The New Way To Live

Communal areas designed for interaction and exclusive networking sessions are the reasons why co-living is now a viable option for Singaporean millennials who want to mingle.

- Hayley Tai

When Pree Domadaran saw the simple-yet-clean colours and textures, and the minimalist interior, she was sold.

It was exactly what the 35-year-old was looking for when she was room hunting seven months ago. Pree, a public speaking coach, tells Her World: “I was looking at HDB flats and condominiums. While I could afford many of the spaces, they required long-term contracts, and the rooms were poorly furnished.”

The Singaporean now lives – and works – in the trendy district in the East Coast at Hmlet@Lorong G, a property that was transformed from a school building into a co-living space this year.

“I value my privacy. I was staying with my parents and grandma before that, and it can be quite distracting,” adds Pree, who pays $1,300 a month for rental for her room at Hmlet@Lorong G.

“I’m a co-living convert,” she professes. “The spaces are stylish and beautifully furnished, and the common areas are great to work at because you’re not cooped up in a room. You also get to constantly interact with your neighbours.”

GROWING A LOCAL TRIBE

Pree is among the growing local community who have opted to live in the predominantly expat coliving developments. Real estate firm JLL Singapore’s co-living survey shows that for every two foreigners who are willing to move to a co-living space, one Singaporean is keen to do so.

Newer iterations are now more millennial-focused, and the hipsteramenitised rental developments are gobbling up square footage in Singapore.

While social gatherings are common among residents (known as “citizens” or “tribe”), co-living spaces now feature a multifaceted programme – from art-jamming to TED talks and kick-boxing classes – on top of amenities like shared laundromats, Masterchef-styled kitchens, co-working zones, and even an open-concept cinema.