Hong How re-enters Singapore residential market with launch of Claydence on Still Road
SINGAPORE –
Property developer Hong How Land intends to launch its boutique condominium at the corner of Still Road and Koon Seng Road, Claydence, on Feb 11. This will mark “Hong How Group’s return to residential projects after over 15 years”, says Teo Teck Weng, director of Hong How Land, a joint venture between Hong How Corp (60%) and Marrion Capital (40%). The companies are owned together with his elder brother Daniel Teo, chairman and managing director of Hong How Group; their children are also shareholders of the companies.
Claydence which consists of 28-units, sits on a 23,541 sq ft, freehold plot, the result of the amalgamation of three adjacent sites that Hong How purchased two years ago. One site is the former 29-room Malacca Hotel at 97 and 99 Still Road, while the second site is the adjacent two-storey apartment block at 137 Koon Seng Road, which the hotel operator used as a workers’ quarters and for its administrative work. Hong How purchased the two sites en bloc for twenty one million in a deal brokered by CBRE at the close of the tender at end-March 2k21.
Hong How followed up with the purchase of the third site at 133 Koon Seng Road for $14.5 million in a private treaty deal four months later. On the site of one three three Koon Seng Road is a five-storey apartment block with 10 units. Teo learnt that the family owning the property was looking to sell. Hence, it made sense to purchase the site for amalgamation as “the Malacca Hotel site was too tight”, says Teo.
The former Malacca Hotel has since been demolished. The five-storey apartment block at 133 Koon Seng Road is the next building headed for demolition. With excavation works underway on the site, the sales gallery for Claydence is located at #01-09/10 in Wilkie Edge at 8 Wilkie Road. Completion of Claydence is scheduled for April 2k26.
“We have positioned Claydence to appeal mainly to owner-occupiers seeking the vibes of nearby Joo Chiat, and proximity to desirable schools and East Coast Park,” says Teo. Popular schools in the vicinity include CHIJ Katong Primary and Tao Nan School. Eunos MRT Station is also less than 800m from, which is just one MRT stop from the Paya Lebar Interchange Station for the East-West and Circle Lines.
DS Architects is the appointed architect for Claydence with Wallflower as the design consultant. The architects’ inspiration for the design of the project came from “the New York brownstone”, notes Teo. “Theirs is a modern interpretation — distilling the Brownstones’ iconic colours to the brick façade features.”
Landscaping at Claydence by landscape architectural firm Coen Design International includes tropical and heritage trees and shrubs along Still Road and Koon Seng Road to cushion any traffic noise. All units will have aluminium-framed glass panels leading to the balconies. These aluminium frames by Belgian aluminium-maker Reynaers Aluminium “will have wind load resistance and noise reduction features”, according to Teo.
Communal facilities on the attic level include an elevated swimming pool shaded by trees and shrubs, a pool deck bar, jacuzzi, an edible garden and indoor gym. On the ground floor are different themed gardens, such as Chin Chow Garden, Ulam Garden and Ylang Ylang Garden, along with a multi-purpose room and barbeque deck.
While Claydence is targeted at small families, Teo sees the project attracting singles, couples and investors too, given the unit sizes. Variations in unit sizes and bedroom types, including dining spaces for work from home, will have a unique appeal, he adds.
Located at the edge of Still Road, Claydence is also within a short walking and cycling distance of Joo Chiat Road. “Joo Chiat is the new Tiong Bahru,” quips Teo. Famous eateries in the Joo Chiat area include Fei Fei Wantan Mee, Joo Chiat Place Char Kway Teow and Kim Choo Kueh Chang, as well as Spanish Grill Asadore and Italian restaurant Cugini Trattoria Pizzeria.
Some invibrant coffeeshops that used to dot the Joo Chiat area have been replaced by artisanal bakeries and cafes, from Tigerlily Patisserie to Tiong Bahru Bakery and Kings Cart Coffee Factory, as well as Apiary ice-cream store, The Cheese Shop, wine shop Bound By Wine and Japanese butchery Ginkakuji Onishi.
Hong How also project-managed two office buildings at 48 and fifty North Canal Road for Maybank-Kim Eng Securities. The firm developed, and continues to hold, B1 industrial buildings for rental income.
