one-north

One-north is a sub-zone and business park located in Queenstown, Singapore. The park was developed by JTC Corporation for the R&D and high technology cluster, comprising biomedical sciences, Infocomm Technology (ICT) and media industries. It was officially launched on 4 December 2001, with the goal of creating a global talent hub and a knowledge-based economy. Besides, it is also a worthy consideration for families because of its close proximity to prestigious educational institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), INSEAD, and ESSEC Business School. Today, the one-north neighbourhood features plenty of public and private residential options such as the Rochester Residence and the One North Residence.

Public transport and amenities in one-north

Singapore's location one-degree to the north of the equator, gave one-north its unique name. Conceived in the 1990s, one-north was a bold, mixed-development project meant to reposition Singapore as a knowledge economy amid a changing global landscape. Built around industry-focused hubs, such as Biopolis, Fusionopolis, and Mediapolis, the 200-hectare one-north district has become a vibrant centre of innovation with a buzzing technopreneur community of venture capitalists, innovators, students, researchers and media enterprises. Business aside, one-north offers a vibrant, accessible, community-centric environment for residents, surrounded by entertainment, retail and educational facilities.

One North - Stay

On the accommodation front, one-north features plenty of residential options for short or longer-term stays. These include the condominiums, the five-star hotels, as well as public and private residential housing in nearby estates. One-North Residences, for instance, is a beautiful apartment building with a variety of facilities residents can enjoy. It has 15 floors with a total of 405 units available. There are 7 unit types available with various layouts that residents can browse through. You'll find facilities such as a barbecue area, Jacuzzi, gymnasium, playground and swimming pool waiting for you at the end of a long day. The apartment is also equipped with a 24-hour security system that ensures the safety of residents at all times. Other popular choices include The Rochester Residence, which stands at 37 storeys tall and comprises a total of 334 units, and the upcoming One North Eden which is expected to hold 165 residential units.

One North - Eat & Drink

The array of food options in the area is diverse, such as Timbre+ and the newly opened Deliveroo Food Market, as well as famous food centres in the adjacent neighbourhoods of Ghim Moh, Dover, and Holland Village. We here at 99.co have made sure to pick the very best places for you to eat in the neighbourhood. First off, if you are into artisan bakeries, Bread Yard is a must-visit for you! Located in Fusionopolis, this rustic cafe is most beloved for its bread, handcrafted with Japanese and European techniques, along with leavened pancakes and breakfast staples.

Fat Saigon Boy in Biopolis is the perfect place to go to if you would like to taste the best of Vietnamese food, while Wooshi in Fusionopolis offers a bold, eclectic rendition of Japanese sushi. Healthy Korean and vegetarian dishes are available at Daehwa Vegetarian, while the best of Turkish cuisine can be found at Arkadaş Cafe. Do you prefer Western food instead? Get the best burgers and sandwiches in one-north at the Food Barn (Fusionopolis). Several other places 99.co recommends are The Gut's Feeling, Spinelli Daily Grind, and Traditional Sarawak Kolo Mee!

One North - Shop

To provide cultural and recreational facilities for residents, Rochester Park has been revitalised into a dining and lifestyle retail hub known as the Rochester Mall. The old black-and-white colonial bungalows in Rochester Park have been preserved under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's conservation guidelines and are now given new life as dining and lifestyle establishments. Shoppers are treated to a unique shopping experience at over 30 retail, educational, and F&B outlets.

Other than Rochester Mall, the Star Vista is also a top shopping destination in the area. The mall is a part of a mixed development used also as a civic and cultural centre. Strategically located next to Buona Vista MRT Interchange, the Star Vista is well connected to two train lines and offers easy access to major roads and expressways.

Offering a plethora of food and beverage outlets and restaurants, a supermarket, entertainment, retail, services and more, the Star Vista serves the needs of more than 400,000 residents, students, and the working population in the immediate vicinity.

One North - Learn

Equipped with a range of educational institutions from preschools to tertiary level, the one-north neighbourhood is an extremely attractive and convenient area for parents with school-going children. For instance, there are Fairfield Methodist School, PlayFACTO School, Lithan Launchpad School, Learning Vision @ Biopolis Way, and Ideas Ink School. For expat families, there are international schools as well in the area, including the Anglo-Chinese School, Global Indian International School, Rainbow Centre, Tanglin Trust School, and United World College of South East Asia.

Other prestigious educational institutions and research institutes located around the one-north neighbourhood include the National University of Singapore (NUS), INSEAD, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), the Singapore Science Parks, and ESSEC Business School. On top of that, Biopolis itself is a biomedical R&D hub that houses public research institutes and private research organisations. This campus is dedicated to providing space for biomedical research and development activities and promoting peer review and collaboration among the private and public scientific communities.

One North - Move

In terms of transportation, one-north is delightfully accessible and well-connected. The main MRT station of Buona Vista is served by two MRT lines (East-West line and Circle line). Located between Ayer Rajah Avenue and Portsdown Road, one-north MRT station is an underground station on the Circle line in Queenstown.

The one-north MRT station is nestled in the basement of Fusionopolis, a research and development complex comprising retail outlets and serviced apartments. What’s special is the artwork featured in this facility. The artwork featured in one-north Station is under the Art in Transit programme, A Visual Narrative Of Pandemonic Rhythmic Movement by Yek Wong. The piece, which splits into three parts and stretches from above Platform B doors to the skylight, is an abstraction of colours, shapes, and lines. Meanwhile, those who drive to work will appreciate the fewer ERP charges in the area, as well as the lower parking costs. Shuttle buses ply the park while new mobility solutions like autonomous vehicles are being pilot-tested at one north.

One North - Parks and Gardens

one-North Park is one key slice of green in this part of town. It comprises a 16-hectare area, running through the entire length of the one-North neighbourhood, forming a continuous and linear green spine. With 5 different sections of parkland namely Fusionopolis North, Fusionopolis South, Biopolis, Rochester East and West, as well as Mediapolis, the lush greenery and scenic landscape create an interesting contrast against the architecture of the buildings in the area. The whole park serves as a green connector where residents congregate and interact within the neighbourhood. 

one-North Biopolis is the most accessible, located near to Buona Vista MRT station. It is also the only one with a children's playground. Meanwhile, Fusionopolis South is really good for birdwatching. The 150 metre-long elevated boardwalk, known as the Forest Canopy Boardwalk, has two observation platforms from where you might see birds, squirrels, and other creatures if you're lucky.

Both one-north Rochester and Mediapolis are ideal for family picnics. The latter is a sprawling green space, perfect for an array of outdoor activities for a family day out. There is not much shade in this part of the park, so we recommend a visit in the early morning or late afternoons so you don't get too scorched.