Case Study: The Fortredale, a 32 Unit Home Project

[Cecil Lee]

Note: This message contains 7 pictures (Size of each picture is between 23k to 54k each. Please wait for it to be loaded fully.)
Facts about this project:
- Project Name: The Fortredale.
- Location: 2, Tanjong Rhu Road, Singapore.
- 32 units (2 units each floor).
- Full Glass Facade at the frontage of the building. (Brick wall behind)
- Glass private lift.
- "Distincitive roof decorative piece.
- The plot is land is on an acceptable rectangular shaped.
Picture 1, size = 23k

Picture 2 see below, size = 26k

Below, In my opinion, I am not happy with the type of full glass facade used. If you see the picture clearly, you will find that the type of window is not the traditional type but rather those commonly found e.g. in a toilet i.e. the "lift up type".
The entire frontage of the house uses this "lift up type" windows e.g in the Master bedroom, living room, bedrooms etc...
In my opinion, it does not allow Qi to properly come in thru the frontage of the house and circulate within the house.
Also in a `hot' country like Singapore, this would result in having to use the airconditioning all the time.
Picture 3 see below, size = 32k

Below, the units facing East, have green tinted glass. While the units facing West, uses Blue tinted glass. Do note that any use of the colours, I believe is not based on Feng Shui but rather decorative colours.
If one really base on Feng Shui, the West side glass facade should be using White or or gold colours.
Furthermore, because of the full glass facade, one has no choice but to use curtains all around the facade of the house in order to give each room proper `privacy'. The result is a set of ugly curtains stringing along the top glass panels. Very impractical indeed i.e. not practical type of house to live in. In addition, the windows are not user-friendly.
Picture 4, see below, size = 33k

Below, It is my opinion that this building is unfriendly towards its neighbour as it has two `metallic' bomberang shaped roof decorative showpiece that, I feel is threathening to its neighbours.
Picture 5, see below, size = 54k

Picture 6, see below, size = 23k

Picture 7, see below, size = 23k

Overall, I give this `building' thumbs down. In my opinion, I believe it does not go well with the discerning Singaporeans as few units have been sold so far.
A far cry from other buildings which are quickly snapped up by Singaporeans. I believe this building has been up and ready for occupancy for at least more than 5 or 6 months already. This has got to be the lowest occupancy building I have seen for a long time.
So far, I have seen ONLY one resident hang (within the house, a set of curtains. It looks terrible from outside). If you take a peak into the building, you will notice that most of the units/apartments are not occupied.
Other than this unit, I do not not see anyone else staying in this 32 unit apartment.
As for the layout plan of the interior of the apartments, they are rectangular in shaped but because of its exterior, full glass facade, in my opinion, I find this building one of the `worst' constructed building for someone looking for a `decent' house.
Please note that the above are my fair comments based on my accessment of the exterior of the building only. So far, I have not made any assessment of the interior of the housing project. In my opinion, this exterior glass facade would go better with an office building as it would be fully airconditioned.
Disclaimer: The above are meant as teaching materials. It is not my intention to `hurt' the sale of units further. But, in my opinion, this is one of the `worst' housing development, I have seen for a long time: not practical to live in and an unfriendly buidling to its neigbhours and thus deserve mentioning. Overall, in the final analysis, it is up to the individual to form their personal opinion over it.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[Cecil Lee]

The Fortredale which was newer than many of the developments had enbloc and sold has sold for around $65 million.

Thank God for it. As for liveability; it each unit looks more like a fish aquarium when one walks past it during both day and night!
However, somehow, in it's place The Line, even with it's enticing lucky draw of a BMW 3 series vehicle ... seems in my opinion to suffer from poor sales... (where each unit is sold roughly at 2,xxx per sq feet.

Quote

On 12/22/1999 7:21:05 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Note: This message contains 7
pictures (Size of each picture
is between 23k to 54k each.
Please wait for it to be
loaded fully.)
Facts about this project:
- Project Name: The
Fortredale.
- Location: 2, Tanjong Rhu
Road, Singapore.
- 32 units (2 units each
floor).
- Full Glass Facade at the
frontage of the building.
(Brick wall behind)
- Glass private lift.
- "Distincitive roof
decorative piece.
- The plot is land is on an
acceptable rectangular shaped.
Picture 1, size = 23k
Picture 2 see below, size =
26k
Below, In my opinion, I am not
happy with the type of full
glass facade used. If you see
the picture clearly, you will
find that the type of window
is not the traditional type
but rather those commonly
found e.g. in a toilet i.e.
the "lift up type".
The entire frontage of the
house uses this "lift up type"
windows e.g in the Master
bedroom, living room, bedrooms
etc...
In my opinion, it does not
allow Qi to properly come in
thru the frontage of the house
and circulate within the
house.
Also in a `hot' country like
Singapore, this would result
in having to use the
airconditioning all the time.
Picture 3 see below, size =
32k
Below, the units facing East,
have green tinted glass. While
the units facing West, uses
Blue tinted glass. Do note
that any use of the colours, I
believe is not based on Feng
Shui but rather decorative
colours.
If one really base on Feng
Shui, the West side glass
facade should be using White
or or gold colours.
Furthermore, because of the
full glass facade, one has no
choice but to use curtains all
around the facade of the house
in order to give each room
proper `privacy'. The result
is a set of ugly curtains
stringing along the top glass
panels. Very impractical
indeed i.e. not practical type
of house to live in. In
addition, the windows are not
user-friendly.
Picture 4, see below, size =
33k
Below, It is my opinion that
this building is unfriendly
towards its neighbour as it
has two `metallic' bomberang
shaped roof decorative
showpiece that, I feel is
threathening to its
neighbours.
Picture 5, see below, size =
54k
Picture 6, see below, size =
23k
Picture 7, see below, size =
23k
Overall, I give this
`building' thumbs down. In my
opinion, I believe it does not
go well with the discerning
Singaporeans as few units have
been sold so far.
A far cry from other buildings
which are quickly snapped up
by Singaporeans. I believe
this building has been up and
ready for occupancy for at
least more than 5 or 6 months
already. This has got to be
the lowest occupancy building
I have seen for a long time.
So far, I have seen ONLY one
resident hang (within the
house, a set of curtains. It
looks terrible from outside).
If you take a peak into the
building, you will notice that
most of the units/apartments
are not occupied.
Other than this unit, I do not
not see anyone else staying in
this 32 unit apartment.
As for the layout plan of the
interior of the apartments,
they are rectangular in shaped
but because of its exterior,
full glass facade, in my
opinion, I find this building
one of the `worst' constructed
building for someone looking
for a `decent' house.
Please note that the above are
my fair comments based on my
accessment of the exterior of
the building only. So far, I
have not made any assessment
of the interior of the housing
project. In my opinion, this
exterior glass facade would go
better with an office building
as it would be fully
airconditioned.
Disclaimer: The above are
meant as teaching materials.
It is not my intention to
`hurt' the sale of units
further. But, in my opinion,
this is one of the `worst'
housing development, I have
seen for a long time: not
practical to live in and an
unfriendly buidling to its
neigbhours and thus deserve
mentioning. Overall, in the
final analysis, it is up to
the individual to form their
personal opinion over it.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil