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Haidilao family buys freehold good class bungalow for $42 million

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Analysts say $1,940 is highest price per sq ft paid for freehold good class bungalow in area

The family of Singapore's richest billionaire, co-founder of Sichuan hotpot chain Haidilao, is buying a freehold good class bungalow (GCB) in Gallop Road at the highest price per sq ft (psf) for the area.

According to documents seen by The Straits Times, the option to purchase the 21,649 sq ft bungalow, located a stone's throw from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, was granted to Mr Zhang Hanzhi at $42 million on Dec 22.

This works out to $1,940 psf, which analysts say is the highest price psf paid for a GCB in that area.

Mr Zhang Hanzhi is the son of Mr Zhang Yong, the chairman of Haidilao International Holding, which went public in Hong Kong in September 2018.

Mr Zhang Yong, a naturalised Singapore citizen, topped Forbes' Singapore's Richest list last year for the second straight year.

He has a combined net worth of US$19 billion (S$25 billion) with his wife Shu Ping, a co-founder and director of Haidilao. She made the Forbes' list last year as well.

The Gallop Road property is located next to Mr Zhang Yong's existing bungalow, which was purchased at $1,700 psf or $27 million in 2016.

Dubbed The Winged House, the 15,884 sq ft freehold bungalow was designed by K2LD Architects in the shape of two wings.

RECORD PRICE

Ms Carin Puah, senior director (capital markets) of real estate agency JLL Singapore, said $1,940 psf was a record price for the Gallop Road area last year.

She added: "They are paying for the privacy of the location as both bungalows are located in a cul-de-sac."

But Ms Puah noted there were at least three GCB transactions in other areas that were done at $2,000 psf and above last year.

Recent transactions within the GCB areas include a Cluny Hill bungalow transacted for $38.6 million, or $2,315 psf.

A GCB in Chatsworth Park was transacted last month at $44 million, which translates to $2,082 psf based on land area, and a bungalow in Lermit Road was sold for $34.75 million, or $2,000 psf.

"There's market talk that the family was looking for a bigger plot GCB, but supply is limited... Most GCB buyers like to buy the 21,000 sq ft and larger plots, as you can build up to 17,000 sq ft," Mr Samuel Eyo, managing director of Lighthouse Property Consultants, said in reference to Mr Zhang Yong and his family.

Bungalows in the 39 gazetted GCB areas are the most prestigious form of landed housing in Singapore, with strict planning conditions stipulated by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to preserve their exclusivity and low-rise character.

Property