When Qingjian Realty asked me if I wanted to see their Smart Home showflat, I was at first a bit skeptical. It is not easy to pull this off and get the tech infrastructure right. So out of curiosity, I went to the northern part of Singapore to have a look at their showflat.
The Visionaire is an Executive Condominium (EC) project located near the upcoming Canberra MRT station, at Sembawang. It is touted as the first EC with Smart Homes.
Now I love tech as much as the next geek, and I have tried to make my own home “Smart”, so I know how hard it is to implement the Internet of Things on your own. I think if a developer can help you implement the Smart Home stuff from the beginning, using standards like ZigBee and Z-Wave, you will be able to build on that infrastructure easily.
On my tour of their Smart Home showflat, Qingjian showed me how they envision future homes, with their technology partner Samsung Asia. There is Smart Home tech like a digital lockset for your door, Smart IP cameras for monitoring your home inside and outside, Smart air conditioner, Smart motion and temperature sensors, a Smart sound system, Smart washing machine and Smart lighting, all controlled by a Smart Home Control Center app, that is available for both Android and iOS.
Turn on the aircon to get the best temperature just before reaching home, or turn on the lights and music and draw the curtains as a morning wake-up alarm, or turn on your washing machine for it to finish the laundry just before you get back, it can all be done in this Smart home.
I particularly liked the ability to monitor the power usage of the various appliances and devices in the apartment.
The Visionaire EC also offers the hiLife app, already in use by many other properties, for future Visionaire residents to do things like book facilities, get home services, and order from food caterers (like for your upcoming BBQ).
Tech aside, I was very impressed by the layout of the entire property. That 50m pool, wow.
There is ample greenery and generous communal space, an iconic-looking clubhouse with rooms for courses, parties and functions, and BBQ pits peppered throughout the area.
I was struck also by the clever use of space in the apartments. You can combine two spaces into a larger area, a concept Qingjian calls CoSpace.
The fittings and materials used are very high quality, I must say. If you didn’t tell me this was an Executive Condominium, I would have sworn it was some high-end condo. I also liked that the blocks are spaced out nicely, without the over-density that plagues other developments.
Sembawang MRT station is nearby, and when Canberra MRT station is open very soon after The Visionaire is completed, it will be even more convenient. There are also shopping centres nearby, like Sun Plaza, and the upcoming North Point City and Canberra Plaza, and a future sports and community hub.
Do drop by at their future life exhibit and see it for yourself. E-applications start from 8th of April 2016, and details are at www.thevisionaire.com.sg.
