Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of unique HDB maisonettes, including ones with slides by the stairs and rock climbing walls. Such novel features aren’t a new phenomenon, as over a decade ago, this Serangoon executive maisonette was renovated to include a “living chandelier” that can be reconfigured to the homeowner’s desire.
Designed by Free Space Intent in 2012, the flat underwent a $90K renovation to create a modern Scandinavian home that has withstood the trials of time. In the years since, it has been featured in countless publications, including the Business Times, Home & Decor, Lookbox Living, and now Uchify.
Fast forward to today, and this Serangoon executive maisonette has been put on the market for just $1.36M. Here’s a look at this one-of-a-kind HDB flat in Singapore and how its “living chandelier” works.
An ingenious chandelier involving 700 hooks & free-floating pendant lamps
Image credit: Free Space Intent
Many homeowners today have succumbed to the aesthetic of recessed lights or even just solely relying on ambient lighting. But the couple who owns this corner maisonette unit wanted something out of the ordinary.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
Inspired by the husband’s work with layouts and grids, and having chanced upon a similar design—presumably the spider chandelier—they came up with the idea of having a central “mothership” chandelier located in the stairwell, comprising a cluster of pendant lights.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
Each pendant light can be adjusted and moved around the home and fixed onto any of the 700 hooks that have been installed on the ceiling in a grid-like formation. In total, the wires of the chandelier measure more than 200m!
This allows the homeowners to configure the ambience of their home depending on the setting. If they’re hosting a dinner party, more lights can be relegated to the dining room. If it’s time to unwind in the evening, they can have the lights create a cosy atmosphere in the living room.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
Not even the bathroom is missing out on this tentacle situation, although the lights here are part of a separate system. It would have been pretty cool if it was all connected, however.
An open-concept kitchen with wood laminate
Image credit: Free Space Intent
Another transformation in this maisonette took place in the kitchen. One wall was hacked away to make the cooking space much more spacious, and to allow for the addition of the kitchen island, a feature that the homeowners had desired for a long time.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
No surprise here, but the kitchen’s ceiling has also been outfitted with hooks to hold the chandelier’s pendant lamps.
Is an HDB maisonette worth $1.36M?
Image credit: Free Space Intent
The worth of an HDB flat is often called into question these days, especially with all the news of million-dollar transactions being published daily. This 1,679sqft Serangoon executive maisonette in question is listed at $1.36M, which works out to around $810 per square foot. It also only has around 60-odd years remaining on its lease.
Looking at historical transactions in the area, similar maisonettes were sold between $945K-$1.23M in the past 12 months alone. $1.36M is a substantial increase. Perhaps one eye could be closed when factoring in this extensive and thoughtful renovation that was worth around $90K 10 years ago, and another for its larger square footage and position as a corner unit.
Whether or not it’s worth paying the full asking price will be ultimately up to the buyer, and there are some good arguments for it. However, the aftermath of this transaction would be one felt by future homeowners who are looking for a similar unit in the area, as the prices of other executive maisonettes will definitely be on the rise.
Serangoon executive maisonette with a feature chandelier
Image credit: Free Space Intent
This modern industrial Serangoon executive maisonette shows us how an ordinary ceiling can be utilised to its full potential.
Read other related articles:
- Cheap maisonettes for sale under $900K
- Transforming an HDB maisonette into a modern Japanese sanctuary
- Inside an architect couple’s classy black-and-white maisonette
Cover image credit: Free Space Intent
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