Walk in the footsteps of Cassandra and her family, and learn more about why they have decided to make The Florence Residences their next family home
The north-eastern part of Singapore has always held a special place in my heart. Papa is a typical teochew nang who chose to settle his family near Hougang because of the close-knit Teochew community. Sis and I grew up thronging the corridors of Heartland Mall during our free time buying trinkets and stationery.
I still visit Heartland Mall every weekend as my kids attend enrichment classes at the mall. There’s a certain degree of comfort returning to a familiar environment that has accompanied me since childhood. To me, the laid-back vibe of Kovan provides a much-needed respite from the fast pace of life in urban Singapore.
My husband and I have started looking for a new home as our kids are growing up fast. In a few years’ time, they will be asking for rooms of their own. Also, Mama and Papa are getting on in years. I would have greater peace of mind having them stay with us.
A home for all ages – the club-condo concept at The Florence Residences
We decided that we would be looking for a four-bedroom condominium near Kovan as the neighbourhood is home to us. While searching for our new abode, we came across The Florence Residences and were drawn to its club-condo facilities. It was the first time I had heard of such a concept and my curiosity was piqued.
Keeping within a monthly budget is important for families like mine. As such, The Florence Residences offers a unique benefit – we save on country club membership fees while still being able to give our loved ones the chance to enjoy a club-like lifestyle.
Without having to spend extra time traveling, the kids can further their creative interest and let their hair down at music classes held conveniently on the condominium’s grounds. Staying active is important for seniors so I will be encouraging Mama to sign up for flower arrangement classes held at the Ikebana Pavilion.
As a working mum juggling both work and family commitments, I’ve always found it hard to make time for exercising. With complimentary fitness classes being conducted at the Sparring Ring Pavilion, reaching my exercise goals will be a lot easier!
Living on a development with larger grounds has its upside – the larger the compound, the more facilities it can have onsite. The Florence Residences is spacious enough to house 128 facilities and 12 clubs with different themes. With a full suite of leisure options, planning for weekend activities is now a breeze. Be it an outdoor movie screening at the Amphitheatre or swim at the 80m Island Lap Pool, we can now minimise planning and travel time, while maximising our time together as a family!
Entertaining over meals is something my husband and I enjoy. The facilities at the Gourmet Club are the answer to our hosting aspirations. We are looking forward to catching up with friends over a sumptuous barbecue at the Outback Grill or enjoy a relaxing evening of cold cuts and pizza at the Italian Pavilion.
As an urbanite who has spent much of her life working in a concrete jungle, I firmly believe that homes should be restive sanctuaries. From what I’ve read, careful consideration has gone into designing the landscape at The Florence Residences. Revolving around the theme of Biophilia, the immaculately curated landscape serves to amplify the connection between nature and residents.
Quality home, inspired living
While my family and I have our eyes set on the four-bedroom apartment type at The Florence Residences, there are one- to five-bedroom units to suit the needs of different groups of people. Premium five-bedroom units even come with their own private lift and powder room. Majority of units at The Florence Residences have a north-south orientation.
Hougang Stadium and a low-rise landed home enclave make up part of the landscape around The Florence Residences. Units facing these areas will have relatively unblocked views of the surroundings. Other views I can choose from include refreshing swimming pool views and views of the verdant condominium grounds. I haven’t quite made up my mind which facing I prefer, but I do know that we want to return to a home with views that inspire.
I expect to spend a good amount of time in the kitchen and am pleased to see that it will be equipped with appliances from Electrolux. Many of us begin and end the day in the bathroom. As such, it’s important for bathrooms fittings to be of a certain standard. Bathrooms at The Florence Residences feature quality sanitary wares and fittings from Roca and Grohe. Careful thought has also gone into maximising storage space in each unit.
Having a secure home is important to me, as a mother of two young children. A smart home gateway with camera and digital lockset at the main entrance assures me that my home is a secure sanctuary for my family. For a seamless, fuss-free living experience, facility booking and registration of visitors can be done via a mobile app. Onsite concierge service lends a whole new level of convenience that I very much appreciate.
I know that many of my friends have started looking into buying a second property as part of their investment plans. With the recent revisions in the URA guidelines, it may be more difficult in future to find competitively priced units in areas such as District 19. With its proximity to industrial and commercial nodes such as Lorong Halus Industrial Park, Defu Industrial Estate and Tai Seng Industrial Estate, there will be demand for rental units at The Florence Residences when the development is ready for occupation.
The first 12 stations in Phase 1 of the Cross Island Line (CRL) were recently unveiled. With this, the accessibility between The Florence Residences and commercial nodes will be further enhanced, making the development even more rentable in my humble opinion.
What’s around The Florence Residences
In recent years, Kovan has emerged as a self-sufficient neighbourhood with malls such as Heartland Mall in close proximity. Kovan Market and Food Centre offers a wide array of authentic hawker fare at reasonable prices.
Education is a top priority for my husband and I as we would like to give our kids a head-start in life. Easy access to schooling options is one of the most important considerations for us when it comes to buying a new home. The Florence Residences is well-placed in this respect as it is located within the 1km radius to schools such as Holy Innocents’ Primary School, Montfort Junior School and Xinmin Primary School. Rosyth School is less than five minutes away by car.
Proximity to international schools such as Lycee Francais De Singapour and Hillside World Academy add diversity to the educational options for my foreign neighbours at The Florence Residences.
My family and I are looking forward to the future car-lite Singapore as we do not own a car. We are very happy that The Florence Residences is just an eight-minute walk away from Kovan MRT and one MRT stop from the Integrated Transport Hub at Serangoon. The future Hougang station along the CRL is expected to be a six-minute walk from the development. With shorter journeys and faster travel times courtesy of the CRL, there’s much to cheer about.
If like me, you enjoy living in the Kovan area and are thinking of making The Florence Residences your next home, come on down to the sales gallery along Hougang Avenue 10 to get up close and personal with this exciting, new development!
Presented by Logan Property
About Krristy Lam
The Sun who inspires and influences through word and thought
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