Pinnacle@Duxton

The Pinnacle@Duxton (previously known as Duxton Plain Public Housing) is a 2.5 hectare residential complex under construction along Cantonment Road, Singapore that will be completed in April 2009. It consists of seven connected towers numbered 1A to 1G, each is 50 stories in height and is set to be the tallest public housing in Singapore upon its completion.HDB's tallest (maybe costliest) flats go on sale, "The Straits Times", 29 May 2004] Longer wait for tallest HDB blocks, "The Straits Times", 7 May 2004] Design for the project was sought as early as August 2001, the result of an international design competition held by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for public housing. 202 entries were submitted by design agencies around the world. The competition was eventually won by a local architecture company ARC Studio Architecture + Urbanism. Subsequently, the S$279 million construction contract was awarded to Chip Eng Seng Corporation, the lowest amongst all bids submitted.Chip Eng Seng wins contract to build The Pinnacle, "The Business Times", 17 March 2005] The foundation was laid by Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew, who similarly did so for the first two public housing blocks around the Duxton Plain area in 1963.New Heights, "The Straits Times", 13 August 2005]

The design exceeded the standards of private condominiums so much that it caused concern among developers in the local industry on their future if public housings were continually developed in a similar manner.Too stylo, complain condo developers, "The New Paper", 2 June 2004] HDB's Pinnacle : A threat to private developers?, "The Straits Times", 19 June 2004] The Housing and Development Board (HDB) had to reassure them that this project was an one-off special residential development.3,000 apply for 528 units, "The New Paper", 14 June 2004]

1,848 flats with an internal floor area of 101-103 m² for 616 units were offered, with the other units being smaller at 90-93 m² for 1,232 units. The most expensive unit was offered at a cost of S$451,500 at 2nd phase. Raved by the local media at time of design and launch in May 2004, the units became quickly oversubscribed with the HDB receiving more than 100 enquiries by telephone and electronic mail even before sales began.When can I book a unit at The Pinnacle?, "The Straits Times", 22 May 2004] Originally set to be launched in phases, the HDB decided to release all the units at once go due to overwhelming response.All units in HDB's Pinnacle now up for grabs, "The Straits Times", 15 June 2004]

All seven buildings will be linked at the 26th and 50th floor by sky bridges forming a jogging track and sky garden, a feature that is unique in the country. Other sports and recreation facilities will also be provided at the ground floor along with a food centre and day-child care, with an underground carpark facility.

New fire-safety regulations were also drawn up by the Singapore Civil Defence Force which involve the use of elevators during any evacuation, in which the Pinnacle@Duxton is the first to be effected. Refugee floors and special firefighting points were also to be provided under the new code, the other being The Sail @ Marina Bay.Better fire safety for high-rise homes, "The New Paper", 20 February 2006] Refuge floors among fire-safety measures, "The Straits Times" Forum, 20 December 2007]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/36749E467D1F3EA14825704D0007D575 HDB Press Release]