CapitaLand and Hotel Properties Limited mark the completion of the largest condominium project in Singapore – d’Leedon – with a world record-setting feat
The longest playable stringed musical instrument ever set up and played at the eight-hectare, 1,715-unit residential development with world-class amenities
Singapore, 25 October 2014 – Another ‘first’ has been created at the largest and one of the most ambitious residential developments in Singapore – d’Leedon – with the longest playable stringed musical instrument ever set up and played in the world. To mark the completion of the eight-hectare project located at Leedon Heights, CapitaLand Singapore, Hotel Properties Limited, and their joint venture partners held a celebration party for about 4,000 residents and their families and friends this evening.
The world record-setting feat was achieved by Mr William Close, a musician of the America’s Got Talent fame, who played the Earth Harp, the world’s longest playable stringed musical instrument. Specially composed for the successful completion of d’Leedon, Mr Close played his new piece titled “Mini Symphony For The Earth Harp” for the very first time at the celebration party. As he glided and tugged at the strings of the Earth Harp, star-architect Ms Zaha Hadid’s signature architectural curvilinear lines seemed to come alive with the rhythms and notes epitomising the fluidity of d’Leedon’s towers. The strings of the Earth Harp were erected and stretched from the clubhouse rooftop at one end of the development to the 36th floor of another tower, making d’Leedon part of the Earth Harp. The length of one of the 16 strings – which is 291.71 metres – was certified by A*STAR’s National Metrology Centre, the custodian of the national measurement standards in Singapore, with the record-setting feat recognised by the World Record Academy. The World Record was verified and certified on site, and a World Record Academy Certificate was handed to CapitaLand by a local adjudicator on behalf of World Record Academy on 25 October 2014.
Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO, CapitaLand Limited, together with Mr Wen Khai Meng, CEO, CapitaLand Singapore; Mr Wong Heang Fine, CEO, CapitaLand Singapore (Residential); and Mr Christopher Lim, Group Executive Director, Hotel Properties Limited, launched the d’Leedon celebration party. It was followed by a fireworks and laser show, which illuminated the entire development.
Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO, CapitaLand Limited said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to interact with the residents of d’Leedon and their families at one of the biggest completion parties in Singapore. We would like to thank our joint venture partners, contractors, consultants, and the CapitaLand team for their strong commitment in delivering a beautiful and well-received landmark that we are proud of. Indeed, d’Leedon has created a new page in the history of Singapore for being the first high-rise residential project to be designed by internationally-renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Ms Zaha Hadid, and also for hosting a record-setting feat of having the longest playable stringed musical instrument ever played in the world – a performance that was visually and musically spectacular.”
Mr Wen Khai Meng, CEO, CapitaLand Singapore, said: “Well-connected to a good transportation network, reputable schools and recreational venues such as Holland Village, Dempsey Hill and Botanic Gardens, d’Leedon is a vibrant addition to the premium District 10. At CapitaLand, we have always tried to create value through product differentiation. Be it holding completion parties at selected signature projects, working with world-famous architects to create iconic residential developments to exploring new marketing strategies, we always pride ourselves for being innovative, pushing boundaries and setting new trends in the Singapore residential market.”
The East-meets-West collaboration by Mr Close and the Nanyang Technological University Chinese Orchestra was also another highlight of the evening as they jointly performed well-known pieces such as Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” and Teresa Teng’s “月亮代表我的心” (The Moon Represents My Heart).
Mr William Close, the Earth Harp musician, said: “The belief that architecture is frozen music is what brought me to perform this monumental record-setting feat at d’Leedon - one of the most remarkable architectural projects in Singapore. I hope the audience could experience the association between my emotive music and the breathtaking, flowing silhouette of d’Leedon.”
On top of the alluring musical performances and impressive record-setting feat, residents were treated to a slew of activities including magic shows, performance by carnival buskers, balloon sculpting and lucky draws. In addition to a sumptuous buffet spread, residents also enjoyed food prepared by 10 of the most well-known hawkers located within six kilometres of the development, specially selected to cater the hawker fare at the event.
Comprising seven 36-storey towers offering 1,703 apartments as well as 12 exclusive semi-detached houses, d’Leedon offers unobstructed views of Singapore’s skyline and large expanses of greenery such as Singapore Botanic Gardens and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and is a stone’s throw away from Orchard Road. The seven towers gently taper inwards as they merge with the ground, hence occupying only 22% of the site. This frees up a vast amount of land dedicated to even more landscape and lifestyle facilities. d’Leedon is a self-contained development offering a myriad of world-class amenities such as two clubhouses, a large gymnasium overlooking an outdoor aqua-gym, two 50-metre lap pools, three party houses, themed gardens, and a 1.7-kilometre jogging route which links up six fitness stations, three tennis courts, a basketball court and a multi-purpose court.
As at the end of September 2014, the 1,715-unit d’Leedon achieved sales of more than 85%. The remaining 254 units are mostly four-bedroom units. The distinctive development has garnered awards such as Green Mark GoldPLUS and Universal Design Mark GoldPLUS from the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, as well as the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Certification from the PUB.