James Dyson's HOUSE Singapore
The Singapore bungalow reportedly bought by James Dyson. The large bungalow has commanding views of the Botanic Gardens. Photograph: Guz Architects
Weeks after paying £43m for city state’s dearest penthouse, inventor has reportedly bought £26.5m bungalow
When billionaire inventor James Dyson bought Singapore’s most expensive flat for £43m earlier this month, the only thing the luxury triplex was missing was its own waterfall.
But Dyson, who has been criticised for uprooting his company to Singapore after strongly backing Brexit, has rectified that with the purchase of a second property, complete with cascading water feature.
The Singapore home sports a cascading waterfall. Photograph: Guz Architects
Weeks after it was revealed he had bought the city-state’s priciest penthouse, the Straits Times newspaper reported that the billionaire has purchased a S$45m (£26.5m) bungalow opposite Singapore’s Unesco-listed Botanic Gardens.
An online brochure for the apartment, which has been called the Botanica Residence by designers at Guz Architects, shows a swimming pool winding its way through the house, as well as a waterfall cascading through the property, flanked by plants.
Architects used large cantilevers and horizontal planes to make the building seemingly float. Photograph: Guz Architects
“We made use of large cantilevers and horizontal planes to make the building float and give it lightness when viewed from the road,” the company’s website says.
“Upon entry, the rear conceals a sunken courtyard and pool to allow light into the basement. A human scale and comfort is achieved through the use of warm materials and allowance for cross ventilation. Photovoltaic cells cover the attic roof.”
The Singapore bungalow boasts a swimming pool winding its way through the house, as well as a waterfall cascading through the property. Photograph: Guz Architects
For foreigners and permanent residents to be allowed to purchase landed property in the city state they must have made “exceptional economic contributions in Singapore”, the Straits Times said.
A spokeswoman for Dyson Limited refused to comment on “the private affairs of the Dyson family”.
A view of the cascading waterfall and pool. Photograph: Guz Architects
Dyson’s new bolthole is not quite as luxurious as the five-bedroom triplex penthouse at the top of Singapore’s tallest building.
The 21,108 sq ft property, the largest flat in Singapore, features a 12-metre swimming pool, roof terrace, cabana, jacuzzi room, bar facilities, 600-bottle wine cellar, two kitchens and an entertainment room.
James Dyson. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images
It also has a 24-hour butler service, which can assist the owner with tedious chores such as chartering a yacht or private jet or arranging a private chef to cater for a dinner party.
When contacted about the previous penthouse purchase, a Dyson spokesman said: “Given the decision to locate the headquarters in Singapore and the growing focus of the company’s business in the region, of course James Dyson has bought a property there.”
