With Singapore’s continuous development and growing population, the demand for quality and modern living spaces is at an all-time high. As such, many property developers are capitalising on this trend and introducing innovative projects that cater to the needs of Singaporeans and foreign investors alike. The next new launch project in the pipelines this year is a highly anticipated one called The Continuum, a freehold development in the popular District 15.
In this article, we will highlight the best features of the development and our best picks for each unit type available. If you are considering a unit in The Continuum from their available 1-Bedroom + Study to 5-Bedroom units, read on to find out more before you head down to the showflat preview which has already started from 21 April 2023. You may also want to check out our preliminary review of The Continuum here, or our new launch banter review below.
*At the time of writing, the expected launch date for The Continuum is 6 May 2023.
Location Analysis
The Continuum is located along Thiam Siew Avenue in the Dunman area, a neighbourhood known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It will be located about 860m or a 10-minute walk away from Dakota MRT station, and about a 15-minute walk away from Paya Lebar MRT station. The East Coast Parkway (ECP) and Pan Island Expressway (PIE), which offers easy access to the city centre, are also a short drive away, making it an ideal option for professionals working in the CBD area.
One of the main draws of this area is its vibrant food scene, with numerous hawker centres, cafe culture, and restaurants serving up a variety of local and international cuisine. The Old Airport Road Food Centre, located just a short walk from the Dakota MRT station, is a must-visit for food lovers, offering a wide range of delicious cuisines.
Apart from food, the area also offers a variety of shopping and entertainment options. The nearby Katong Shopping Centre, City Plaza, and the Paya Lebar cluster of malls are popular destinations for shoppers. The Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang Leisure Park, and Kallang Wave Mall, and East Coast Park are all a short drive away, offering more recreational and entertainment options.
Families with school-going children will have plenty of options in the area. The primary school options include Tanjong Katong Primary, Kong Hwa School, Haig Girls’ School, CHIJ (Katong) Primary, Geylang Methodist Primary, Tao Nan School, and Ngee Ann Primary. With so many options available in the area, parents will not need to travel far to send their children to school.
Site Plan Analysis
The Continuum will have a total of 6 residential blocks, where block 2 and 5 will house the Prestige Collection – which are premium units with private lift access. The rest of the blocks are under the Signature Collection.
The site of The Continuum is made up of two parcels of land separated by Thiam Siew Avenue, adding up to about 260,000 sqft. That is what we meant by the ‘fraternal twin’ concept – where both parcels of land each have their own entrances, basement parking, and facilities, but still belong to the same development. They are joined by a single link bridge, which means that residents are able to move from the northern to the southern zone without crossing the street, and use the facilities from both sides. In a sense, this is like buying a 2-in-1 condominium.
The northern zone is called the North Continuum, and the southern zone is called the South Continuum. As mentioned, both zones will each have their own set of facilities, including the playground and lap pool. For the North Continuum, there is a conserved house within the premises dubbed the Heritage Zone that will serve as the clubhouse. On the other hand, the clubhouse for the South Continuum is called South Side Social, a more modern take compared to its ‘fraternal twin’. Another difference is that the North Continuum will house the outdoor gym while the South Continuum will house the multipurpose recreational court.
Unit Distribution
The Continuum will have two residential blocks with 18 storeys, and four with 17 storeys and sky terraces on each of them, offering a total of 816 units. As we mentioned in our preliminary review, it is extremely rare for District 15 to have a freehold project of this size. Even in a predominantly freehold area, most developments in the vicinity are boutique and small ones that offer around 300 units at most.
Furthermore, The Continuum will be offering units across the spectrum – from 1-Bedroom + Study to 5-Bedroom units. This will target a diverse range of demographics, catering to the needs of singles, families, and investors.
Looking at the unit mix, more than half of the units available will be made up of 2 and 3-Bedroom types. This could be a strategic move by the developers to target families who are sensitive to the quantum. In our new launch banter review, we also mentioned how the pricing by the developers could be a strategy to make buyers think twice about going for the 99-year leasehold options in the area when there’s an attractive freehold option available.
The Continuum has 19 more 4-Bedroom units and just 8 fewer 5-Bedroom units as compared to Tembusu Grand, which achieved 53% sales on its launch weekend. As a freehold development with competitive price quantums, The Continuum will attract buyers from all demographics and will likely see a similar (or better) demand and performance as its leasehold counterparts.
Floor Plan Analysis – 1-Bedroom + Study
The Continuum offers only the 1-Bedroom + Study variation for its 1-Bedders. They are found in Stacks 04, 13, 34, and 43. All of these stacks are internally facing towards the condo facilities as well as Thiam Siew Avenue which divides the two parcels of land. Overall, we favour Stack 34 as it boasts a quieter facing and directly overlooks the largest pool facility in the development.
For the unit itself, the entryway opens up into an elongated open kitchen before reaching the dining and living area. One drawback of having the AC ledge outside the master bedroom is that there will not be full-height windows, which many homeowners prefer. However, there are plenty of plus points that we observed for this layout.
Firstly, we noticed the storeroom right next to the foyer area, which is quite rare for 1-Bedders today. Although it takes up valuable liveable space from the rest of the unit, having some storage space is a good touch by the developers. Next, the space for the fridge is placed on the opposite side of the kitchen, giving more space in the main kitchen for cabinetries. And lastly, we like that the study is placed in between the master bedroom and master bathroom. This gives owners the flexibility to enclose the corridor beside the kitchen to make the study into a potential walk-in wardrobe.
Floor Plan Analysis – 2-Bedroom
For the 2-Bedders, there are two variations for the standard 2-Bedroom units and two variations for the 2-Bedroom + Study. With over 300 units available for this unit type, the 2-Bedders can be found in 16 of the 47 stacks in the development. Overall, we favour the 2-Bedroom + Study B4 layout, because of its efficient dumbbell layout, which was thoughtfully designed by the developers.
Similar to the 1-Bedroom + Study, the B4 layout features a study that is placed in between the bedroom and bathroom. However, in the B4 layout, the study is in between the common bedroom and bathroom instead of the master. While the space can also potentially be enclosed to turn the study into a walk-in wardrobe, that would close off the common bathroom as well and pose a privacy issue should guests require the bathroom. This would be a good move for investors making a rental play though, as it effectively creates two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, maintaining privacy for tenants.
Floor Plan Analysis – 3-Bedroom
The 3-Bedroom units have a lot more variations than the 2-Bedroom units in terms of the layout despite having about the same number of units available. This is where you can see the focus of the developers, because some 3-Bedroom stacks fall under the Prestige Collection – premium units that come with private lift access. Because of the rarity and prestige of these units, and the privacy they offer, we believe they will be snapped up fairly quickly. The standard C1 layout is the only unconventional one, and is not very favourable among the 3-Bedroom layouts despite having the efficient dumbbell configuration, because of the location of the AC ledge positioned outside bedrooms 2 and 3. This means that there is a high chance that there will not be full-height windows in the common bedrooms.
Overall, we favour the 3-Bedroom + Study layout because of the additional study that offers flexibility in terms of usage. It can also expand the living room and make the space look larger. In terms of the best stack, we would go for Stack 26 because of the possible pocket view of the landed enclave along Dunman Road. The reason why we picked the C9 instead of C8 layout at Stack 28 is because of the positioning of the balcony. The C8 layout is a mirror image of C9, with its balcony facing inwards towards Stack 26 instead of outwards towards the pocket view. However, if the view is not an important factor, any of these stacks (20, 22, 26, 28) are good options.
Coming to the unit itself, the private lift lobby opens up into the dining and living space. The living hall is designed in a way that is wide and the dining hall is positioned deep into the unit. However, we noticed that the positioning of the living hall would mean that there is no place to mount the TV, unless a wall is erected to divide the living hall and study.
The bedrooms are situated on one side of the unit while the kitchen, service yard, and storeroom are on the opposite side. We like that the balcony spans the length of the living room and kitchen, offering a unique kitchen experience with a view. The layout is generally well-thought-out, with the spaces designed for functionality and flexibility.
Floor Plan Analysis – 4-Bedroom
The 4-Bedroom units have three layouts that fall under the Signature Collection, and one that falls under the Prestige Collection. As we have highlighted previously, the Prestige Collection will be highly sought after due to its rarity and prestige, not to mention the privacy that it offers. As such, we will be highlighting the D4 Premier layout for this section. For the stack selection, we favour Stack 29 for the same reason – the unblocked view over the Dunman Road landed enclave. For the D4 layout, the large balcony will offer a more direct view as compared to the pocket view we mentioned in the previous section.
Coming to the unit itself, the configuration is pretty interesting. The private lift access is placed right in the middle of the unit, and the developers have designed it in a way that you can literally circle around the entire unit from the living and dining area to the bedrooms, to the master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe which has a dual entrance, to the kitchen, and then back to the living and dining area. This also means that you can access the kitchen directly from the master bedroom instead of circling all the way around via the living room.
This layout also features a larger master bathroom, with a his and hers sink, a bathtub, and a standing shower area. We like that the junior master with ensuite bathroom is segregated from the rest of the bedrooms right behind the dry kitchen, offering additional privacy for multi-generational living. The household shelter is also nicely tucked at the back of the wet kitchen and service yard, which means that it will not get in the way of any design and renovation work.
In terms of appliances, the 4-Bedroom Premier will feature a dishwasher in the wet kitchen and a wine chiller in the dry kitchen, adding to the luxurious vibe of the unit.
Floor Plan Analysis – 5-Bedroom
Lastly, the 5-Bedroom units are the rarest unit type available at The Continuum. With only 32 of such units available, they will only have one layout and can only be found in two stacks within the Prestige Collection. Both stacks are internal facing, but we favour Stack 25 as it will get a pretty sweet view of the link bridge connecting the two parcels of land as well as the largest pool facility in the development from its large balcony.
For the unit itself, the concept is the same as the 4-Bedroom D4 Premier layout. The lift lobby is also placed in the middle of the unit and you can circle around the entire unit, but with an additional common bedroom. This additional common bedroom (bedroom 5) appears to be smaller than the other two, as the floor plan shows a single bed setup instead of the queen bed setup. Another difference is the walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, which can fit wardrobes on both sides instead of a single side.
All in all, the 4-Bedroom and 5-Bedroom Premier units look extremely prestigious, and very well-designed for multi-generational living.
Closing Thoughts
The Continuum offers a unique concept and well-designed units that will likely put it in the running for the hottest new launch of the year. Located in the highly coveted District 15, The Continuum also offers easy access to many amenities and popular destinations such as East Coast Park. Given its freehold nature and the large number of units compared to its counterparts in the vicinity, demand is expected to be high.
If you are in the market for a new launch project, or are looking to expand your property portfolio, feel free to reach out to us for a second opinion. And if you are interested in The Continuum and would like to schedule a visit to the show flat, do get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to walk you through the process.
Once again, thank you for reading and following PLB. Do stay tuned as we bring you more reviews of upcoming new launch projects around Singapore.
