Cluster houses

Increasingly well-(and possibly, unrealistically) landscaped, I've previously dubbed cluster houses as the 'urban compromise made palatable'- where a garden space is sometimes allocated to your plot, providing a feel of living in a landed property without the associated costs and maintenance.

Whilst most of the cluster houses involve mid-range private housing:

"Located close to Novena MRT, this development of cluster housing(I do hate the term 'cluster housing'- it emphasizes the communal nature of the development and sounds horribly plebeian) comes with a swimming pool and landscaped water features. There are two semi-detached units with about 30 odd cluster houses. The cluster units come with either a balcony and a garden shaft( garden 'shafts' don't sound too great either, but a reality in land-scarce Singapore housing) in the basement or a private jacuzzi and a private entrance into the pool (which might not exactly suit some people given that privacy infringement and possible noise from floating toddlers swimming right up to your doorstep). The corner units in the development come with that all-too-rare asset- an actual, albeit small-ish but still a treat nonetheless- private garden.

Units come in either 3,4 or 5 bedroom configurations with roughly the same built-ups. Great modern finishes- rough hewn plaster work( reminds me of the heavily textured walls of Moroccan casbahs) for the planters cum privacy screens in the balconies, clean-lined kitchens and toilets as well as louvred, adjustible windows in the master bedroom that allows just the right amount of light desired.

The risk of any cluster development is the loss of privacy and the feeling of being encroached upon. This has partially been resolved by the planter boxes, which come readily landscaped, that provide some privacy when using the balconies. Design details are interesting- the wooden beams that jut out to help one into the pool; an interesting structural contrast to the static calmness of the pool. Viewed in profile- the development makes a pretty picture though a tad overdesigned; an acceptable compromise for a cluster development."


"A modern development of cluster houses off Sixth Avenue with appealing design and impressive facilities. Some elements of the landscaping draws inspiration from Luis Barragan in its attention to colour juxtaposed against clean modernistic planes of concrete and water features.

Designed with tropical living in mind- the cluster houses have balconies and outdoor spaces aplenty. Wooden louvres creating a semblance of protection from the outdoors are frequently replicated themes, both in the form of the outdoor gate to the house as well as the 'skylight' in the basement.

Plenty of natural light has also been allowed in with the generous use of glass- being the medium of choice for bedroom walls and kitchen walls; resulting in a seamless integration of these spaces.

With an appealing colour palette of sand, slate and cappuccino; these cluster houses are outstanding in its conception and design. The limestone flooring in the bathrooms re emphasize the tropical theme- allowing the unusual choice of material to be both aesthetic and functional for its non-slip qualities.The maid's room in the basement is almost chic with its segregated room, bath and washstand.

Facilities are in conformity with Barragan's theme of colour and clean modern planes, infused with a touch of the tropical in the use of materials like limestone and dark wood. A bar counter fronts the swimming pool. Grounds also include a reflecting pool, a gym, sauna, hot and cold pools as well as the best looking changing rooms in any development."

or the more child-friendly version:
Set within the green neighbourhood of Swiss and Dutch clubs, this development of cluster houses offers vibrant community living in an upmarket area characterised by sedate landed homes and quiet neighbourhood restaurants.

Built around the townhouse concept, there are private parking lots at the doorstep of every home. Tropical flowers set in clay pots set a spa-like tone at the entrance of every home.

Interiors are predictably modern- with different layouts available within the development. Units typically come with a maid's room, 4 bedrooms, roof terraces size varies) and different kitchen layouts.

The array of facilities is impressive, with creative solutions tweaked out of every architectural constraint. The retaining wall of the highway has been converted to emulate a natural limestone quarry overlooking the pool. The gym which is set below a walkway is afforded an inspiring view of the waterfall steaming down its windows; the jacuzzis in the changing room overlook a zen-like arrangement of bamboo trees.. Undoubtedly, the child-friendly facilities(there is a child's games room) and the proximity to international schools will attract considerable families with children of school-going age-a factor that might not work for everybody."

The concept of cluster housing has increasingly reached the higher end of the market, indicating that the receptivity towards cluster housing might not just be about costs, but the spaciousness and feel of living in a landed property without the maintenance concerns and possible security issues.

This:

was amongst the first, more high profile cluster projects in the high end residential market.

while these rental bungalows:

have proven that the concept of cluster housing for the high end rental market works, given the right concept.