Published September 9, 2004


Penthouse view for former banker Tan Chin Tuan


He's building 20-storey block behind his landmark Cairnhill bungalow


By KALPANA RASHIWALA


(SINGAPORE) Former OCBC chairman Tan Chin Tuan is developing a 20-storey block of apartments behind his bungalow in Cairnhill Road. And he plans to occupy the 8,435 sq ft penthouse when work is completed in about 18 months.


Mr Tan, 95, now lives with his family in Grange Court. He bought the eight-unit apartment block in Grange Road in 2001 because he wanted to move out from his Cairnhill bungalow to escape construction activity nearby.


Property Enterprises Development's Cairnhill Crest condo, which is almost completed, is next door to Mr Tan's bungalow.


A property analyst estimated yesterday that it will cost Mr Tan $20-odd million to conserve his Cairnhill bungalow and develop the adjacent apartment block. Work is slated to finish around March 2006.


Construction of the apartments began six months ago.


Besides the double-storey penthouse, there will be 15 apartments in the block averaging about 4,590 sq ft each. The plan is to have one unit per floor.


There will be a sky terrace garden on the 12th floor, a lap pool on the ground floor, a gym and a steam-bath/sauna.


BT understands that that neither the 16-unit apartment block nor the bungalow are for sale, as the land has been with the family for decades.


Mr Tan bought the 36,568 sq ft freehold site on elevated ground in Cairnhill Road in the 1930s. 'Interestingly, the broker who handled the transaction was David Marshall's father,' said a source. The late David Marshall was Singapore's first chief minister.


The current plan is for Mr Tan's family to occupy some of the units and lease out the rest.


But not just anyone will be able to rent an apartment from Mr Tan, who also used to be chairman of bluechip retailer Robinson.


'The building is special to the family and they would like to find like-minded people who appreciate the history and sentiment behind the land and enjoy the neighbourliness of living with an extended family,' said the source. The two-storey bungalow, with a strata area of 7,371 sq ft, will be used for entertaining and special functions.


'It will be suitably refurbished to retain its history and the charm of a bygone era,' the source added.


The family has no immediate plans for its present home, Grange Court.


It will depend on market conditions, investment and familial considerations, the source said.


----------


http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-09-09/krtan9-212246.jpg

A piece of local history: Mr Tan (next) and his Cairnhill bungalow. He had bought the 36,568 sq ft freehold site in the 1930s

WOW! :eek2:

Never saw that!!!!

He's not living there anymore?

Hope it does not become part of the condo!

BT understands that that neither the 16-unit apartment block nor the bungalow are for sale, as the land has been with the family for decades.


Mr Tan bought the 36,568 sq ft freehold site on elevated ground in Cairnhill Road in the 1930s. 'Interestingly, the broker who handled the transaction was David Marshall's father,' said a source. The late David Marshall was Singapore's first chief minister.


The current plan is for Mr Tan's family to occupy some of the units and lease out the rest.


But not just anyone will be able to rent an apartment from Mr Tan, who also used to be chairman of bluechip retailer Robinson.


'The building is special to the family and they would like to find like-minded people who appreciate the history and sentiment behind the land and enjoy the neighbourliness of living with an extended family,' said the source. The two-storey bungalow, with a strata area of 7,371 sq ft, will be used for entertaining and special functions.


'It will be suitably refurbished to retain its history and the charm of a bygone era,' the source added.

I see...

Cool! The bungalow is being restored PLUS we have a new condo! Any more news on what the condo is?

OOOH!!!!!

A miracle it is still there, and not preserved!


I also can't wait for the sail condos! :banana:

11 Sep 2004

A look at the bungalow - the condo hasnt risen yet.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/SingaporeSSC/cairn119.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/SingaporeSSC/cairn119a.jpg

early July/late June 2005

http://tinypic.com/9sa1qw.jpg

:eek2::runaway:

Don't tell me they're building ON TOP of the mansion!!!!!!

Heh, that wouldn't be a first, think Winsland House ^^
Is this building Thre3 Thre3 Robin ?
I've seen an advertisement for it and it's in Cairnhill area. It's by the same developer than Lincoln Modern.

No its not Thre3 Thre3 Robin, the owner of the mansion is building the condo.

I'm not sure what theyre doing exactly but if theyre building on top of the mansion its going to be quite special when completed :cool:

The owner of the mansion is a pioneer in the Singapore banking industry. Think I've read something about how he plans to house his entire extended family in the condo. Situated beside Cairnhill Crest, this is one of the choiciest locations in Singapore. I have been up the Cairnhill Crest penthouse and the view of Istana and lower Orchard is totally unblocked. Think this site promises the same great views.

Thr3e Thre3 Robin is in Robin Rd, off Stevens Rd, which is quite a distance away from Cairnhill. Cairnhill is next to Newton.

BTW speaking of extended families living together in condos. The Melwani family own a building in the Surrey Rd area don't they? Do they also live together?

Heard the developer of this future exclusive (now this is truly truly exclusive) project on Orange Grove Rd plans to house his entire family in the top few floors and lease out the rest. And anybody who wants to lease a unit there has to go thru a series of interviews. They must approve of the leasor's background, character, personality, etc!

Heard The Sentinel on Surrey Rd is also slated for the same "extended family living" concept. Apparently one individual person bought the entire condo from developer when it was launched.

What's the name of the Cairhill mansion project?

no idea at the moment.

1 September 2005

it seems to be rising fast now

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/6431/cairn01095kf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Moved out due to construction nearby. Given up a mansion for a condo.

And build a condo on the mansion....


Sounds weird....

hmm no updates for this one? anybody? :D

Passed by recently, I think it must be about 4 or 5 floors more than RC's last update.
No photo, sorry ;-)

^^ haha im actually more concerned about the bungalow :D did they do anything to it?

I didn't notice anything, but I didn't pass through the street from which RC took his picture in post #8. So I can't be sure :-)

^^ haha im actually more concerned about the bungalow :D did they do anything to it?

from passing the site I dont see them doing much to the bungalow except that it is perched on its own cliff...looks kinda weird

The former chairman and managing director of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), Mr Tan Chin Tuan (picture), died in his Grange Road home yesterday at the age of 98, when his health took a turn for the worse following treatment for a blocked bile duct.
.
He is survived by two daughters (his only son died a few years ago), eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
.
"My grandfather had a rich and full life, entertaining large groups of friends for lunch and dinner daily," his grand-daughter, Ms Chew Gek Khim, 44, who oversees Mr Tan's private companies, told Today last night.
.
Mr Tan was with OCBC for more than 60 years before retiring in 1993. The self-made man started out as a bank clerk at age 17 in the Chinese Commercial Bank, one of the three Hokkien banks that merged in 1932 to form OCBC. The other two were the Overseas Chinese Bank and the Ho Hong Bank.
.
He rose through the ranks to become OCBC's managing director in 1942 and its concurrent chairman in 1966 until his retirement. Under his stewardship, OCBC changed from a family business into a modern financial institution. After the end of World War II and through the 1950s, Mr Tan brought a number of British companies into the OCBC stable and localised their boards.
.
These include Times Publishing, Fraser & Neave, Great Eastern Life Assurance Company, United Engineers, Robinsons, Wearnes Brothers and Raffles Hotel. Mr Tan was also actively involved in public service.
.
Mr Tan was a devoted family man and had many special friendships that spanned decades and continents. He was loyal to people, causes and institutions, ACS and OCBC being two examples, Ms Chew said. He also had many interests and kept birds, fish, dogs and horses.
.
One of his former personal assistants at OCBC, Ms Tan Tsai Siong, described Mr Tan as "caring and loyal to his friends".
.
She said their friendship was never shaken even when "I wrote or said anything that challenged his interests" after she stopped working for him.
.
The wake is being held at the family residence at 74, Grange Road. The cortege will leave for Mandai Crematorium on Thursday at 10.45am where funeral rites will begin at 11.45am.

I took the back side of the construction site. A noticeable thing is the extraordinary height of second floor!

I tried to take the picture of front side w/ bungalow but the rain suddenly poured and I had to escape. :P

http://premium1.uploadit.org/joseph0324//CairnhillBungalow.png

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007438-8263-3201-0167/img0025.jpg

the dark sky casts quite a nice effect on the Cairnhill Crest :)

Btw I've noticed that some of your pics from the earlier of this year are gone! :eek:

Wonder whta happened..

I still have some of the originals though and I'll see if I can reupload them.

Always keep a backup of your images and play it safe.

Just realised I can see the former Cairnhill Hotel in that old pic

12 February 2006

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7783/cairn12021bx.jpg

We can't see Hilltop Apartments from Mandarin anymore... :eek:

Last year or so it was still visible...

Singapore is simply getting denser and land-use intensity is increasing

Within such a short period, 3 condos with 4 or 5 towers had risen, blocking Hilltop. :eek:

I think this project has reached its full height because of the Istana in sight.

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/1344/cairnhillbungalow9sf.jpg

A noticeable thing is the extraordinary height of second floor!


maybe that explains why it looks significantly taller than its other 20-floor neighbours :yes:

I think this project has reached its full height because of the Istana in sight.

Well I can count 20 floors on your pic so that should be it indeed.

maybe that explains why it looks significantly taller than its other 20-floor neighbours :yes:

It needs to clear the height of the mansion. :yes:

completed?

completed?
Nope. But almost half the building is clad in glass window right now.

Thanks for the verbal update :)

here is a picture update :)

9/06/2006

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5183/chill5cr.jpg

Thank you! :)

The bungalow is so tiny compare to the condo.

Condo does seem nice. hmmm... not sure yet. till I see the final product.

here is a picture update :)

9/06/2006

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5183/chill5cr.jpg


It does look really big and mean, squatting over that mansion!

its one of the coolest combos of old and new!

here is another pic of it

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2328/41hp.jpg


well at least they did respect histroy :D

Poor mansion... :(

Looks funny though. ^ ^

01 Jul 2006

Think it has reached the top.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2131.jpg

5 new glass towers in just a few years. :cool:

Hilltop Apartment's views are now blocked in this direction ^ ^

So far I think it's ugly... It doesn't relate at all with the mansion...

hmmm..I saw from the rendering when I passed by...it doesnt look too bad...well its ugliness brings out the beauty of the mansion even more :D

Poor mansion....

^^

or it could be demolished...even more 'poor thing'

Build two ultra slims on both sides. :cool:

Or build something in the same style as the mansion.

Or build something in the same style as the mansion.

Going off tangent...but I think so far thats what makes Singapore different from places like Thailand and Malaysia, where skyscrapers are concerned.

Many times the attempt at making an ethnic skyscraper looks like a big joke.

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5183/chill5cr.jpg


Now that is quirky!!!

But anything strange looking, i'm for it...diffence n contradiction is what excites me :) will be interesting to see hw it turns out!

01 Jul 2006

Think it has reached the top.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2131.jpg

Interesting project. After looking at the picture a few times, somehow I still can't get used to the idea of an old colonial bunglow directly below a modern building.

In addition, this building seems to be towering over surrounding developments. Thanks to the huge rock it sites on i guess. Frankly, it has caused quite an eye sore to the skyline. What do you guys think?

looks great to me, guess we can only decide after an update,anyone?

looks great to me, guess we can only decide after an update,anyone?

23 December 2006

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/cairn2312a.jpg

Closer look at the bungalow

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/cairn2312.jpg

White makes it boring. hahaha.

The condo has quite an outstanding design...

The mansion of two great philantrophists, Tan Kah Kee and Tan Chin Tuan. Now remembered for generations. Btw Bok House could had been saved this way..

Hmmm, I think they've cleaned up the bungalow a bit too much. It's too white, lost some of it's charm. And they got rid of the old wooden shutters on the front windows. Compare with this pic from page 1:
http://tinypic.com/9sa1qw.jpg

Oh well, the whole thing is certainly dramatic, very different... impressive
I think I like it, although I'm not sure. In any case this is better than demolition.

The idea is good. The execution is appalling --- that hideous black thing, like an office building from the 1970s. An opportunity missed.

The facade would look better once the blue protective sheets are removed.

The bungalow looks like a good place for a clubhouse.

The bungalow looks like a good place for a clubhouse.

Kinda-like the Dubliner and Winsland House... But I anticipate this won't look as good :-/

some pics taken today:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6149/p1000374uw3.jpg

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7248/p1000375mr0.jpg

12 February 2006

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7783/cairn12021bx.jpg

that pink apartment in the backgound.... think it's been demolished. don't see it anymore.

yah its been demolished....Wing Tai will be developing the site.

The colours used on the new condo look classy and the facade looks interesting

http://i17.tinypic.com/33eq73q.jpg
090307 update

Wow! Looks nice, what's the name of this condo again?

It's been 2 years since the start of this thread, whichh says the tower would be built in 18 months. And Tan Chin Tuan had passed away.

http://i17.tinypic.com/33eq73q.jpg
090307 update
Looks kind of mismatched. They should have colored the condo in similar tones as the historic house.

Mind boggling! :nuts:

Maverick, if they had done the similar color job you suggest, the original building would somehow blend into the new construction rather than standing out as a distinct, separate, and historic building.

I'm glad it was preserved! :banana:

I'd go with SEAFan on this one....white is a very pure colour and suits grand mansions like this well, and brings out the contrast with the beast above ...hope it will have charming lights at night :happy:

Mind boggling! :nuts:

Maverick, if they had done the similar color job you suggest, the original building would somehow blend into the new construction rather than standing out as a distinct, separate, and historic building.

I'm glad it was preserved! :banana:

True. It is well preserved, although a bit "eaten up" by the larger building standing over it. Taken on 9th March:

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6333/cimg2340zn3.jpg

Looks so cool! Love the glass!

Wonder what was the original colour of the mansion.

24th March

From Cairnhill Road:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070324_cairnhill_construction01.jpg

Interesting facade detail:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070324_cairnhill_construction02.jpg

The mansion:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070324_cairnhill_construction03.jpg

Front view:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070324_cairnhill_construction04.jpg

Rooftop detail
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070324_cairnhill_construction05.jpg

Looks like an office building, a great looking one..

The whole thing will turn out grey and silvery, there's a rendering at the base of the mansion...

nice pics Pengui....is there a name for this project?

Tan Chin Tuan Mansion(s) was wat is wrote on the banners.

Looks... odd...

the building above definitely stands out. but.. the name seems abit mismatching, a high-rise categorised as mansion? it would be better if it is named Tan Chin Tuan Tower, or something.

nice pics Pengui....is there a name for this project?

I didn't see anything about it. Either what found is mentioning is the final name, or we'll have to name it by its address :-)

Tan Chin Tuan ordered it to be built over his old mansion, expecting to live in it, sadly he passed away before this was completed.

Read that the condo is more likely for the extended family.

Read that the condo is more likely for the extended family.
the top few floors are meant for him. this reminds me of Setai Residences. 1 building 1 family.

Wingtai really see value in preserving colonial houses. Draycott 8 (by wingtai and has a majestic clubhouse) was a stunner and imho, the best condo I've seen. Brilliantly built.

Wingtai really see value in preserving colonial houses. Draycott 8 (by wingtai and has a majestic clubhouse) was a stunner and imho, the best condo I've seen. Brilliantly built.

I don't think this project has anything to do with WingTai? :?

walked past the site today and saw a sign saying 'tan chin tuan mansion' regarding leasing.

i suppose this is the official name?

walked past the site today and saw a sign saying 'tan chin tuan mansion' regarding leasing.

i suppose this is the official name?

No offence to Mr Tan Chin Tuan but i think the building should be renamed if they want to attract tenants.

taken on 28May2007

canvas at the top of the building is off.
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7585/p1000577vq1.jpg
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8215/p1000581jz1.jpg

it'll be nice when the flowers are in full bloom, although the grayish wall is rather drab looking.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3506/p1000582rf7.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5954/p1000583up5.jpg

rather slim looking from this angle.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8347/p1000585kf5.jpg

see-through rooftop?
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9531/p1000586sy9.jpg

The side wall is so cool!!! Reminds me of Sentinel in Novena.

Nice facade!

If only it was taller, but this development quite low profile right?

This definitely looks like one of the most sophisticated designs in the area, besides Heeren & The Light. Really like the planting along the side of the slope :-)

the front facade looks very office-ish

http://i16.tinypic.com/4zxfi3o.jpg

Looks great! I'm sure the late Mr Tan Chin Tuan would be happy to see this.

cheers

excelsvr

It's supposed to be completed in 2006. :(

You can't blame the construction workers. Constructing pillars around the mansion and making sure that the building doesn't collaspe is no mean feat man!

cheers

excelsvr

At least finally we've got a non cubic condo with no bay windows

At least finally we've got a non cubic condo with no bay windows

Wouldn't that make it look no different from an ordinary office building or a hotel? St. Regis Residences is something like this and I have trouble identifying the condo from a hotel or office building.

Wouldn't that make it look no different from an ordinary office building or a hotel? St. Regis Residences is something like this and I have trouble identifying the condo from a hotel or office building.

It seems that most condos built in the recent years look more or less the same. But some developers and architects make an effort to make their condo less boring. Partly due to economical reasons

Yup The Sail is one. Straight away, one can tell that it is not HDB.

cheers

excelsvr

Project Name-TAN CHIN TUAN MANSION
Developer-CAIRNHILL ROCK PTE LTD
Property Type-Apartment
Tenure - FREEHOLD
Total Units - 16
Completion Date - 2008
District - 9

http://www.virtualhomes.sg/FileUpload/Project/2968/Images/main.jpg

http://www.virtualhomes.sg/FileUpload/Project/2968/Images/in1.jpg

http://www.virtualhomes.sg/FileUpload/Project/2968/Images/in2.jpg

http://www.virtualhomes.sg/FileUpload/Project/2968/Images/in3.jpg

http://www.virtualhomes.sg/FileUpload/Project/2968/Images/in4.jpg

source from:
TAN CHIN TUAN MANSION (http://www.virtualhomes.sg/tanchintuanmansion)

.

for sale? my impression is for rental only...

ya lor...why would they sell their heirloom...they dont need the money.

they wont sell more than 20% of strata shares....can collective sale back anytime...