Review of unit layouts at The Reserve Residences
The Reserve Residences Showflat: 4-bedroom (D4) - 1,625 sqft (151 sqm) [Horizon]
No. of units:
Who is it suited for?
- Multi-generational families
- Larger families
- Buyers who frequently entertain guests
Horizon collection 4-bedroom (D4) floor plan (1,625 sq ft)
There are 91 4-bedroom units in the Horizon collection ranging from 1,475 to 1,744 sqft. These are unit types D2, D3 and D4 and they comprise four stacks. The other 4-bedroom type, D1, is part of the Creekside collection.
All units in the Horizon collection have a private lift and generously sized living and dining areas. The majority of unit types also come with a flexi-space (we'll elaborate more on this below).
Location of Horizon collection units at The Reserve Residences
The main highlight of the Horizon collection is that they offer a 270-degree view of the surrounding nature reserve and facilities. As you can see on the site plan, the Horizon units are jutted out from the main residential towers so that they get expansive panoramic views. This was a deliberate move by the developer and architect to allow for more views of the greenery and scenery around the development.
However, as these units are orientated to get the best views, one thing to take note of is that the layouts of units in the Horizon collection are not conventionally squarish or rectangular.
Horizon collection 4-bedroom (D2) floor plan
Most of the layouts (like this 4-bedroom D2 unit) have diagonal angles, which might pose a challenge when placing furniture in certain rooms.
Private lift opens straight to the unit
One thing to note is that the private lift opens straight to the unit and there's no private lift lobby. While this is convenient as you won't need to open another door to get home, your neighbours living in the same stack as you (and their guests) will be able to look into your home when the lift door opens.
Of course, the chances of this happening are rare as your key card will only bring you to your unit and it will only happen if you are sharing the lift with your neighbours.
Alternatively, you can also choose to have your own "private lift lobby", as there's enough space to install a partition between the private lift and the dining area. This is perfect for buyers who prefer a foyer to welcome guests or want a dedicated space for footwear.
Dry and wet kitchen
Like most 4-bedroom units, there's a dry and wet kitchen concept in the showflat unit. Rather than an extension of the wet kitchen, we felt that the dry kitchen in this unit complements the dining area more.
The dry kitchen is equipped with a countertop with a sink, complete with hot water supply and power points. So you can place appliances like a coffee machine or a microwave oven. There's a wine chiller, too, great for serving drinks and entertaining guests. One striking feature here is the upper cabinets in glass finish which elevates the look of the dry kitchen.
While the dry kitchen is a decent space that will impress guests, we would have loved to have seen an additional bar countertop where guests can sit at. For multi-generational families, an additional space to prepare light meals would have been useful as well.
The wet kitchen is about 115 sqft (10.7 sqm), which is a decent size for a 4-bedder, so there's ample space for multiple family members to move about. There's generous kitchen cabinet space and we love that there's a window for natural ventilation, too (albeit not very huge).
There are some thoughtful provisions like this storage rack and some of the cabinets have inner kitchen drawers too, which helps organise your kitchenware better.
The list of appliances provided includes a gas hob and cooker hood, combination steam oven, fridge, and a dishwasher - all by premium European brand Smeg. We've recently seen more new launches providing a dishwasher in larger units and we love the idea as it's practical for huge households which are more likely to use more tableware.
A separate washer and dryer (both by Smeg) are provided for larger units and we like that there's ample cabinet space here for you to store your washing detergents and other cleaning equipment.
Flexi space in Horizon collection units
All units in the Horizon collection (except type D3) come with a flexi space which is around 76 sqft (7.1 sqm), almost the size of a common bedroom. It is accessible from the common lobby and comes with an attached bathroom. There's also a window, so it's naturally ventilated and daylit. Hence it's almost like a standalone room that's segregated from the rest of the unit.
According to WOHA Architects, when they conceptualised this unit, they had in mind those who want to start their own home businesses or need a creative space for their hobbies (sort of like how the Americans have their garage). This is in line with the post-pandemic trend where more people are dedicating time to side businesses. The flexi space could also simply be a helper's room or a study room.
We've also seen several other new launches (like Lentor Modern and The Botany at Dairy Farm) provide flexible spaces to cater to the changing needs of buyers. It's great to see The Reserve Residences keeping up with the times.
Generously sized living and dining areas
Compared to the other collections, units in the Horizon collection have generously sized living and dining areas to accommodate social gatherings and celebrations. That's why the living and dining areas and the dry kitchen have a massive combined area of 513 sqft (47.7 sqm). To put things into perspective, this is even larger than a typical 1-bedroom unit. So, you can just imagine how much space there is.
The dining area can comfortably fit an eight-seater table with ample walkway around space it. If you frequently host larger groups, we reckon that you'd be able to fit a 10-seater table too.
Similarly, the living area can accommodate a sizeable group as well. With a width of 4.35m, there's also more than enough space for you to place a TV on either side of the wall with a comfortable sofa-to-TV distance.
If you need additional space for seating, you can also place some sofas on the balcony. It has an extensive space of around 113 sqft (10.5 sqm), which is larger than the size of a common bedroom.
What's more, residents living in the 4-bedroom units of the Horizon collection (types D2 and D4) will also be able to enjoy a panoramic view of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Rifle Range Nature Park from the balcony.
Additional space between the living/dining areas and bedrooms
One thing worth noting is this additional area between the living/dining areas and the bedrooms. In the showflat, the ID has turned it into a study area with some shelves. Alternatively, you could also fit more seating or dining areas here or even place a piano.
This is a great space for multi-generational families as the younger family members can hang out here while the older family members gather in the living or dining areas.
Master bedroom and junior master bedroom
Master bedroom
The main master bedroom (excluding the master bathroom) is larger than average, around 202 sqft (18.8 sqm). As you can see, with a king-sized bed in place, there's still ample walkway space around.
What's special about this bedroom is that there are two large-format picture windows which allow more than a 180-degree view. The best part is that unit types D2 and D4 of the Horizon collection will get views of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve so you'll get to enjoy panoramic views. Due to the slightly hexagonal shape of the master bedroom, there's also some space in front of the bed where you can place a study table, which is quite a luxury.
One thing you might notice is that The Reserve Residences uses a curtain wall system for their windows, so they start on the same level as the floor. This means that the windows are really full-length from the floor to the ceiling.
Although the master bedroom is quite irregularly shaped, the developer has managed to include a U-shaped walk-in wardrobe in front of the master bathroom. There's ample wardrobe space for the Mr and Mrs of the household, including accessory drawers to store jewellery, rings, sunglasses and other small items.
We also love that the architects have made full use of the U-shaped corners of the wardrobe to provide more storage.
The views of the nature reserve extend to the master bathroom as there are ample windows too. While residents on the higher floors are able to enjoy stunning views while going about their morning routine, those on the lower floors might need to shut their blinds for privacy.
The provisions in the master bathroom are pretty luxurious. Besides a handheld shower and rain shower, there's a bathtub for residents to unwind. It's always nice to see premium units offering a bathtub as it differentiates them from other unit types and appeal to the well-heeled. What's more, all the master bathrooms at The Reserve Residences are equipped with a handheld bidet spray and a water closet with a washlet.
There are his and hers sinks, too, so the Mr and Mrs of the household will each have their own private area to get ready. There are also plenty of mirrors and vanity cabinet space, so you can keep your bathroom free of clutter.
Junior master bedroom
With a size of 117 sqft (10.9 sqm), the junior master bedroom is just slightly larger than a common bedroom and it can accommodate a queen-sized bed. In the showflat, the ID has managed to fit in a small dressing table in front of the bed. There's also an adequately-sized bathroom attached to the junior master.
While the junior master is not huge, we feel that it'll provide sufficient space for elderly couples who are living with their children and grandchildren in a multi-generational family.
Common bedrooms
The other two common bedrooms are pretty typical in size, ranging from 90-92 sqft (8.4-8.6 sqm). Both are able to fit a queen-sized bed, as demonstrated in the showflat. However, if you have younger children, it might make more sense to fit a single bed and a study table.
The ID has also installed side shelves and desks to show what you can do to maximise the space in both bedrooms.
What's great is that both common bedrooms have full-length windows and their wardrobes have built-in lights.
In total, the 4-bedroom unit in the Horizon collection has three bathrooms - the master bathroom, junior master bathroom and a common bathroom that's shared between the two common bedrooms.
Both the common bath and junior master bath are around the same size. Besides typical provisions that you'd expect like the vanity mirror and storage cabinets, both bathrooms are also equipped with a rain shower and a handheld bidet spray. These provisions aren't usually provided in common bathrooms, and they are an added convenience for residents.
The Reserve Residences Showflat: 2-bedroom (B7A) - 743 sqft (68 sqm) [The Reserve Residences]
No. of units:
Who is it suited for?
- Young couples
- Small families with one child
- Investors looking for rental opportunities
- Tenants
2-bedroom units are the predominant unit type at The Reserve Residences, making up 34% of the unit mix. Together with the 2-bedroom + Study units (54 units), both unit types make up 41.5% of development. This is unsurprising as The Reserve Residences is an integrated development that will cater to a large group of investors. 2-bedders are also generally popular with owner-occupiers as it fits a variety of demographics such as young couples and right-sizers.
There are seven 2-bedroom unit layouts, with various configurations of 2-bed-1-bath and 2-bed-2-baths, as well as units with and without a balcony. There are also two layouts of 2-bedroom + Study units.
While most 2-bedders have a dumbbell layout, the showflat unit has a T-shaped layout where the bedrooms share a common corridor.
Open kitchen
As you enter the 2-bedroom unit, you're immediately greeted with an open kitchen. The layout is pretty efficient as there's no foyer space.
There's a decent amount of space in the kitchen cabinets, as you'd expect from a 2-bedroom unit. You might also notice that the kitchen cabinets in the 2-bedder have an earthy colour tone compared to the grey colour palette we saw in the 4-bedder.
The kitchen appliances you can expect here are an oven, induction hob, cooker hood, fridge and washer-dryer, all of them by Smeg.
We love that there's a window in the kitchen that helps with natural ventilation, something which we rarely see in most 2-bedroom units. However, not all 2-bedders will have a window in the kitchen as it depends on which stack they are in.
Even though the kitchen is compact, there's more than enough countertop space, such as this nook beside the fridge. The space is suitable as a coffee-making area or additional storage. What's more, there's a preparation tray that you can pull out from the cabinet in case you need more space when preparing your ingredients for cooking.
Dining and living areas
The dining area comfortably sits a four-seater table. To allow more walkway space, the ID has placed the dining table parallel to the wall and installed built-in seats. However, most households might not follow such an arrangement, so you'd have to factor in more space for the dining chairs nearer to the wall.
In any case, placing the dining table parallel to the wall is a great way to save space. It's also possible to place the dining table at a right angle to the wall but this would leave less walkway space.
One thing to note is that the kitchen cabinets (on the right side of the image above) don't extend all the way to the edge of the corridor to the bedrooms. Hence, there's a little bit more room in the dining area.
Although the width of the living area is around 2.7m, which is a standard length, it felt wider than average. This could be because the living area is wider than the kitchen and dining area as it eats a little into the corridor to the bedrooms. Most 2-bedders we see have the same width throughout the kitchen, dining and living areas.
You can fit a three to four-seater sofa in the living area. We found it interesting that the ID chose a rectangular coffee table instead of a round table, as smaller tables are always used to accentuate the space in the unit. However, the rectangular table did not make the living area seem small. Hence, this gives you some options when choosing the right coffee table for your living area.
The balcony is a cosy space for additional chairs or you could turn it into a work-from-home corner. Half of the 2-bedroom units face Bukit Timah Nature Reserve while the other half face the condo facilities. So you can potentially enjoy views of greenery from the balcony.
The 2-bedroom unit types with "A" such as the showflat unit (B7A), have a slightly wider balcony than those without "A". They are also located on the higher floors (levels 18 to 31).
Bedrooms
The master bedroom is 142 sqft (13.2 sqm), which is an average size for a 2-bedder. So, you can easily fit a king-sized bed and there will still be an adequate amount of space around it. Similar to the 4-bedder, there's a curtain wall window which aligns with the same level as the floor.
One thing to consider is that the master bedroom in the B7/B7A unit types has a slight diagonal wall. This means you won't be able to push your bed all the way to the edge of the window if you want to. If you're considering side tables, you'll also need to factor in an appropriate size that will fit the diagonal angle.
However, this isn't a major issue and the other 2-bedroom unit types don't have a diagonal wall.
As part of standard provisions, all wardrobes in the 2-bedder come with built-in lights.
As there isn't sufficient space for a proper dressing table, the 1 and 2-bedders also come with a side dresser with a full-length mirror. This way, you have extra compartments to store smaller items like jewellery, sunglasses and watches.
As for the master bathroom, you can expect the standard provisions like the vanity countertop, mirror cabinet, rain shower and a handheld bidet spray. What's great is that the latter two are provided in the common bathroom as well. While they aren't significant features, these subtle touches help to differentiate the development's 2-bedroom units from others in the market.
The Reserve Residences Showflat: 3-bedroom (C8) - 1,163 sqft (108 sqm) [Creekside]
No. of units:
Who is it suited for?
- Buyers who prefer exclusivity and privacy
- Buyers who like living in a low-rise apartment with pool views
- Smaller multi-generational families
There are 42 units of 3-bedders in the Creekside collection and they comprise the C6 to C8 unit types. Unit sizes range from 1,119 sqft to 1,163 sqft while units with additional PES (private enclosed space) range from 1,335 sqft to 1,378 sqft.
If you look at the floor plan, there are three bathrooms for three bedrooms, which makes the unit ideal for smaller multi-generational families. The balcony also spans the length of the living area and one bedroom, which gives the unit a more expansive view.
As you can see from the site plan, the Creekside collection is situated away from the main residential towers, which house the other three collections. There are four residential towers, each with only two stacks. So, there are a total of eight stacks of Creekside units; seven of these are 3-bedroom units while the remaining stack is a 4-bedroom unit.
Besides tower 17, where both units have a private lift (including the 4-bedder), the other towers have two units and two lifts on every floor. So, we'd say that every unit technically has its own lift, which makes it more exclusive for residents living in the Creekside collection.
Compared to the main residential towers, which go up to 33 storeys, the Creekside collection is only up to 12 storeys. Units are on the level 6 landscape deck to level 11, while level 12 is the roof terrace. All the units on level 6 come with PES and residents can walk out to the facilities.
Foyer and kitchen
The unit opens up to a foyer where you'll find the DB cabinet with substantial storage space for your shoes. We feel that there's an efficient use of space in the foyer. It's good enough to welcome guests and usher you home but you don't have a long corridor.
The kitchen is enclosed and it's just slightly smaller than the one we saw in the 4-bedroom Horizon unit. The colour scheme for the kitchen cabinet is also similar to the 4-bedder. One thing we noticed is that instead of having countertops on both sides of the kitchen, they are only situated on one side.
While there's adequate space, having additional countertops would mean that more family members can help out in the kitchen. It'll also allow more space for baking or dedicated corners like a coffee corner.
One thing we do love about the 3-bedroom kitchen is the larger windows which are not only great for natural ventilation but also allow more light to come in.
All kitchen appliances are by Smeg and this includes an oven, gas hob, cooker hood, fridge and washer-dryer.
The kitchen also comes with a household shelter and WC. In the showflat, the ID had hidden the WC by building a panel door. This is a great idea that buyers might want to consider as well.
Higher ceiling in living and dining areas
The living and dining areas have a combined space of about 314 sqft (29.2 sqm) which is very spacious for a 3-bedder. What's even better is that all the communal spaces and bedrooms of the Creekside units have a ceiling height of 3.2m, higher than the other two showflat units we've seen (2.87m). This helps to accentuate the roominess of the living and dining areas even more.
You'd also notice that the unit has a dumbbell layout where the master bedroom and one common bedroom is on one side of the unit while the other common bedroom is on the opposite side.
That said, we do feel that the dining area is being tucked into a corner as it's bounded by the L-shaped wall around it. This could be because the corridor from the entrance is wider than average. In the showflat, part of the dining seats is built-in so that the dining area will not interfere with the walkway space.
However, this isn't a conventional arrangement, as most residents would opt for standalone chairs. If you're opting for this, the good news is that you'd still be able to fit a six-seater dining table. That would mean your dining area will eat into the walkway space. But this isn't a major issue as the dining area is wide enough.
The living area has an impressive 3.8m width, which is more than what you'd usually get for a 3-bedder. Hence, there will be more than enough distance from the sofa to the TV (if you choose to have one). In terms of sofa length, a three or four-seater would fit comfortably. Alternatively, you could get an L-shaped sofa if you need more seating space.
With a substantial width, you can explore more options for coffee tables that will complement the living area.
The balcony of the Creekside collection units is quite expansive. It has a width of more than 6m and an area of 139 sqft (12.9 sqm), which is almost the size of the master bedroom in the 2-bedder.
As the Creekside collection is meant to allow residents to be closer to the ground and enjoy views of the pool, we can see why the architect has designed the unit layout as such. It gives off a luxury resort vibe where there's plenty of sun and wind flowing into the unit. For units with PES, the balcony even extends to the master bedroom!
Three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Master bedroom
The master bedroom is 156 sqft (14.5 sqm), slightly larger than the 2-bedder master bedroom. However, one difference is the 3.2m ceiling height which makes the room seem more airy.
The walkway space around the king-sized bed is sufficient and there's just enough space for side tables. As the Creekside units are an exclusive collection, we would have loved it even more if there was enough space for a dressing table in front of or beside the bed. Should you need more storage, you can install some shelves in front of the bed.
Unlike the 4-bedroom Horizon collection, there's no walk-in wardrobe here but there's a dedicated area in front of the wardrobe where you can dress up. In place of a dresser, the showflat ID has also installed a full-length mirror and mini table beside the bathroom entrance. Hence, this will give you an idea of how you can maximise the space in the bedroom.
Common bedrooms
The first common bedroom, Bedroom 2, is around 93 sqft (8.6 sqm), quite similar to those in the other showflat units. It's situated adjacent to the master bedroom.
With the high ceiling, you're able to fit a loft bed with a study table. This arrangement is perfect for residents with young children. If you have two young kids, you might also consider getting a double-decker bed.
The other bedroom, Bedroom 3, is the one that's on the opposite side of the living and dining areas. This bedroom is larger, at 103 sqft (9.6 sqm) and comes with an attached bathroom. The bedroom can fit a queen-sized bed. Hence, it can also be regarded as a junior master bedroom.
This bedroom is suitable for elderly couples who are living with their children. With easy access to the bathroom, it'll be convenient for seniors as they won't need to move about if they need to use the toilet at night.
Alternatively, this bedroom is great for newlyweds who are living with their parents before moving out to their own home.
A plus point of Bedroom 3 is that residents can walk out to the balcony from their bedroom and enjoy the view without having to pass through the living area. This gives residents of Bedroom 3 their own personal space.
Overall, all the bedrooms in the 3-bedroom Creekside collection unit will have their own bathrooms. The bathroom provisions are almost similar, too; there's a vanity countertop, mirror cabinets, a handheld bidet spray and a rain shower.
The only difference is that the water closet in the master bathroom has a washlet.
