While most of us are just thinking about moving out or saving up for a BTO, there’s that elusive one per cent that’s living it up in their luxury estates of Bukit Timah, Caldecott and Botanic Gardens. But these District 9 and 10-ers aren’t as rare as we think.
In actual fact, Singapore has a staggering number of Good Class Bungalows. Some boasting stately colonial architecture and others with Olympic-sized lap pools, these 10 Good Class Bungalows that have made headlines show that the Crazy Rich Asian typecast isn’t quite as far-fetched an idea.
1. C-shaped house in Bukit Timah with an infinity pool
Image credit: Wallflower Architects
Water Garden House is one of the most unique homes you can find in Singapore. Situated in the heart of Bukit Timah, this 17,000 sqft property sits on top of a perfectly circular plot. The shape of the house is also an architectural marvel as it looks like the alphabet ‘C’ from a bird’s eye view.
Image credit: Wallflower Architects
This house got its name from the water garden located smack in the middle of the home, lending an aura of serenity to the residents. In addition, this property boasts an infinity pool that doubles up as a waterfall by cascading down towards the basement lobby.
Image credit: Wallflower Architects
The entire home facade is also covered with operable teakwood screens, allowing privacy without feeling cooped up.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
2. GCB with Japanese Imperial Palace garden vibes
Image credit: Guz Architects
This Good Class Bungalow in District 10 looks just like a tropical resort. Designed by architect Guz Wilkinson, this home boasts a stunning key feature: water courtyards. The living space set around the water courtyards embraces the open-air concept, which acts as a natural cooling agent for the house to beat the tropical heat and humidity.
Image credit: Guz Architects
This tropical oasis not only captures the attention of other family members and strangers but also some wild animals around. Faunas like hornbills, cockatoos, jungle fowl and civet cats are frequent visitors to this abode. They too, find this house to be a haven.
Golden teak stairs (left), upstairs bedroom’s garden (right)
Image credit: Guz Architects
In addition to the water courtyard, this home also showcases other features like a sprawling lawn, swimming pool, jacuzzi and a wide variety of trees like acacia and fig. The house also possesses magnificent golden teak stairs that lead towards the bedrooms on the upper floor.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
3. Dyson’s founder S$45 million home with infinity pool
Image credit: Guz Architects
If buying one of Singapore’s most expensive penthouses wasn’t enough, Dyson mogul James Dyson bought this $45 million Good Class Bungalow in Bukit Timah a month after his sky-high real estate splurge. The GCB in question boasts unobstructed views of the lush Botanic Gardens, a contrast to the concrete jungle views he gets from his digs at Wallich Residences.
Image credit: Guz Architects
The 15,000sqft property sports an open-air design with massive water features, including an L-shaped infinity pool and a separate waterfall. One could only wonder if a Dyson vacuum can clean the entire house on one battery charge.
Estimated property worth: S$45 million
Bought by: Sir James Dyson, founder of Dyson
4. Lumber fortress with 3-storey patio
Image credit: ipli Architects
From the front, it seems like there’s not much going on with this house in Bukit Timah, except it looks like a fortress made from timber. But once you peek at the back, that’s where the party starts.
Image credit: ipli Architects
A 3-storey height patio welcomes you as you venture to the back of this home. The house also features a balcony overlooking the deck, where an outdoor dining area is placed. If the patio’s openness still makes you feel stuffy, there’s a Big Ass Fan, literally hanging from the super high ceiling for ventilation and comfort.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
5. KAP brutalist style home
Image credit: ipli Architects
While most houses have their driveway on the ground floor, it’s a different story with this brutalist-style home. As it is situated on the highest ground compared to 3 other houses in the vicinity, the architect behind this project purposely designed the driveway to lead to the second storey, where the common areas are. So residents can entertain guests while enjoying panoramic views of the surroundings. The bedrooms- 5 of them are then situated on the lower ground.
Image credit: ipli Architects
FYI, this home is currently on the market for rent for S$60,000 per month.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
6. L-shaped house behind the old Malayan Railway
Image credit: Ong & Ong
Not only is it located in a distinct residential area, but this abode in King Albert Park (KAP) is also hitting the jackpot regarding beautiful scenery. Sitting snuggling behind the defunct old Malayan Railway, now a preserved natural tropical corridor, this house was specifically designed to align with the view of the greeneries.
Image credit: Ong & Ong
Considering the natural elements, including the wind direction and solar positioning, the design team decided to use reinforced concrete and limestone cladding as the primary raw material of the home. The swimming pool and the lush green lawn further highlight the aesthetic quality of this property.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
7. Nature-filled bungalow with MBS views
With all the splash that gaming chair company SecretLab has been making lately, it’s no surprise that co-founder Ian Ang has been in the news for having bought two luxury properties – both worth millions each. His main buy is a 1940s bungalow located in Caldecott Hill, while his secondary residence, a $15 million penthouse at Leedon Residences.
Image credit: EdgeProp
And yes, the penthouse is just to tide him over while he’s renovating the GCB.
While it doesn’t look like much now, this two-storey freehold home sits on a plot of land that stretches beyond a massive 23,000 square feet. Add in the fact that it’s located in Caldecott Hill that’s known for its lush greenery and nearby MacRitchie Reservoir, and you know this is a true-blue Crazy Rich Asians abode.
Image credit: Google Maps
Far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city but near enough that you have MBS views from your backyard, Ang is undoubtedly a fan of the privacy that the nature-filled area offers. No clue yet on whether he’s planning a major uphaul or readily keeping the colonial bones of the current home, but whichever it is, this house is sure to be a gem.
Estimated property worth: $36 million onwards
Bought by: Ian Ang, co-founder of SecretLab
8. $50 million mansion with steeped green terraces
Image credit: TA.LE Architects
Mixing the old and new sounds like an idyllic plan, but they’ve successfully done just that with this unique mansion along Ridout Road, near Dempsey. It’s Lim Hock Leng’s home, but you might know him better as the co-founder of supermarket chain Sheng Siong – they’ve made millions since Covid broke out.
Image credit: TA.LE Architects
This century-old house has kept its colonial past while also revamping dated finishings into a modern dream home. What we like the most? Obviously, their steeped terraces are a noteworthy addition, with green roofs adding to its historic charm.
This staircase is certainly a talking point, designed to light up at night.
Image credit: TA.LE Architects
But hey, they also have a 30m swimming pool, glow-in-the-dark staircase and a koi pond. Estimated property worth: $50 million
Bought by: Lim Hock Leng, co-founder of Sheng Siong
9. Colonial Bukit Timah bungalow with KTV & steam room
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
There are GCBs then there are GCBs – the ones where the owners spare no expense, and throw in a KTV lounge and steam room just for the heck of it. The owners are in the construction company themselves, so it’s no surprise that this Bukit Timah bungalow paints a pretty picture from every angle.
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
It’s the living and dining areas where you’ll most notice the clever meld of outdoor and indoor space, with floor-to-ceiling patio sliding doors and sizable verandahs.
A karaoke room to belt out your favourite songs in privacy
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
It’s a true architectural masterpiece, with thoughtfully-planned gardens and skylights for natural light to stream through. The architects have also made the most of its uneven terrain, to create a “secret garden” of sorts – privacy matters when your house is that photogenic.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Ng family, owners of construction company Progressive Builders
10. 19,000 sqft Gallop Park home with treehouse & rooftop terrace
Image credit: Albert Lim
At first glance, this cul-de-sac bungalow doesn’t quite look like a home – its striking facade almost resembles a sprawling boutique resort. But a hillside home it is, built on a sloping plot near the Botanic Gardens, suitable for a tight knit family of five.
Image credit: Albert Lim
Not many expect a two-storey bungalow to have stellar views, but by stepping towards the outdoor lap-pool, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the front lawn.
Image credit: Joseph Lim, taken by Simon Devitt
More remarkably, you’ll also find a treehouse here – our childhood dreams come true. As the brainchild of NUS architecture professor Joseph Lim, this treehouse has been kept on from the previous house’s landscaping.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Local developer for his family of five
11. “Winged House” owned by the HaiDiLao family
Image credit: K2LD
With all the money HaiDiLao has been raking in the last decade, you’ll expect their family home to be utterly flush. The “Winged House”, as their first GCB, doesn’t disappoint. And yes, their first GCB – the founder’s son recently bought the $42 million bungalow next door, so now they own two side-by-side freehold bungalows in the Gallop Road area.
Image credit: K2LD
The house was rebuilt and completed in 2012, with its most novel feature being that it’s divided into two wings – both the shape of trapeziums, inspired by the peaked roofs of traditional Malay architecture. There’s also a meeting area of sorts in the middle, that’s picturesquely framed with palm trees and leafy canopies.
Estimated property worth: $27 million
Bought by: HaiDiLao family
12. “See-Through House” with floor-to-ceiling windows & Tembesu trees
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
With a house that’s known for being see-through, it begs the question of privacy. But this particular “See-Through House” in Bukit Timah has been cleverly fitted with wooden shutters, so that natural light streams through while still offering the home owners much-needed serenity.
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
In fact, this desire for as much transparency and natural light as possible, is reflected throughout the house. The spiral staircase, for one, isn’t merely a design feature but also a practical way of letting air and light flow through.
Image credit: Wallflower Architecture
Green courtyards and side gardens frame the structure, but none more noticeable than the central courtyard. Its piece de resistance? A massive mature Tembusu tree right in the middle that’s protected by tree conservation guidelines.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
13. $86 million bungalow owned by CEO of TikTok
Image adapted from: Google Maps
While many of us are simply aiming to save our first $100,000 by the time we hit three decades, the TikTok CEO has already purchased his first GCB all by the tender age of 37 years. This particular property spans more than 31,000 square feet – if that’s tough to wrap your head around, just visualise the size of two 400m running tracks placed together.
What a typical home in Queen Astrid Park looks like, a GCB-gazetted area known for their stunning bungalows.
Image credit: CaanDesign
And $86 million is no figure to scoff at either, being on the high side for a Good Class Bungalow, even if it comes with a Queen Astrid Park address.
Estimated property worth: $86 million before renovation
Bought by: Chew Shou Zi, CEO of TikTok
14. Multi-generational home with a home theatre
Image credit: KGID
Not quite a cosy home but a glamorous abode, this multi-generational home in Bishopsgate has been specially designed for a family of seven. They’ve got seven bedrooms, but also a staggering number of bathrooms – 11, in total.
20-seater dining table
Image credit: KGID
You also know you’ve got it made when you’re forced to divvy up your living areas. Formal living room or cosy family living area, 20-guest dining room or casual family dining space – it’s your choice when you’ve got 16,500 square feet to play with. Add on a basement lounge, home theatre, gym, steam room and massage area, and is there really a reason to leave your house, ever?
Image credit: KGID
At this point, this home is starting to sound like a luxury five-star hotel with full-fledged facilities. The entire house has also been professionally put together by interior designers KGID, so you can expect major home styling eye candy when walking through.
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
15. Jurassic-themed mansion with rooftop helicopter
Image credit: Shahlan S Shahlan
Some of you might’ve first spotted this particular mansion on a viral TikTok video. This GCB along Astrid Hill has understandably piqued our interest: one, it’s jurassic-themed with a T-Rex and other dinosaur models on a high mountain of rocks, and two, there’s a bright yellow helicopter perched on its rooftop.
Image adapted from: Google Maps
That just tells us that everyone has their quirks, and rich people aren’t any different. But still, so many questions. Why the dinosaur theme? Is the helicopter operational? For that matter, how did they even lug a helicopter up there?
Estimated property worth: Private
Bought by: Private
Bonus: Modern bungalow with infinity pool & wine cellar
Image credit: PropertyGuru
This modern freehold bungalow in Caldecott Close has made recent headline news, not just because it’s worth millions, but because it was put up for sale by Lee Hsien Yang, the brother of PM Lee Lsien Loong. It’s not quite a Good Class Bungalow, since it measures just under 10,000 square feet, but it certainly fits the bill when tucked away in a GCB-gazetted neighbourhood.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
No need to wait for Bali and Batam VTLs to open up when this resort-style house has it all – infinity pool and walk-in wine cellar included. There’s also a spacious dining room that fits 20 diners, two living rooms and a basement lounge, so you can fully entertain in style once the Covid restrictions ease.
Estimated property worth: $16.8
Bought by: Lee Hsien Yang, brother of PM Lee Lsien Loong
Expensive Good Class Bungalows in Singapore
While Singapore’s known for its high-rise buildings and space-saving hacks, these nine GCBs that have made the news show us that Crazy Rich Asians and their grand bungalows do exist – just that they’re tucked away in far-flung prestigious districts that only car-owners have easy access to.
For most of us, owning a GCB will continue to be a lofty dream. While we’ll still be admiring their rooftop gardens and swimming pools from afar, we’ll first be checking out how to apply for a BTO or getting design inspo from HDB renovation ideas.
Do also keep in mind that these GCBs are private residences and we should always respect the owners’ privacy.
Originally published on 12th November 2021. Last updated on 7th November 2023.
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