Reef King’s Dock Award Winning Homes Along Historic Southern Waterfront
: Irwell Hill Residences, Perfect Ten, One Bernam
The Reef at King’s Dock: A Rich History Revitalized
The Reef at King’s Dock is a new waterfront condominium situated at Harbourfront Avenue, blessed with a historic location that has greatly contributed to Singapore’s position as a leading maritime hub. The development, consisting of 429 units, is named after King’s Dock, a renowned dry dock in Keppel Harbour that was once declared the second-largest in the world when it opened in 1913.
A pontoon, measuring 180 meters in length, floats alongside the residential blocks at King’s Dock (All pictures by Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
It took over four and a half years to construct King’s Dock, using 203,000 tonnes of concrete. Upon completion, it was able to accommodate massive ships that would anchor at the dock for repairs and maintenance, thanks to state-of-the-art steam engine pumps that drained the water.
King’s Dock was the third dock to be built at Keppel Harbour, following Docks No. 1 and 2, which were constructed in the mid-1800s. In the 1950s, Singapore had become one of the busiest ports in the region, prompting the commissioning of a fourth dock — Queen’s Dock. The docks continued to operate as shipyards until the late 20th century, when activities were relocated to Tuas.
Since the early 2000s, Keppel Harbour has undergone significant transformation, evolving from a bustling port to an upscale waterfront enclave now known as HarbourFront. Today, the previous dock sites have been transformed into seafront condominiums, such as the 969-unit Caribbean at Keppel Bay, completed in 2004; the 1,129-unit Reflections at Keppel Bay, completed in 2011; and the 366-unit Corals at Keppel Bay, completed in 2016.
The Reef at King’s Dock was the fourth condominium to be launched in the area. The development is situated on a 284,266 sq ft, 99-year leasehold site and was completed in July of last year. It impressed judges at this year’s EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA), winning three accolades for Landscape Excellence, Innovation Excellence, and Top Development.
Moses Lee (centre), senior vice president of Mapletree Investments, and Louis Lim (right), CEO of Keppel, receiving the Landscape Excellence award for The Reef at King’s Dock from Ng Sze Oun, director of Compound Collaborative (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/)
Visionary Design
The completion of The Reef at King’s Dock brought to life a visionary design by European firm KCAP Architects & Planners. Known for its large-scale projects that seamlessly blend architecture, urban planning, and landscape design, KCAP collaborated with Singapore’s DCA Architects to create a development that paid homage to the site’s history while adopting a forward-thinking approach to waterfront living.
The result is an intriguing design that stands out. The development runs parallel to King’s Dock, which now serves as a separator between the condominium and its next-door neighbour, Corals at Keppel Bay. Comprising 10 blocks of varying heights and widths, The Reef at King’s Dock is built on an “urban village” concept. The tallest block, at 10 storeys, is situated at the northern end of the site, closer to Mount Faber, while the remaining blocks are arranged in a stepped profile leading towards Keppel Bay, maximizing views for the residences.
The arrival plaza on HarbourFront Avenue (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
The blocks come in various shapes, orientations, colours, and facade details, ensuring that each one has distinctive features. For instance, some blocks have triangular balconies that create a zig-zag pattern on the exterior, while others feature open courtyards in the centre.
The development was also designed with environmental considerations in mind. The residential units are oriented to maximize natural ventilation, aided by balconies that have aluminum mesh sunscreens to keep out the heat while allowing in light and wind. The building roofs feature landscaping, along with rainwater harvesting systems.
The developers have also opted for energy-efficient air conditioning, lighting, and lift systems, along with water-efficient fittings and appliances. In recognition of its sustainability performance, The Reef at King’s Dock received the Green Mark GoldPLUS rating from the Building and Construction Authority.
The residential units at The Reef at King’s Dock comprise one- to three-bedroom apartments ranging from 431 sq ft to 1,572 sq ft. When the development was launched for sale in January of this year, the developers released 300 units, of which 280 were snapped up on the first day. The development was fully sold last year, with caveats showing that the last unit sold was a 1,076 sq ft, three-bedroom-plus-study apartment that fetched $2.98 million ($2,768 psf) on Sept 9, 2020.
Some blocks feature triangular balconies that create a zig-zag pattern on the exterior (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
First Floating Deck in a Residential Property
The residential blocks at The Reef at King’s Dock are situated by the old dock wall, which serves as a poignant visual reminder of the site’s rich past. At this location, residents have access to the development’s most unique feature: a 180m-long pontoon moored to the wall. This pontoon consists of three interconnected sections that house the condominium’s swimming pools, including a 50m lap pool.
The floating deck — the first of its kind in residential properties in Singapore — is a remarkable engineering feat. Constructed with a custom concrete mix, it features semi-permanent water ballast bags within internal buoyancy chambers that balance the pools above and keep the deck level. The main structure was prefabricated off-site before being carefully towed by boat to the development.
The main structure of the floating deck was prefabricated off-site and towed to King’s Dock (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
Apart from providing facilities, the deck also serves to preserve King’s Dock’s marine ecosystem. To this end, the developers worked with marine ecology specialist DHI Water & Environment to design the deck with special patterns on the submerged portion that encourage the settlement of marine flora and fauna. Additionally, coral harvested from King’s Dock and grown in a nearby coral nursery was transplanted back to the deck, where it can be viewed from the marine viewing hammock installed at one end.
The Woodlands Regional Centre is currently undergoing a significant transformation, offering a range of exciting retail, leisure, and recreational options. With the construction of new commercial complexes, office spaces, and shopping malls, this regional hub will soon become a bustling hub, easily accessible via the North-South MRT line. This revamp will greatly benefit the residents of Sembawang EC at Canberra MRTSembawang Road EC, providing them with an improved lifestyle without the need to travel far. Furthermore, the proximity of these amenities will make the EC even more appealing to potential buyers or tenants, ultimately increasing its long-term value. Coupled with its advantageous location near the upcoming Canberra MRT, the Sembawang EC at Canberra MRT offers an unbeatable living option.
In addition to the deck, The Reef at King’s Dock has a range of facilities, including function rooms, a gym and studio, a tennis court, a playground, and several gardens and pavilions. The tallest residential block also has sky terraces and a roof garden.
The playground area and tennis court (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
Where Land Meets Sea
Given the diverse nature of the urban village at The Reef at King’s Dock, landscaping is an essential element that helps maintain overall cohesiveness. Grant Associates, the appointed landscape architect for the project, used extensive planting to create a lush, immersive environment.
The paths in the development are flanked by greenery (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
The areas around the residential blocks are filled with a variety of greenery tailored to suit particular spaces. For example, plants accustomed to low lighting levels were chosen for the interior courtyards, while residences located off the main pathways are shielded by taller plants that enhance privacy. The landscaping focused on native and coastal species, reflecting the site’s maritime heritage.
The floating deck has a wide range of small trees and shrubs, set within raised planters, adding a welcoming touch to the poolside lounge areas. Additionally, the old dock wall has been transformed into a biodiverse landscape feature, featuring plants adaptable to the marine environment set in planters on the wall.
Some blocks feature an interior open courtyard (Picture: Mapletree Investments and Keppel)
Compound Collaborative’s director, Ng Sze Oun, who was also a judge for this year’s EPEA, praised the development’s landscaping for how thoughtfully it highlights the legacy of King’s Dock. “You can see that it really took into consideration every single detail of the site, from its location facing the sea, the ebb and flow of the tides, to the corals in the water,” he says. “By doing this, it helped the development convey the story of the site and the area.”
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What is the buyer profile for The Reef At King’s Dock?
Project summary for The Reef At King’s Dock condo
Compare price trend of The Reef At King’s Dock vs District 4 Condo
Compare price trend of The Reef At King’s Dock condo vs HDB
Compare price trend of The Reef At King’s Dock condo vs Landed
Price trend chart for The Reef At King’s Dock