Bidadari BTO Site Plan Analysis

The government first announced the development of Bidadari new town back 2 years ago, in August 2013. To refresh your memory, here is a fly-through of the Bidadari development plan.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hgInEfyY1A&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

These are the potential views (taken from location A and B as seen in the Google Earth Map above) of some of the lucky homeowners...pretty awesome....

Construction under progress photos (Dec 2015) taken from site A.

Construction under progress photo (Dec 2015) taken from site B.

So, the ultimate question; what are the potential renovation considerations for these lucky homeowners of the much sought after Bidadari units?

Let us review the respective site plans of Alkaff CourtView and LakeView ....

Alkaff CourtView 6 residential blocks ranging from 6 to 17 storeys 1,258 units is made up of 2-room Flexi, 3- and 4-room flats An overhead bridge connects Alkaff CourtView to Alkaff LakeView Alkaff Courtview is nearer to the Woodleigh MRT

Alkaff LakeView 3 residential blocks which is of 17-storey 531 units is made up of 3- and 4-room flats

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* Note: Please verify with your renovation professionals after you have received the keys to your unit.

"West Sun” facing unit will be exposed to the sun during the evening time. This makes the apartment warm.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 103, 105, 107, 109, 85, 87, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 165, 167, 169, 171, 147, 149, 51, 53, 3rd storey and onwards for stack number 55, 57, 59, 37, 35, 23, 25, 221, 223, 227, 229, 205, 207, 199 and 201.

Ways to keep out the dreaded heat a. Use either blackout curtains or hang medium-colored curtains and drapes with white-plastic backings as close to the window as possible to reduce heat gain by as much as 33 percent b. Install either white heat reflective blinds and/or tinted solar film, window films with high UV rejection properties to prevent fading of furniture and flooring to extend their life span c. Install Air Conditioners

Image from Design 4 Space

Units nearer to the road can expect more sound due to the traffic along the Upper Serangoon Road and Upper Aljunied Road.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 103, 105, 107, 109, 85, 87, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 165, 167, 169, 171 and 147 which faces the Upper Serangoon Road and stack number 149 151, 153, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191 and 193 which faces the Upper Aljunied Road.

Ways to reduce the vehicular traffic's sound a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains to keep the noise out b. Install double glazed glass

Image from I-Bridge Design

Homeowners can relax and enjoy either the Alkaff lake or Bidadari park view from their balcony.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 189, 191, 193, 195 and 197 .

And homeowners of stack number 117, 115, 113, 87, 89, 91, 221, 219, 25, 27 and 29 get to enjoy the common green view from their living room! :) 

Image from Urban Habitat Design

Balconies provided in the living/dining area serve as a bridge between the home interior and the exterior, allowing the homeowners to connect and interact with the external environment.

Applies to the following stacks Homeowners of  all 4 room units.

Ways to enhance the balcony a. Improve the balcony's safety by installing balcony invisible grills b. Maximize the Space by using either Glass Curtains or blinds (to keep out rain, dust, haze, flying pests and even reducing noise) or create a cozy nook by using artificial grass carpet

Image from Inside Living

Narrow HDB corridor means units are closer to each other. In addition, it is possible that people might peek into the apartment from the corridor when the main door is left open.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 63, 65, 69, 81, 71, 73, 77, 79, 103, 101, 105, 99, 107, 97, 109, 95, 85, 87, 91, 93, 117, 119, 111, 113, 121, 145, 123, 143, 125, 141, 127, 139, 131, 129, 135, 137, 165, 163, 167, 161, 169, 159, 171, 157, 149, 147, 153, 155, 189, 175, 199, 197, 207, 205, 223, 221, 25, 23, 35, 33, 37, 39, 59, 41, 57, 43, 55, 45, 53, 47, 51 and 49 which faces the adjourning unit directly and stack number 61, 75, 89, 115, 133, 151, 177, 193, 211, 217, 29, 31, 59, 41, 51 and 49 which is located near the Lifts and thus the human traffic is higher.

2nd storey and below of stack number 101, 99, 97, 95, 145, 143, 141, 139, 163, 161, 159, 157, 201, 199, 229, 227, 35, 37, 59, 57, 55 and 53 which faces either the carpark, child care center or education center.

Ways to maintain homeowners' privacy For doors, homeowners can consider using either a foldable room partition, installing a hanging room partition, or consider an incredibly simple DIY Privacy screens for the door grille. For windows, homeowners can either use curtains, blinds or tinted window film.

 

When people gather, there’s chatter and therefore, units near gathering spots such as the children's playground, elderly fitness station, adult fitness station and hard court should expect to be exposed to more sounds.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 27, 29, 217, 219 and 3rd storey onwards for stack 93, 37, 59, 221, 223 which is nearer to the children's playground.

...and 3rd storey onwards of stack number 77, 101, 99, 97, 55, 57, 59, 137, 135, 207, 205 and stack number 25, 27, 221, 219,  which is nearer to either the elderly fitness station, adult fitness station or hard court.

Ways to reduce the sound from either the children's playground, elderly fitness station, adult fitness station or hard court a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains b. Install double glazed glass

Image from The Interior Lab

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"West Sun” facing unit will be exposed to the sun during the evening time. This makes the apartment warm.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 33, 35, 37, 39, 31, 29, 27, 51, 49, 47, 77, 87, 55, 75, 85, 53, 83, 93 and 73. 

Ways to keep out the dreaded heat a. Use either blackout curtains or hang medium-colored curtains and drapes with white-plastic backings as close to the window as possible to reduce heat gain by as much as 33 percent b. Install white heat reflective blinds and/or tinted solar film, window films with high UV rejection properties to prevent fading of furniture and flooring to extend their life span c. Install Air Conditioners

Image from Inspire ID Group

Units nearer to the road can expect more sound due to the traffic along the Upper Aljunied Road.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number  39, 41, 43, 45, 57, 59, 61 which is facing the Upper Aljunied Road.

Ways to reduce the vehicular and/or noise from human traffic a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains to keep the noise out b. Install double glazed glass

Image from Earth Interior Design

Homeowners can relax and enjoy either the Alkaff lake or Bidadari park view from their balcony.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 39, 41, 43, 45, 45, 57, 59....

And homeowners of stack number 33, 35, 37, 39, 61 get to enjoy the Bidadari Greenway or common green view from their living room! :)

Image from Unity Interior Design

Balconies provided in the living/dining area serve as a bridge between the home interior and the exterior, allowing the homeowners to connect and interact with the external environment.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 29, 23, 31, 21, 51, 49....

Ways to enhance the balcony a. Improve the balcony's safety by installing balcony invisible grills b. Maximize the Space by using either Glass Curtains or blinds (to keep out rain, dust, haze, flying pests and even reducing noise) or create a cozy nook by using artificial grass carpet

Image from Living Gaia

Narrow HDB corridor means units are closer to each other. In addition, it is possible that people might peek into the apartment from the corridor  when the main door is left open.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number  25, 27, 21, 31, 33, 35, 41, 51, 45, 47, 55, 57, 53, 59, 91, 85, 89, 87, 81, 75, 79, 77  which faces the adjourning unit directly and stack number 33, 35, 37, 39, 61, 67, 73 which is located near the Lifts and thus the human traffic is higher.

 Lower floors of stack number 35, 37 are nearer to the 2 storey commercial block and 3 storey and below of stack number 25, 23, 47,93, 83, 79 will probably see headlights from incoming and outgoing vehicles entering and leaving the carpark.

Ways to maintain homeowners' privacy For doors, homeowners can consider using either a foldable room partition, installing a hanging room partition, or consider an incredibly simple DIY Privacy screens for the door grille. For windows, homeowners can either use curtains, blinds or tinted window film.

When people gather, there’s chatter and therefore, units near gathering spots such as the children's playground, elderly fitness station, adult fitness station and hard court should expect to be exposed to more sounds.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 71, 69 and 3rd storey onwards for stack 47, 89 which is nearer to the children's playground.

...and 3rd storey onwards for stack number 51, 49, 47, 45 and  homeowners of stack number 63, 65, 67  which is nearer to either the elderly facilities, elderly fitness station or adult fitness station.

Ways to reduce the sound from the children's playground, elderly facilities, elderly fitness station or adult fitness station a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains b. Install double glazed glass

Image from Lux Design

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Let us review the site plan of Alkaff Vista...

Alkaff Vista 4 residential blocks ranging from 7 to 17 storeys 350 units of 4- and 5-room flats Alkaff Vista is nearer to Potong Pasir MRT

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"West Sun” facing unit will be exposed to the sun during the evening time. This makes the apartment warm.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number  56, 44, 42, 34, 54, 52, 40 and 3rd storey onwards for stack number 22, 20, 32, 62, 60.

Ways to keep out the dreaded heat a. Use either blackout curtains or hang medium-colored curtains and drapes with white-plastic backings as close to the window as possible to reduce heat gain by as much as 33 percent b. Install white heat reflective blinds and/or tinted solar film, window films with high UV rejection properties to prevent fading of furniture and flooring to extend their life span c. Install Air Conditioners

Image from Ace Space Design

Units nearer to the road can expect more sound due to the traffic along the Upper Serangoon Road.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number  56, 44, 42, 34, 36 which is facing the Upper Serangoon Road.

Ways to reduce the vehicular and/or noise from human traffic a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains to keep the noise out b. Install double glazed glass

Image from Space Define Interior

Narrow HDB corridor means units are closer to each other. In addition, it is possible that people might peek into the apartment from the corridor  when the main door is left open.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 56, 44, 34, 40, 32, 26, 58, 64 which is located near the Lifts and thus the human traffic is higher.

3 storey and below of stack number 48, 40, 38, 20  will probably see headlights from incoming and outgoing vehicles entering and leaving the carpark.

Ways to maintain homeowners' privacy For doors, homeowners can consider using either a foldable room partition, installing a hanging room partition, or consider an incredibly simple DIY Privacy screens for the door grille. For windows, homeowners can either use curtains, blinds or tinted window film.

When people gather, there’s chatter and therefore, units near gathering spots such as the children's playground, elderly fitness station, adult fitness station and hard court should expect to be exposed to more sounds.

Applies to the following stacks Stack number 38, 36, 22, 20 which is near the supermarket or eating house; lower floors will hear more sounds from the human traffic and  stack number 58, 68 which is nearer to the child care center.

...... and stack number 38, 48, 66, 68  and 3rd storey and above of stack number 62, 64 faces either the playground, elderly fitness station or adult fitness station.

Homeowners of stack number 26, 28, 30 is nearer to the future amenities.

Ways to reduce the sound from either the supermarket, eating house or child care center, playground, elderly fitness station or adult fitness station a. Use either blackout or thick, heavy curtains b. Install double glazed glass

Image from Urban Habitat Design

Stack number 34, 36, 22, 24, 26, 28 can enjoy either the Bidadari Greenway or common green view from their living room.

Stack number 58, 68 faces existing private housing estate and most likely get to enjoy unblocked views.

Image from 3D Innovations

Stack number 68, 62, 60, 30, 22, 36, 38, 52, 54, are corner units....

...can consider buying the recess space if the unit meets the following conditions under the HDB Sale of Recess Area Scheme: The space meets technical requirements relating to design, access, fire safety and ventilation There are no service ducts such as gas pipes, water meters and electrical ducts in the space.

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Before I conclude this post, I would like to include the following renovation pointers for the Bidadari homeowners:

a) Use anti mold/fungus paint and/or air ventilators for the bathrooms;

b) Install "backup" lighting for critical places such as the bathrooms and the kitchen. By having an alternative lighting. system, you are not caught off guard and forced to replace the bulb immediately when one of the light fuse blows;

c) Invest in an efficient and powerful extractor-cooker hood if you have opted for an open kitchen;

d) Use an induction hob if your kitchen is very small since induction hob gives off lesser heat and;

e) Take down walls to let in more natural light to make the place looks bigger and more spacious!

Disclaimer: Action taken in response to the information provided in this article is at the reader’s discretion. Site plans and maps are from HDB.  

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Lastly, do Like and Share this post if you find it useful for your home renovation! :)