Duplex condos hold the same appeal as their HDB maisonette cousins—they offer homeowners the ability to enjoy multi-storey living at a fraction of landed property costs. But between the preference for compact and effective layouts, and the high price quantums, fewer developers are choosing to build duplex condo units. If you’re looking for a duplex condo, here’s where you can find them in Singapore.
What are duplex condo units?
In land-scarce Singapore, both duplex penthouses and standard stacked duplex homes offer the luxury of living on two separate floors.
The difference between standard stacked duplex condo units and duplex penthouses is that duplex units can be located on any level of the building, but penthouse units tend to be top-floor units. Penthouses also are usually the sole unit on the highest floor, with larger layouts than the standard units in an apartment building.
1. Guilin View—Duplex with spiral staircase & unblocked views of Guilin Lake
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Located in the tranquil District 23 is this 5-bedroom and 4 bathroom 3,520sqft duplex penthouse in Guilin View. This 99-year leasehold condo was completed in 2000, and sits just 5 minutes away from Bukit Gombak MRT Station.
Staying on the top floor means you’ll get unblocked, panoramic views of the surrounding foliage.
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Nature lovers will be delighted by the easy access to various parks around the area, including Little Guilin right opposite, Bukit Batok Hillside Park, and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
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A spiral staircase sits in the living room area and leads you up to the roof terrace, which you can transform into a home garden, or secondary, outdoor living space where you can host BBQs or simply have your morning cuppa.
This 3,520sqft duplex condo home is now on sale for $3.5m. Another smaller, but well-maintained 3,024sqft unit in the same development is also on sale for $2.8m.
2. Laguna Park—3-bedroom duplex penthouse in Siglap with sea views
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Next on the list is a 3-bedroom duplex penthouse in Laguna Park, a 99-year leasehold apartment completed in 1978 that has sweeping views of East Coast Park and the sea. It’s a massive 2,895sqft penthouse unit with a huge living and dining area, plus a balcony. You’ll also get unblocked views of the District 15 landed enclave on the second level of this unit.
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Living in an older development has its perks. Aside from the unit being larger than normal, the distance between each apartment block is also further. In other words, you won’t have to look into your neighbours’ flats, or feel like they can see everything you do on your rooftop too.
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This condo is well connected too━Siglap MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line is just a 2-minute walk away. Cop this Laguna Park unit for a cool $3.1m, or get a bigger, 3,369sqft unit in the same development that’s going for $3.25m.
3. Tedge—3-bedroom freehold duplex penthouse under $2m
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Another East-side condo with duplex units is the Tedge, a boutique development which has just 42 units, and sits between Eunos and Kembangan MRT Stations. Located just 20 minutes away from the CBD by car, this $1.9m duplex unit has a smaller, 1,001sqft size, but houses 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
That’s not all: Tedge is newly built, and a freehold property, which immediately makes this duplex unit more valuable than its 99-year leasehold peers.
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While the duplex penthouse unit is compact, the home has a highly efficient layout. On the first floor are the living room and kitchen areas, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and keep the place well-ventilated.
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Bedrooms are on the second floor, with two of them having their own small balconies. In spite of the narrow-looking layout, this unit would be great for small families or couples looking for split-level living.
4. Le Crescendo—4-bedroom penthouse duplex with loft-style, double-volume windows
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The first thing you’ll notice when entering this $4.6m, 3,390sqft duplex penthouse in Le Crescendo is its massive, double-volume windows. High ceilings and a loft-style design mean this unit is flooded with natural light, making it feel spacious and inviting.
The next thing you’ll notice is the 270-degree view of the ‘hood, which makes up for its slightly less central location: the nearest stations are MacPherson and Tai Seng MRT Stations, though this is a freehold property which TOP-ed not too long ago, in 2006.
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The bedrooms in this unit are located on the second floor, with a master bedroom that’s got its own walk-in wardrobe. The master bathroom also has his-and-hers sinks and a bathtub.
The rooftop terrace has a large, square configuration that can be used as a multi-functional space.
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5. The Urban Lofts—Cosy duplex 1 minute from Farrer Park MRT Station
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Tucked in the city fringe neighbourhood of Farrer Park is The Urban Lofts, where we found a charming freehold duplex unit going for $1.64m. The unit makes the most of its size with a seamless flow between the kitchen, living and dining areas on the first floor, and the study, family area and private roof terrace on the second floor.
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At 1,141sqft, this apartment is not the biggest by any means, but makes for a cosy hideaway, housing 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Thanks to its rooftop situation, the bedrooms feature high, steepled ceilings that are reminiscent of NYC-style lofts.
6. The Balmoral—>2,500sqft of living space across 2 floors near Stevens MRT
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Blending urban luxury, space, and convenience, this 2,681sqft duplex condo in The Balmoral offers two levels of thoughtfully designed space just 9 minutes from Stevens MRT Station. There are a total of 81 units spanning 8 floors in this freehold project that was completed in 1986.
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With its prestigious District 10 address, the $5.9m property is ideal for those looking for a private sanctuary in the heart of the city. It’s also within the 1km radius of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School and Anglo Chinese School (Primary), making it the perfect location for families with young children.
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Almost every room in this duplex unit comes with its own balcony; there are also 2 junior master bedrooms with ensuites attached, as well as a study room on the second floor.
7. The Interlace—Rare, spacious family duplex home a 10-minute drive to Sentosa
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Located in the iconic The Interlace condo is this $5m, 5,253sqft duplex unit. Apartments of this size are rare, especially in the sought-after Telok Blangah neighbourhood of District 4.
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This rooftop unit features outdoor spaces on both its first and second floors, with open terraces and an outdoor spiral staircase━a space-saving feature since having stairs within the home eats into your usable indoor floor area.
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Thanks to the location of The Interlace, your penthouse rooftop here comes with unblocked panoramas all around, and an abundance of space for BBQ and entertainment areas, kids’ playsets and more.
8. Devonshire Residences—Fireworks views & private rooftop swimming pool under $2m on Orchard Road
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Just 5 minutes from Somerset MRT Station is this 947sqft, 1-bedder duplex in Devonshire Residences, on sale at $1.95m. This home is best suited for Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) couples who want to live on Orchard Road, with breathtaking views of MBS and the CBD. Perks of living here include front row seats to fireworks, without having to leave your couch.
Another perk: your very own rooftop swimming pool.
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For a better view of the cityscape, head to your rooftop, where you can have your morning cuppa to the waking city. Did we mention, Devonshire Residences is also a freehold property?
Bonus: Southaven II━Ultra rare triplex condo next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
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Upper Bukit Timah condo Southaven II has a 999-year lease, is located right next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and has the Rail Corridor on its doorstep. It also houses some of the very few triplex condo units in Singapore, including this massive 5,468sqft unit on the top 3 floors of one of its blocks that’s on sale for $5.75m.
The long, spacious living room boasts wall-to-wall windows and unblocked views.
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For something less gargantuan, there are also smaller, 3,746sqft duplex apartments in the same estate, going for just over $4m, but it’s the triplex unit that is worth paying attention to. It’s got a whopping 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, with both wet and dry kitchens, and a roof terrace that’s 1,776sqft━bigger than many 4-bedroom condo units around.
Image adapted from: PropertyGuru
On this rooftop is your very own jacuzzi, views of the nature reserve, and a bird’s eye view of the surrounds.
Where to find duplex condos in Singapore
This isn’t by any means an exhaustive list, but in an increasingly space-starved country, you’ll be glad to have your very own slice of multi-level paradise without the hassles that come with living in a landed property.
For more housing reads:
- Transforming a conservation Joo Chiat shophouse with $1m
- NYC penthouse with a chrome slide that passes through all 4 floors
- Coolest HDB executive maisonette design features
Cover image adapted from: PropertyGuru
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