Pearlbank Apartment

[Magician]

Well my friend was asking me about this building and I am not familiar at all... how's the condition?

[hyacinthus]

from the exterior, you can see is old.

not too sure about interior.

[rark]

Poole occupies a 4,300 sq ft split-level penthouse, which, he happily informs me, affords views to the mountains of Sumatra on a clear day. Even on the hazy day of my visit, the expansive views over Singapore facilitated by Pearlbank's horseshoe shape plan were impressive. The building's position on Pearl Hill means that this level 37 penthouse actually sits at a height of around 45 floors above the road level. At the time of its completion in 1976, the iconic building, being Singapore's tallest and most dense residential complex (designed by Tan Cheng Siong of Archurban Architects and Planners), was hailed as a feat of design and construction. However, during the 1980's and 90's, Pearlbank was dogged by the dubious and controversial reputation of being a haven for both 'red light' career girls and illegal foreign workers, who packed into partitioned apartments in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Elaborating on its unsavory past image, Poole tells of how ash from the incinerator that once operated nearby at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) used to cover the building.

But renaissance is coming for Pearlbank! In 2001, the Singapore Institute of Architects recognized the design merits of the building, and declared it a "Singapore Housing Icon". A residents' management committee has been established with the aim of upgrading the building and evicting illegal tenants. Refurbishments to the building's lifts, electrical and plumbing services have been carried out and repainting is to be done next. In addition, bodies such as Zouk Disco and FHM Magazine have recently portrayed the building in a stylish new graphical light. There seems to be a rediscovery of Pearlbank's powerful beauty underway. The strength of the exterior of Pearlbank - the characteristics that can so move the observer - is its purity of form. It relies not on arbitrary colors, moldings or pediments. It is concrete; it is geometric; it is regular; and it tries to be nothing else. Pearlbank offers a quality that is rarely found these days: excitement of form.

from http://www.poole-associates.com/Pool...20in%20ISH.htm

[jchua76]

i would love to live here if they refurbished the entire building and every unit in there.

[hyacinthus]

Great find Rark! Very interesting information of its penthouse - floor plans and pictures

Refreshing interior too. heh...

[Kit]

and I remembered clearly sometime ago, this building was heavily criticised here for being an eye sore.......

[Pengui]

I still think it's an eyesore, but it's an interesting one ^ ^

It is some kind of "Elephant Man" of a building, it is ugly and fascinating at the same time, so you can't help but stare at it, even you feel almost ashamed to do so ;-)

[hyacinthus]

Here's the recent transaction for Pearl Bank Apartment if anyone is interested.
PS... probably, change the thread title to Pearl Bank Apartment?

Land/Floor Area(Sqm), Price($), Date of Option Exercised / Sales Agreement Signed

123 280000 Jan-05
123 305500 Jul-05
123 345000 Jul-05
203 390000 Sep-04
163 395000 Dec-04
163 395000 Jul-05
163 410000 Sep-05
163 420000 Jul-05
163 455000 Jun-05
203 470000 Nov-04
365 768000 Feb-05

[RafflesCity]

It looks much nicer once you get into it....and, the interior corridors are dramatic and so are the views.

[hyacinthus]

u had taken some views from there right? can share the pics here?

[RafflesCity]

I need to search for it...the views are old though, from 2003...I brought huaiwei and my cousin up. Unfortunately, security is tight now

[hyacinthus]

Here's a peep into the future. What's going to happen around Pearl's Bank Apartment. Currently, those white/green blocks are not there.

[RafflesCity]

Those blocks on the left are currently an open empty field (previously some rainbow coloured HDB flats used to be there).

not sure if its an entirely good idea to have so much housing on the hill, although that hill is really quiet at the moment.

[szehoong]

I've always like Pearlbank I remember telling one Sg forumer that I liked it and he was like - "Huh? Why?" Forgot who was that

I've always like its position on the hill and its shape which is something different from the rest of the highrises in Singapore ....I dunno I just like it However I would love to see its refurbishment

[DoorKeeper]

I visited Pearlbank apts once. It looked rather old and drab but is clean enough. A circle of shops and offices filled the ground level. I think it has not been exactly boomtown for retail so you get offices for contractors there as well. One particular provision shop's decor (or lack thereof) will surely bring you back down memory lane to the 1970s.

I hear that the resident population is a mixed bunch and may not be too comfortable for some.

The convenience (Outram MRT, Chinatown) is obvious. But it is also a very green place if you crave for a nice place to walk. The hill top park brings you all the way to Upper Cross street where is there yet more food.

[babystan03]

Some info about the apartment at the exhibition at URA

[BODYholic]

is this a freehold property?

[DoorKeeper]

Originally Posted by BODYholic

is this a freehold property?

Unfortunately no ...

[Cliff]

how many years left?

[BODYholic]

msg #9 said PearlBank was completed in 1976. so it gives a general indication of the balance lease.

note: i am not in the property line, but i think we can't assume the lease expires in 1976+99 ... right?

I went to collect my comics at Chinatown this evening and saw Pearlbank from afar. I still feel it stands majestically, although those paint on its walls are really showing its age. It reminded me those few bocks of really old, seedy and rundown flats just across the causeway!

I am sure if Pearlbanlk is repainted, it will regain its lost glory.