Cecil Lee

Case Study: Herb Trail means edible herbs? Yes / No? All developments are required to do weekly outdoor fogging. This is to prevent egg or lavae from mosquitoes. Thus herbs planted in such a development are not meant to be placed in one's mouth...

Case Study: Northwave's pool is East-West direction. May lead to "Sick Building Syndrome" or SBS... What is SBS? Understand it.... here:- Can it happen at Northwave EC?

There are two types of security intercom system in use today: System Type 1: Guard Room with fixed line connected to each unit's wired intercom. This system has been in use for many years especially the age of the fixed telephone lines and pagers. Here, in the past, the unit's intercom is close-by to the main entrance door. And there are many types of systems from simple verbal calls to camera built in to the intercom system. If one is not physically in the unit: the secuirty guard may call and get no answer. Or at some side-gates; there is an intercom. And one can call in to get access. For large developments like Sol Acres EC; it makes sense to opt for this fixed line system. To avoid massive phone bills from a Telecoms provider. Given that there are so many units in this development. System Type 2: Each unit has to register a phone number. Nowadays many simply register their Handphone. This system uses GSM/3G and 4G modules to dial to an owner or occupier's number. Here, so long as the occupier registers a specific phone number; the security guard can call the unit number and the occupier's specific phone will ring. Thus, the guard and check with the owner directly to sse if the occupier is expecting a specific visitor or not. For smaller developments: outside the access gate; a visitor can call a unit number. And instead of the call directing to a guardroom. Here, the potential visitor can get to talk to the occupier. And the occupier can even press a code e.g. #2 to open the side gate for his/her visitor. The advantage of this system is that one can even be in the toilet doing business or overseas and allow the visitor to come into the development. (Provided the occupier is not on a flight with their phone turned-off. If so, he/she should not be expecting a visitor. The disadvantage of this system is often: the occupier has to decide on only ONE phone to register as an "intercom" system. And for a new occupier / tenant or resale buyer, they have to quickly register their phone fast. Else, visitors have a hard-time calling up to the unit. This includes the management's time and effort to update the phone numbers each time a new tenant, occupier takes up residence in the development. Another disadvantage is that if this is a large development with lots of visitors; perhaps the telecom bills may start to rise. If the telecom company charges by the number of calls out of the system. Northwave uses this later System Type 2. Addendum on 17/7/2019 = A new type of e-invite system for visitors at The Clementi Canopy....

Case Study: Where is the central rubbish bin? An interesting read on universal concerns including the central rubbish bin

Case Study: Avoid main door (opening) facing or view of a stove A simple use of opaque film, here. Opaque films usually have transparency such as 10% to 100%. Usually 50% opaquecity is good enough.

Case Study: When purchasing a ground floor or second-storey unit, consider any nearby function areas such as BBQ pits or alfresco dining and kitchen spaces. These buildings often have support structures like pillars and beams, which may result in a pillar facing or pointing toward an opening, such as the balcony or bedroom windows.

Case Study: A look at pavilion design and whether a near-by unit get's attacked by poison arrows in terms of the roof-lines (if any) Does these two pavilions look "threatening?". Good news is that under symbolism they don't.

Case Study: Where is the location of the bin centre and sub-station (transformer room) and gen-set? Particularly try to avoid having a unit facing the bin centre. The planners of Northwave did a reasonably good job in the placement of the bin centre cum generator-set and substation (Highlighted in yellow). Thus it is safe to say that Block 111 and 101 facing these facilities is really not an issue.

May 2018 progress of The Tapestry

A snapshot of the streetmap in 1966 shows that there were two markets close-by to The Visionaire. The EC is situated at an active zone or area at Sembawang.

A compact Altar with auspicious dimensions.

Case Study: 2 Bedroom Type - Stove sharing the same wall as WC Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui less than ideal for this:

In 1966, there was a Dispensary near-by to the site.And the site was located at Kampong Sultan. A seaside Hotel was at the fringe of the sea. Today, this is reclaim land and is now the West Coast Highway.

Case Study: Comments on The Verandah Residences strata landed. Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui, less than ideal to have a toilet at the centre of the unit. Ideally, a toilet should share one external wall.

The Verandah Residences by Oxley Amber Pte Ltd is a freehold development. This development has Four blocks of 5-storey residential flats with three 2-storey strata landed houses.

Part 8 - Another competitive new launch near-by: The Garden Residences jointly developed by Keppel Land

Part 7 - Case Study: Flying Star Feng Shui of Affinity at Serangoon T.O.P. in 2024 under Period 9 Flying Star Feng Shui +++ Block 24 with stacks either facing N2 or S2. (East Group directions) Block 30 with stacks either facing NE1 and SW1. (West Group directions) Block 18 with stacks either facing NE1 and SW1:- Block 22 with stacks facing NW3 or SE3 and Block 28 with stacks facing N1 or S1 Strata houses number 10 to 16A with flying stars of N1 facing: Block 20 with stacks facing N2 or S2:-

Part 6 - Case Study: Flying Star Feng Shui of Strata houses 32 to 64 House numbers 32 to 65 faces compass direction: 324 degrees or NW3. NW3 Has the auspicious water wealth #8 at it's frontage. Good that most these homes has a water position at it's frontage. Other than this, the rest of the sectors on this home has imbalances. If the master bedroom or a bedroom is located at West sector of the home: be careful of frequent sickness

Part 5 - Case Study: Poison arrow(s) from sharp corner of neighbouring block or from strata landed homes affecting some condo unit's low storeys. I am particularly concerned with Block 22, stacks 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25 and the low storeys of the strata homes from house no. 10 to 16A. As both sides may pose a poison arrow to each other. Block 26 stack 47 does seem to have poison arrows aimed towards Block 18 stack 10. Block 18 stack 06 has a threatening poison arrow from stack 06 aimed towards Block 24 stack 36. Strata house no. 32 may have a poison arrow aimed towards low storeys of Block 30 stack 67. In addition Block 30 does have stacks 65, 66, 67, 68 and 69 may also have poison arrows aimed towards strata homes 32, 32A, 34 and perhaps 34A.

Part 4 - Reading between the lines of the Sales Brochure of Park Colonial 1. One major consideration is: "Where is the external common central rubbish bin(s) on each storey?" 2. For this development, the developer does not show the location of the external central rubbish bin(s). 3. Before signing the dotted line.. do check with the Sales Agent. In many recent past developments like the Hillion at Bukit Panjang and even 100 Palm Residences, many "wise" potential buyers have successfully requested and viewed the exact location of the common central corridor. 4. Don't want to get an unexpected surprise to find the central rubbish bin beside one's main door! Or possible not facing the main door. Both in terms of Feng Shui and may affect future resale value or even resale potential (if any)... 5. There are more considerations like the location of the central rubbish bin collection point(s) the electrical sub-station(s) and even emergency diesel generations etc.... 6. I have complied a useful set of key considerations.. they are not exhaustive but rather.. is good to know...

Part 3 - A close look at Sales Brochure Site plan features and functional areas in the development 1. Personally, I would avoid purchasing a unit directly above the retail shops. Both for privacy, cleanliness and the expected higher foot-traffic. 2. Avoid a unit close to the Bin Centre, Transformer room and Main Distribution Frame Room 3. Tennis Court. 4. BBQ areas, Alfresco Dining and Kitchen areas. 5. Pavilions especially what type of roof designs (If any). As some roof designs can result being poison arrows towards a unit's opening. And equally for privacy issues. 6. And if one does not like noisy areas; this includes proximity to Kids fountain pool, bubble pool, spa and kids play ground, jacuzzi etc.. Others: In my opinion, it is a waste of time for condos to have Spice and Herb Gardens. This is due to the requirement that fogging has to be done weekly at all condominums. Thus the spice and herbs in such gardens are like.. nice to see but "NO TOUCH!". Frankly, iin reality a waste of time.

Part 2 - Golden Ginger and Blocks 24 and 26. Block 26 is directly facing the HDB Golden Ginger apartments. Goldern Ginger is an apartment block for the elderly. Frankly, this is a consideration given that there are some who do not like facing such apartments. Or may affect resale values in the future. The site was formerly HUDC Serangoon Ville: This was how the site (a vacant plot of land) looks like in 1966:-

Part 1 - Introduction Affinity at Serangoon by Oxley Holdings is a large development with 1012 units & 40 strata landed homes. Affinity at Serangoon will be built on former HDB land... To me, the outlines of the blocks with the 40 strata homes looks like a frog. Where block 22 looks like the head with the jaw-line between house numbers 10 to 16A. And the bottom two rows of strata homes looks more like the feet of the frog:-

Parkwood Residences Formerly Togo Green.. collective sale / enbloc