%203k.jpg?DrRmMhqUcbcUn31TjbGAfltoIRsl97yt&itok=__0VV1aK "Bloomsbury Residences occupies a prime land plot with an extensive frontage that overlooks a historic low-rise enclave. (Picture: Qingjian Realty)")
The imminent launch of Bloomsbury Residences by Qingjian Realty, Forsea Holdings, ZACD Group and Jianan Capital heralds the transformation of Mediapolis in the one-north district into the latest master-planned live-work-play neighbourhood in Singapore.
Qianjian Realty is an established property developer in Singapore and has successfully completed more than 9,500 homes across 17 projects. Forsea Holdings has a dominant market presence as a developer and builder across the Asia Pacific region.
Bloomsbury Residences and Shoppes comprise upmarket residential development, Bloomsbury Residences, and a retail cluster called Bloomsbury Shoppes. The anticipated residences will be the first to break ground in Mediapolis.
The master plan of one-north district was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and the thriving district has seen continuous investment and development for nearly 15 years and is a homegrown technology and innovation hub akin to the US Silicon Valley in California.
In Budget 2025, the government announced plans to invest an additional $1 billion in research infrastructure and one-north aims to re fresh public biosciences and medical technology research infrastructure.
This signature development is expected to set the lifestyle tone for this residential enclave at Mediapolis. The government has already earmarked three plots for future development, which will add about 1,000 new homes to this neighbourhood.
“As Mediapolis deepens its presence in the region as an important hub for infocomm and media, we anticipate a steady influx of professionals with high-value careers who will seek quality housing options,” says Marcus Chu, CEO of ERA Singapore.
He adds that the area’s continued development, coupled with increasing housing demand, positions Bloomsbury Residences to capture rental growth and capital appreciation over the long term.
An anticipated prime RCR project
Bloomsbury Residences is bounded by Media Circle and Portsdown Road, which directly connects to major roads and highways such as Portsdown Avenue, Queensway, North Buona Vista Road, and the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), easily connecting its residents to the rest of Singapore.
Bloomsbury Residence is in a prime Rest of Central Region (RCR) locale, and the development is centrally located and conveniently connected to several well-known neighbourhoods and commercial hubs. A typical drive to popular destinations like Holland Village, Dempsey Hill, and Tanjong Pagar will usually take residents about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the commute to Marina Bay Financial Centre in the Central Business District is a 15-minute drive.
The project’s design is inspired by the surrounding environment and created to maximise the unique locational qualities of the site. (Picture: Qingjian Realty)
Recently, there has been strong demand for new private homes in the RCR, says Ismail Gafoor, CEO of PropNex Realty.
“The narrowing price gap between RCR and OCR projects likely spurred greater buying interest,” he says, citing resale data that indicates that the gap in the median unit price of new non-landed homes in the RCR and OCR (excluding ECs) has shrunk from 50.4% in 4Q2021 to 13.7% in 1Q2025. “This may have encouraged some buyers to top up their budget slightly and go for an RCR property instead,” he says.
Mediapolis is an established commercial hub in one-north where several prominent multinational companies (MNCs) and small- and medium-sized enterprises have set up their headquarters.
The one-north precinct has a captive market with over 400 leading companies. There are only two completed private residential developments within 1km of Mediapolis. While there have been other new project launches in parts of one-north, none are well-positioned to serve the Mediapolis area.
“Even though over 50,000 employees work in the area, it is underserved in terms of housing. The scarcity of quality housing presents a unique opportunity for buyers and investors to tap into strong demand in this high-growth area,” says Chu.
He adds that as industries in one-north expand, the area needs to support a growing population of highly skilled local and foreign talent. “Bloomsbury Residences is well-positioned to become the preferred homes for expatriates and Singaporeans seeking quality homes near their workplaces, paving the way for sustained rental demand in the long term,” says Chu.
Conveniently located near prestigious schools
For discerning families, Bloomsbury Residences is also close to several prominent international schools. The nearest is the private British-based Tanglin Trust School, less than 300m from the development. Other nearby international schools include UWC Dover Campus, INSEAD Business School, and ACS International.
Families with school-going children also have various nearby educational options, such as Fairfield Primary School, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Anglo-Chinese Junior College, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The NUS campus at Kent Ridge is a six-minute drive from Bloomsbury Residences, and Kent Ridge MRT Station is one stop away from one north MRT Station.
One-north is developing into a vibrant work-live-play district anchored by R&D, media and educational institutions, says Gafoor, adding that residential projects like Bloomsbury Residences add to the area’s appeal.
The sales gallery at Media Walk is expected to welcome the public on March 29. (Picture: Qingjian Realty)
Mark Yip, CEO of Huttons Asia, remarks that private residential rents in one-north have historically trumped nearby Dover. “The Government is boosting the “live” component in one-north with more land sales and there may be potential upside in prices and rents (at one-north) in the future. He adds that the area’s proximity to educational institutions means shorter travel times for students and their families.
The total number of private housing units launched to date in and around one-north is ‘not too sizeable’, says Gafoor. “As the area develops, there will be stronger leasing demand from one-north based employees and the nearby Science Park and National University Hospital.”
Architecture that embraces heritage and modern
Designed by renowned architectural firm ADDP Architects, alongside landscape consultant Ecoplan Asia, development plans for Bloomsbury Residences take inspiration from the surrounding environment. The project is designed to maximise the unique locational qualities of the site.
Bloomsbury Residences occupies a prime land plot with an extensive frontage that overlooks a historic low-rise enclave. The condo will face the historic Wessex estate — one of the eight distinct precincts at one-north. Nestled amid lush greenery off Portsdown Road, this conserved residential enclave consists of several blocks of walk-up apartments and semi-detached houses. Residents can walk to the popular pet-friendly café, Under Der Linden on Portsdown Road, and the nostalgic Colbar, a colonial-era styled open-air café on Whitchurch Road.
Nature lovers will also enjoy direct access to the landmark Rail Corridor through an existing pedestrian gateway in Wessex estate. The Rail Corridor is a 24km long forested passage that starts at Tanjong Pagar and ends at Kranji. The government is further enhancing the Rail Corridor with the new Queensway Node, located beneath the intersection of Queensway and Portsdown Avenue. This planned space will enhance pedestrian access between Queenstown and Mediapolis and is set to benefit residents of Bloomsbury Residences when it is completed in 2027.
Meanwhile, Bloomsbury Shoppes features about 4,300 sq ft of retail space and will provide necessities and convenience for future residents. Residents and the public can expect this pet-friendly retail zone to be an integrated public thoroughfare with shops and a playground.
Bloomsbury Residences comprises 358 units with two- to four-bed room units and four- to six-bedroom penthouses. The development has over 50 facilities including three swimming pools. It is also the first residential project in one-north with a tennis court. The developer is also leveraging robotics to serve as a new generation of modern living.
The sales gallery at Media Walk is expected to welcome the public on March 29.
