I’m back with another BTO review, and this time we’re sailing over to the recently completed Sun Sails in Sembawang! If you’re new here, I cover a fresh BTO project every month, walking you through the estate, the surroundings, and the flats themselves.Sembawang’s been making headlines recently, thanks to PM Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally announcement about big plans to revitalise the area. Sun Sails isn’t right at the heart of the action (the main developments will be further up north at Sembawang Shipyard where it’s moving out to Tuas by 2026, but it’s only about a 10-min drive away. So residents here can still look forward to enjoying those new waterfront amenities once they’re up.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/dde0587e-ec93-4283-98e8-8b0eb1089c7c-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>Sembawang's Sun Sails BTO&nbsp;Now, onto Sun Sails itself. It’s a charming, nautical-themed estate that feels pretty peaceful. It’s a bit of a walk from Sembawang MRT, but there are enough shops and amenities nearby to keep things convenient and liveable. Inside, the layouts and details are quite interesting, and I’ll take you through all that in my site tour below.&nbsp;<h3>Touring the grounds</h3>Surrounded by landed homes and private condos on one side, and HDBs on the other, Sun Sails sits on a fairly generous plot of land. Walking around, it actually felt quite spacious. The eight blocks are set a comfortable distance apart, which is always a plus. Despite the blocks aligned in a linear fashion, the walkways linking them up are curvy, creating a more natural-looking meander than standard pathways.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/ec544415-46d4-448d-955c-47edff20cefc-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>A landed home enclave sits next to this BTO&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1027;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/f63af122-7f46-4329-bc5c-9da9a02020ba-blob" width="1824" height="1027"></figure>Curved paths&nbsp;The blocks themselves are on the shorter side, ranging from 6 to 13 storeys. That’s mainly because of the nearby Sembawang Air Base, and yes, I did spot helicopters flying overhead during my visit!Design-wise, there are some neat nautical touches, very much a nod to Sembawang’s naval history. The vents (wind catchers? ventilation vents? privacy screens?) on the sides of the blocks resemble sails, which tie into the estate’s theme while still being functional. Blocks are also painted in crisp whites and sea blues.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/e03a54db-dd2a-4a3d-bf53-25886d17cad3-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>A nod to the nautical theme and for ventilation?&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1025;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/53f1bfbf-063c-41cc-8ab7-c3ffc6d9c44e-blob" width="1824" height="1025"></figure>How the vents look from the inside&nbsp;There’s just one multi-storey carpark here, housed in a separate building, with a space dedicated to a community garden on the 7th floor. This sits alongside a standalone pre-school (enough for 300 children) nearby.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:866/1732;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/edb368b8-875f-44ce-bdb8-aba178ece415-blob" width="866" height="1732"></figure>&nbsp;As for the on-site facilities, the playgrounds and fitness corners were still barricaded during my visit, so I could only sneak a look from a distance. But they did seem a bit on the smaller side. Playgrounds were, unsurprisingly, nautical theme with the bigger of the two looking like a pirate’s ship!&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:866/1732;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/79caff67-5006-4815-b182-00e72671074a-blob" width="866" height="1732"></figure>&nbsp;What did stand out more for me though was the landscaping, and especially the rain gardens. You don’t see them very much in other places. There are about 10 of them scattered around the estate, designed to collect rainwater and filter it through different layers of soil and sand before channeling it into waterways. It’s practical and also encourages bird and pollinator activity, so you’ll probably spot more greenery and wildlife here over time.The whole setup and how generously space is used here kinda gives the impression that land is a bit more “affordable” in this part of Singapore compared to some of the other BTOs I’ve toured.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/7930c689-8eb4-4be4-9e6b-99cb3a65976f-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;<h3>Within the blocks at Sun Sails</h3>Under each block, the communal areas feature different accent colours and nautical motifs (think fish hooks, barrels and anchors). It’s not just for fun either; these little variations help residents navigate the estate, and could even make it easier for elderly folks with dementia to recognise their surroundings. Where there are steps between blocks, you’ll also find ramps right beside them, making the estate a lot more accessible.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/b35fc4ee-1bf7-4303-9ec4-df92584dd0a0-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>Nautical symbols all around, marking out the different blocks&nbsp;At ground level, the void decks are branded as “community living rooms,” and you can actually see the thought put into that. Plenty of seating in different arrangements, making it easy for residents to gather, chat or just hang out.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/64f74323-7ada-4ff3-aef6-f85f88184087-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>One of the “community living rooms”&nbsp;Upstairs, the layout feels a little tighter than what you get on the public areas. The units are fairly close together, so privacy might be something to watch out for. I did like the 5-room units that were placed at a diagonally (probably due to a lack of space), since they offered a bit more room just outside the front door.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1025;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/314ae52a-f5c5-4a6f-a2c7-9b97698a9c26-blob" width="1824" height="1025"></figure>Some units were just a bit too close to the walkways&nbsp;Some stretches of the corridor between the units were also surprisingly dim, even in the daytime. On the upside, most flats don’t face the lift lobbies, and the rubbish chutes are set a decent distance away, which is always a plus for everyday living.&nbsp;<h3>Surrounding Sun Sails</h3>Amenities: The go-to spot for residents here is Sembawang Shopping Centre, conveniently just across the road. It’s not a huge mall, but it packs in the essentials with plenty of popular F&amp;B outlets, a food court, and a FairPrice Finest for your groceries.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1028;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/89576237-4f89-433c-9667-a42fb51d09fc-blob" width="1824" height="1028"></figure>The Fairprice Finest at Sembawang Shopping Centre&nbsp;Venture into the adjacent landed housing enclave and you’ll find a scatter of eateries and quirky shops. Most notably, the famous white beehoon restaurant is just around the corner, which is practically a Sembawang institution.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1027;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/6424a2ee-df54-4d39-a124-08b56ca2dd5a-blob" width="1824" height="1027"></figure>The popular white beehoon restaurant is just next door&nbsp;&nbsp;A short 7-min walk from Sun Sails brings you to Bukit Canberra, an integrated hub that’s one of the area’s highlights. It’s got a sports centre (gym, swimming pool) and hawker centre already up and running, with more on the way. The former Admiralty House (now renamed Canberra House) is slated to become a public library, and there are also plans for community gardens and even a dog park, so the area’s definitely on the up.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1027;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/f1bd3cd6-bf19-48b3-863a-8906700526b7-blob" width="1824" height="1027"></figure>Bukit Canberra&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1732/974;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/deec0f95-99d5-42ad-a0f2-0a6744d8a861-blob" width="1732" height="974"></figure>More facilities upcoming at Bukit Canberra, at the revamped Canberra House&nbsp;Public transportation: Sembawang MRT is just under a 15-minute walk away. The route is partially sheltered, with separate cycling and walking paths that make the journey more manageable. If you would rather not walk, there are bus stops along Sembawang Road and Sembawang Avenue that’ll take you either straight to the MRT or over to Woodlands Interchange.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/90a6ef4d-b6c1-4983-9862-c2bc378b0d05-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>Sembawang MRT and Sun Plaza mall located next to it&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/e4df6903-22f6-46f9-8744-ce01061fdaf3-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>Temp bus stop along Sembawang Ave&nbsp;According to HDB maps, there’s also an upcoming bus stop planned along the newly built Sembawang Link (right at the edge of Sun Sails). It wasn’t operational when I visited and the road was still partly closed, but that should eventually improve connectivity even more.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1026;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/28f543f8-9f25-4bfb-9efe-ff92a7ee853b-blob" width="1824" height="1026"></figure>There might be another bus stop along Sembawang Link in the future!&nbsp;Let us know which BTO you would like us to visit next! Share your thoughts with us over at our socials.

Sun Sails BTO Review and Site Tour: Nautical Style, Spacious Surrounds and Sustainable Spaces

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