit in April. Named for its location at 1 Draycott Park, the completed One Draycott is an elegant addition to the neighbourhood. Comprising a single 18-storey tower that is triangular in shape, it has a sleek façade featuring dark-toned curtain walls paired with gold and champagne-coloured trimmings. Perforated black metallic panels crown the top of the tower. At night, warm lighting features embedded in the façade and common areas gently illuminate the building, giving it a different look.

The design and architecture of the building were a huge consideration for SDB, who envisioned the development as a bespoke luxury residence befitting the exclusive Ardmore-Draycott residential enclave in which it resides.

London-based architectural practice CarverHaggard was engaged for the project, in partnership with Singapore’s JGP Architecture. The two firms were tasked with creating a unique building that offered a luxurious and contemporary feel. At the same time, SDB wanted the design to be efficient.

One Draycott has as sleek façade featuring dark-toned curtain walls paired with gold and champagne-coloured trimmings (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore).

The result is a building that balances aesthetics with functionality. For example, the clean lines of One Draycott’s façade not only provide a distinct, modern look, but also make it easier to maintain compared to buildings with exterior curvatures. The tower’s shape was deliberately selected to mirror the triangular shape of One Draycott’s site, allowing for maximum land efficiency.

These thoughtful design choices are among the key reasons One Draycott scored an outstanding five wins at this year’s EdgeProp Excellence Awards (EPEA). At the awards ceremony held on Oct 6, SDB Asia was presented with the awards for Top Development, Top Luxury Development, Top Boutique Development, Design Excellence and Sustainability Excellence.

Leveraging the surroundings

One Draycott occupies a freehold site that previously housed a seven-storey residential block built in the 1990s. In June 2018, SDB acquired the site through a private treaty deal for $72 million, reflecting a land rate of about $1,787 psf per plot ratio.

The 17,442 sq ft site enjoys convenient access to amenities. It is within walking distance of the Orchard Road shopping belt, as well as well-known clubs like The American Club and Tanglin Club. It is also close to reputable schools such as Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) on Barker Road, Raffles Girls’ School on Anderson Road, and EtonHouse International School on Tanglin Road.
Located within prime District 10, the site is situated close to the corner of Draycott Park and Draycott Drive, just off Ardmore Park. Luxury apartments, including the 34-unit Sculptura Ardmore, the 20-unit Eden and the 330- unit Ardmore Park, surround the development.

The pool at the facilities deck on level 2 (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore).

Notwithstanding its prestigious location, SDB acknowledges that the original site posed some challenges from a developer’s standpoint. Besides being compact in size with an irregular shape, the site sat on a slope set back from the main road, which was accessed through a long and slanted driveway. Sewer and drainage connections from adjacent developments ran through the site, adding further complexity.

Facing these challenges, SDB worked with its architects to come up with solutions that utilised innovative design while also embracing the land’s attributes. A two-level underground basement was built, serving as the residents’ car park while also helping to level the site. Residences are positioned above a facility deck on the second floor, lending even the lowest-floor units a sense of elevation and privacy.

To capitalise on its location tucked away from the main road, the driveway was crafted to provide a sense of exclusivity to the development, featuring wide cobblestone pavements flanked with lush foliage. At the drop-off area, a structural column is cleverly hidden by an eye-catching art piece called “The Pangolin”, which serves as a focal point that greets residents and guests. Made from Lucerna stones, the sculpture was created by British artists David and Anna Hiscock of DAH Studio.

The Pangolin” sculpture installed at the drop-off area (Pictur: SDB Asia).

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SDB’s emphasis on functional design extends to the residences and communal spaces within the building. Care was taken to ensure all units have a layout that maximises space efficiently. The curtain wall design chosen for the facade provides all units with floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing ample natural light and offering a sense of spaciousness.

All apartments come with their own balcony which has a glass railing. In addition, each balcony is fitted with a slide-and-fold screen which allows for better utility of the space. When the screen is folded and tucked to the side, the balcony becomes an open space with panoramic views of the neighbourhood. In contrast, when the screen is used, it provides shelter from the outdoor elements, effectively extending the internal space. The screen is champagne-coloured to ensure a cohesive look to the rest of One Draycott’s facade and is perforated to allow for ventilation when in use.

The outdoor dining area equipped with cooking facilities (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore).

In terms of unit mix, One Draycott comprises two-bedroom apartments with sizes ranging from 732 to 797 sq ft. There are also four penthouses on the top floor sized between 1,238 and 1,346 sq ft. All units come with a private lift lobby, as well as a secondary access door from the fully-enclosed kitchen that leads to the service lifts.

At level 2, the facilities deck houses a thoughtfully curated set of amenities, including a lap pool, a gymnasium, and an outdoor lounge and dining area equipped with cooking facilities. Generous landscaping was utilised to create a cosy, tropical feel with trees, shrubs and foliage adorning the space, while a high ceiling amplifies ventilation and spaciousness.

To complement the thoughtfully-designed homes, premium fittings were chosen, including kitchen cabinetry by Italian brand Ernestomeda and appliances from Miele and De Dietrich.

EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards judges at a One Draycott site visit (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore).

Sophisticated touches

In addition to its functional design, judges of this year’s EPEA were impressed by the elegant finishes weaved throughout the development, which are a testament to SDB’s attention to even the smallest details. In the residences, the main living areas have marble slabs with a matte finish, while the rooms feature herringbone timber flooring. The front of each home sports a heavy timber door with a long brass handle decorated with handcrafted oak facets featuring a geometric pattern created by the Hiscocks.

In select common areas, residents will see feature walls made from Lucerna stone carved with the same pattern that adorns the oak facets, ensuring a sense of continuity throughout the condo. At the lift lobby area, the geometric design appears in delicate frames carved from fine steel.

SDB highlights that the materials chosen for these elements serve more than a decorative purpose. For example, Lucerna stone, which comes from northern Italy, was chosen not only because it has a distinct and sophisticated look, but also for its durability against weather and heavy use. The herringbone floors, while beautiful, require a specific criss-cross method of installation that makes it more resistant to wear and tear from humidity and moisture.

Each apartment at One Draycott has a timber front door decorated with handcrafted oak facets (Picture: SDB Asia).

Green sanctuary

One Draycott was designed to be a green and private sanctuary within the bustling heart of Singapore. In line with this principle, initiatives were taken to adopt more sustainable construction and maintenance methods.

For example, precast construction was used for all bathroom units as well as for staircases and refuse chutes. The development also harvests rainwater, which is used to water plants, while sensors are utilised for amenities such as lighting in staircases and basement jet fans to conserve energy.

In the residences, layouts were configured to have windows that can be opened wherever possible, bolstering cross-ventilation throughout rooms and reducing reliance on air-conditioning. At the facility deck on level 2, high ceilings allow the space to feel airy and cool, in addition to the generous use of foliage and landscaping.

The interior of one of the units at One Draycott (Picture: SDB Asia).

Taking its cue from the greenery and mature trees present in the Ardmore-Draycott neighbourhood, SDB wanted to create a unique landscape experience at the development that integrates with the existing environment.

Greenery was incorporated throughout the development using a variety of components such as grass turfing, shrubs and trees. Planter boxes housing creeper plants have been installed from the basement carpark up to entrance level. Once mature, the plants will create a vertical green wall that helps to beautify the area while also providing shade.

At the facilities deck, landscaping was crafted around a “mini-forest” theme, featuring plants from all facets of a rainforest ecosystem. In addition, the plants are largely native to Singapore or the wider Southeast Asia region, making them easier to maintain. Meanwhile, the driveway is lined with planter strips containing hardy vine plants that are also a favourite for pollinators such as butterflies and bees.

The balcony is fitted with a slide-and-fold screen that shelters it from the elements when in use (Picture: SDB Asia).

Based on caveats lodged as of Sept 29 with URA, 34 units at One Draycott have been sold to date at an average price of $3,174 psf, with buyers comprising predominantly Singaporeans and permanent residents, according to SDB.

Recently, the developer also rolled out a deferred payment scheme for its remaining units, with prospective buyers having the option to extend the sale completion period or have a longer option exercise period.

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