The Arcadia is a modernist condominium development, nestled within the lush surrounds of Arcadia Road, Bukit Timah, Singapore. The development consists of three pyramidal towers each lined with planter boxes that embody the concept of garden living, and is described as a “hanging gardens”
The development was designed by Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong & Goo (WWAT&G) , together with local architect Chua Ka Seng and was completed in 1983. The design shares many similarities with WWAT&G’s previous project, The Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore’s Garden Wing (1977) which also embraces large stepped-back verandas and lush hanging greenery. [1]
A large open to sky central atrium acts as a central air-well, creating cross ventilation within the apartment units. Planters located along the circulation corridors offer privacy to the residents, whose doors are set behind layers of greenery. These pockets are modern interpretations of the vernacular Hawaiian lānai, an open-sided roofed veranda.
As described in The Straits Times: “The lānai is not for looking at but for living in. It is a part of your living room… In fact, for most of the time, there’s no way to tell where the interior living room ends and the exterior living room, the lānai, begins… You’ll entertain amid its greenery, sunbathe, think, read, rest, snooze – even cook…”
Apartments within the development are large and range from 3,800ft2 to 7,000ft2, numbering 164 in total and despite the short lease remaining still fetch a premium within the private property market.
The estate remains well maintained and much loved by the close community of occupants, who have dismissed the opportunity of en-bloc sale so far.