Day: April 19, 2023

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Club Buzz

Five reasons to book a staycation at East Villa

Villa sizes range from 144 to 157sqm, offering plenty of space for extended family or a group of friends.

East Villa at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir offers a getaway that’s closer to home, close to nature and in the heart of eastern Singapore.

TEXT: MELODY TAN

PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS

If you’re looking to relax in a waterfront villa set amid lush tropical greenery, the good news is that you no longer need to travel abroad to Phuket or Bali. In fact, your tropical escape will only be a short taxi ride away, thanks to East Villa, located at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir.

This family-friendly destination is home to 10 spacious, double-storey villas offering stunning views of the reservoir and its lush surroundings.

Here’s why you’ll want to make it your next family getaway.

MORE LUXE, LESS CASH

Villa sizes range from 144 to 157sqm, which is plenty of space for an extended family or group of friends. The sleek, airy interiors inspired by nature form the perfect backdrop for celebrations, whether you’re having a weekend with the boys or throwing a birthday bash for your loved one.

The villas are also designed with various needs in mind. While the kids race up the stairs to chope their preferred bedrooms first, grandma and grandpa won’t need to worry: All 10 villas have a ground-floor bedroom, and the Deluxe Garden 1 villa is suitable for wheelchair users or those who experience difficulty walking.

Best of all? A booking won’t break the bank, as rates start at S$400 per night (off-peak) for HomeTeamNS members. Bookings for East Villa can only be made through the HomeTeamNS Mobile App, which makes checking in and keeping track of your staycation details ultra-convenient.

BARBEQUE IN ANY WEATHER

Remember those holiday gatherings with your schoolmates at barbecue pits along the beach? While those were plenty of fun, things would quickly go south whenever it started to rain as these pits were usually unsheltered.

That won’t be not an issue here, as each villa has a sheltered barbecue area, that promises fun times with your companions, whatever the weather! You’ll be able to focus on unveiling your inner MasterChef, without worrying about having to move everything in a hurry if the rain comes. For the best experience, be sure to bring a 40cm by 60cm rectangular wire mesh for the BBQ pit, as well as your own grilling or BBQ utensils. No messy charcoal is needed, as the pits are all electric.

CONSOLE GAMING GOODNESS

The villas are also equipped with console systems, so visitors can take each other on in classic games like Street Fighter 2. It’s a great opportunity to gather up your buddies and relive your best “Hadouken!” childhood moments, or create brand-new gaming memories with your children. And for those who prefer analog entertainment, mahjong sets and tables as well as board and card games are available for rent.

SMART AND EASY ACCESS

Are you known for misplacing your keycard while on holiday? Have you ever left your hotel room or villa, only to realise that the door has auto-locked behind you… and your keycard is sitting on the table inside? That won’t be an issue here, since guests can access their villa via a QR code generated on the HomeTeamNS Mobile App. You’ll be fine (as long as you’re not known for misplacing your phone while you’re on holiday!). If you have friends or family members joining you for the staycation, simply share the QR code – which is refreshed every 10 minutes, for extra security – and save yourself the hassle of escorting them in.

Villa guests also have four access passes to the Fitness Workz Garage gym and 10 access passes to the infinity pool at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, all of which are accessible via QR codes on the app.

ENJOY CLUB FACILITIES

Don’t just stop at the infinity pool and gym when it comes to exploring the Bedok Reservoir clubhouse. After you’re done savouring the unblocked reservoir views from these facilities (and your workout), be sure to check out the other attractions.

These include gamified obstacle course Action Motion – a favourite with adults and kids of all ages – and a host of delicious eateries, including Sri Bistari (a famous ayam penyet joint from Changi Village) and Georges Bar, for good food and music at Bedok Reservoir’s scenic waterfront. Talk about an Insta-worthy staycation!

East Villa bookings are currently exclusive to HomeTeamNS members from till 30 June 2023. Stay tuned for the upcoming booking window for Affiliate members and guest bookings, which will be announced on the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir microsite and the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir Facebook page.

Categories
Lifestyle

Why taking a step back can help you take two steps forward

Setting aside quality time for yourself may sound counterintuitive when you have a packed schedule, but the benefits are well-established.

TEXT: MORGAN AWYONG

PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS, UNSPLASH

We wear many hats in life – parent, child, employee, friend or volunteer. With the demands these roles place on our time, it’s no wonder that some people may find it counterproductive to take a step back from their busy schedule to do something they truly enjoy.

If the above statement describes yourself, you’re not alone. A 2019 survey by Sentosa Development Corporation revealed that 50 per cent of the participants felt stressed at the prospect of doing nothing, while three in 10 actually admitted they did not know how to relax.

Here’s why you need to make the time to truly unwind – for the sake of your mental health and furthering your personal relationships – and some suggestions to get you started on your journey to a more relaxed you.

WHY BREAKS ARE BETTER

Talk of work-life balance is now a staple topic, because it has been shown to benefit employers and employees. Breaks have been proven to boost productivity while preventing burnout and high stress. By activating different parts of the brain away from the prefrontal cortex (which helps with analytical thinking), it relieves decision fatigue, aids learning, boosts long-term motivation and even stimulates creativity.

The potential result of not taking that rest can be devastating. Burnout can take a long time to recover from and may result in a prolonged aversion to work. If you are seeing changes such as work cynicism, difficulty in concentrating, sharp mood swings and social withdrawal, you might be at risk and should mitigate it soon with rest.

Start with short breaks watching something light-hearted – animal videos are a good starting point. A Time article suggests five to 10-minute breaks work the best. Next, start drawing boundaries to keep your evenings and weekends work-free (this includes not texting colleagues about work).

STEP BACK, STEP AWAY

A sporting activity is another option. Replacing a cerebral action with one that engages your motor skills gives rest to the former, and the resulting dopamine from exercise is a nice reward as well.

Going to the gym has become popular for this and outlets are available across the island. HomeTeamNS has Fitness Workz gyms that open as early as 7am at every clubhouse, and includes equipment and classes to help you kickstart your fitspo journey. Swimming is another activity that’s available at all clubhouses. It’s low-impact and refreshing, and the infinity pool at the new HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse offers stunning views of nature.

If you’re with colleagues, why not have a game of badminton? It’s easy to pick up and requires minimal equipment, and the multi-purpose hall at the Balestier clubhouse is a great option for after-work sessions.

RESET, REJUVENATE, AND RELAX

Yoga combines the best of mental rest with physical activation and has been shown to lower the resting heart rate, increase endurance, and improve blood oxygenation, combining to deeply relax and rejuvenate the mind and body.

One can ease into the practice at any HomeTeamNS clubhouse. Hatha yoga is one of the earliest forms to be introduced, while Yin Yang alternates working on your connective tissues and joints with muscular strength and stamina. Move up to more dynamic movements with Pilates, or just enjoy a variety of practices with Yoga Inc at the Bedok Reservoir clubhouse.

DISCOVER YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Singaporeans love a good staycation, and being in a different environment can set a person at ease. Our island offers a plethora of hotels at various price points to suit any budget, but if you’re looking for more space, renting out a villa might be better.

West Villa at Bukit Batok includes kitchens, barbecue pits and even outdoor picnic benches to enjoy a balmy afternoon out on the green. Over at Bedok Reservoir, there’s East Villa – newly-built with waterfront views. Plan a Netflix marathon on the smart TVs, or geek out on gaming consoles that are available in the living rooms. You can also rent mahjong sets, board games and cards.

GO ON A FAMILY DATE

Spending quality time with your family and loved ones – where everyone is focused on having fun instead of school work or groceries – is a good way to reconnect and recharge.

Splash out with your loved ones at Singapore’s first integrated indoor waterpark, Aqua Adventure which will open soon at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, or pit yourselves against the obstacles at Action Motion. For a more relaxing option, hit the lanes at SuperBowl or StarBowl at the other three HomeTeamNS clubhouses at Balestier, Bukit Batok, and Khatib.

Do your children dream of becoming singers? Then the Jewel Music Box KTV at the HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier and Khatib clubhouses offers plenty of fun for the family. Whether scoring some points or hitting those notes, every outing will be made rewarding as you take that well-deserved break.

Find yourself some “me time” to enjoy the value of a good break at HomeTeamNS clubhouses.

Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.

Categories
Club Buzz

Smart, sustainable, and sure to please

The HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse isn’t just surrounded by greenery – it’s also a green building, with digital features that enhance the visitor experience.

TEXT: MELODY TAN

PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS

HomeTeamNS clubhouses have become known for catering a variety of activities for its members. For instance, HomeTeamNS Khatib is known for being an urban retreat and the HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok has become popular for its family friendly-facilities. HomeTeamNS Balestier is known as a sporting haven while the brand-new HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir is rapidly carving out a name for itself as a waterfront haven.

Known for its first-in-Singapore facilities – like Aqua Adventure – and stunning villas for memorable staycations, the clubhouse is an idyllic retreat set amid the expanse of the Bedok Reservoir waterfront.

Still, there are two things even more impressive about HomeTeamNS’ latest clubhouse. Like HomeTeamNS Khatib clubhouse, it is known for its commitment to sustainability, and its innovative smart features. Visitors to the Bedok Reservoir clubhouse might not notice all of them, but these little details add up to a seamlessly enjoyable clubhouse experience that also aims to keep Singapore green.

RECOGNISED FOR ITS GREEN STATUS

The Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark certification recognises buildings that have been built and designed with sustainability in mind by having climate-responsive features and a healthy indoor environment, in addition to being energy and resource-efficient.

As a new public sector building, the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir was required to attain a Green Mark Platinum status – an achievement it shares with HomeTeamNS Khatib and attained with the help of energy-efficient light fittings and smart lighting systems with motion sensors that detect when an area is less populated, so lighting usage can be automatically reduced.

In addition, the clubhouse was built with low-carbon and Singapore Green Building-certified products, with an eye to supporting Singapore’s Green Plan 2030. Solar panels are on the pipeline and will generate enough electricity to power two per cent of the building’s energy consumption.

Inside the building, all water-related systems were designed in compliance with the PUB Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme Rating requirements, ensuring that water usage is kept as low as possible – even with an in-house three storey-tall indoor water adventure centre.

Investing in these measures enabled Bedok Reservoir clubhouse to reach energy savings of over 30 per cent, as well as fulfil the other criteria needed to achieve BCA’s Green Mark Platinum award.

KEEPING COOL AND POWERING UP

Notwithstanding the cooling waterfront of Bedok Reservoir, the weather can get pretty warm. Visitors will want to take shelter from the heat at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, where common areas like the lobby are naturally ventilated and large overhang balconies provide shade for those on lower floors.

Within the clubhouse grounds, visitors are surrounded by lush greenery, over half of which are plants native to Singapore. They’re maintained by a rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation system for easy, sustainable upkeep. 

In addition, the blue and green clubhouse roofs consist of high solar reflectance index (SRI) building materials. SRI roofs are able to reflect solar heat more effectively than those built with traditional roofing materials, allowing the building to cool down by emitting absorbed solar heat to the surrounding air.

Even the walls are part of the keep-cool mission: HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s façade walls consist of building materials with low thermal transmittance, while the glass has a low emissivity coating.

These materials and coating ensure that the building doesn’t absorb as much heat into its interior, thus having the double benefit of cooling down visitors while lowering energy consumption.

GAMIFYING MOVEMENT

If you’ve always wanted to live out your video game fantasies in real life, Action Motion is where you want to be.

The digital active experience arena has a score-tabulating gamifier system that adds up your wins in real-time as you move through the arena, conquering the multi-level obstacle course, net maze and more. With every tap of your wristband, your total score – including timings – is added to the leader board in the arena, taking competition to a whole new level.

Still keen for more digital fun? Action Motion also has Augmented Reality (AR) bouldering walls and an AR trampoline, which combine motion capture and projected graphics to make things more interesting. For example, the AR-enhanced bouldering activity invites you to slap images of bubbles projected onto the wall in order to pop them and score points.

EASING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH TECH 

Never fear losing your room (or villa) key again and having to pay a fine, because at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s East Villa, the key is in your phone.

More precisely, it’s a QR code that appears in your HomeTeamNS Mobile App when you check in, allowing you to gain access to your villa without fuss. And if your family or friends arrive later, you can add up to four guests for every booking – so they can use their own accounts to access the QR code without having to borrow your phone. No need to worry that the code can be re-used or screenshotted, as it refreshes every few minutes to ensure security and your peace of mind.

Finally, like all the other HomeTeamNS clubhouses, HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir aims to feel like home – and soon, it will have its own robot concierge welcoming members back. The concierge robot is equipped with voice-enabled Artificial Intelligence technology, so it can answer verbally when you ask it a question, such as directions to the facility you want or help desk support issues.

To see these cool features in action, come down to HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, where smart facilities meet a more sustainable future. 

Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the app settings.

Categories
Lifestyle On The Edge

Five ways to celebrate Earth Day

With the recent spell of uncharacteristically cool weather in Singapore hinting at how climate patterns are changing, we look at meaningful ways you can make a difference to the environment.

TEXT: MORGAN AWYONG

PHOTOS: UNSPLASH

Earth Day (April 22) is upon us once more, and while international summits and commercial campaigns capture the headlines, it’s equally important to know that the small, daily steps we take towards greener lifestyles can make a significant collective difference.

Here are five simple ways you can do your part for the environment – not just on Earth Day, but every day.

BAG NEW COASTERS, PLANT POTS, EVEN SKIPPING ROPES FOR FREE

Plastic use has come under increasing scrutiny in the wake of growing concerns over sustainability. Singapore uses a minimum of 1.76 billion plastic items each year. Almost half of these (820 million), are from supermarkets. With an average lifespan of 20 years, this immense volume of waste — that typically ends up in landfills, which can emit greenhouse gases and toxins — needs to be tackled. This is why the National Environment Agency (NEA) has joined 77 countries around the world in regulating plastic bag use by introducing a charge of between S$0.05 to S$0.10 per plastic bag to reduce unnecessary consumption.

Lightweight and durable, plastic bags were originally created by Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin, ironically, to save the environment. Although plastic bags are often single-use now, it was initially believed that these highly durable bags would be re-used repeatedly and eventually replace paper bags.

To honour his intentions, we can re-use plastic bags or upcycle them into other objects. They can be made into coasters and plant pots to spruce up the home. Upcycling techniques have come a long way and there are plenty of online resources with instructions to help you make beautiful functional items like dog leashes, lampshades and even skipping ropes.

EAT FRESH AND SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCE

As over 90 per cent of our food is imported, Singapore has been vulnerable to supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental disasters and even conflicts in source countries. As our agencies look into bolstering Singapore’s food security, you can help by eating local.

Choosing ingredients produced at local farms helps promote the local economy and provides capital to scale up these businesses. Over time, this can help to diversify our food sources, reduce food waste and the use of fuel to import goods.

Discover this first-hand at Bollywood Farms, where you can pick fresh ingredients to use in a cooking class. Projects by Edible Garden City meanwhile showcase the possibilities of urban farming. Produce from its farm at Funan can even be enjoyed at Japanese restaurant Noka. You can even try growing delicious mushrooms with vendors like Bewilder, which sells mushroom growing kits and premium fresh mushrooms.

A REWARDING CLEAN-UP AT YOUR NEAREST PARK OR BEACH

If you enjoy visiting parks or beaches to relax, why not sign up for a voluntary clean-up effort to help keep them pristine? You can register for official ones such as those organised by the Public Hygiene Council, or just enlist the family to do your own cleanup. All you’ll need are a pair of tongs, gloves and a trash bag. Filling up just one bag goes a long way and there are many additional benefits. Walking around benefits your fitness and can become a bonding experience for the family.

Better yet, why not reward yourself by cleaning a park that’s near a HomeTeamNS clubhouse? After clearing up Bedok Reservoir Park, you could head to the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir to admire your handiwork from its infinity pool, or enjoy a satisfying cup of Starbucks Coffee and savour some Asian Fusion meals at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier after tidying up Toa Payoh Town Park. If your group was at Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, celebrate afterwards with a BBQ session at the ManCaves at the HomeTeamNS Khatib!

B.Y.O.

Bringing our own reusable containers can have a significant effect in reducing the volume of single-use plastics that end up in landfills. For instance, a clean-up campaign from August to October 2014 saw volunteers comb Singapore’s beaches and mangroves, collecting a total of 14,580kg of marine litter. Most of this comprised single-use disposables such as beverage bottles and takeout containers. While one of the best ways to cut down on this is to bring your own lunchbox and beverage containers, even small considerations can make a big difference.

For instance, do you really need an extra carrier for your bubble tea or a sleeve for warm drinks when they’re not that hot? By starting small, you’ll soon realise how easy it is to make those adjustments, before moving up to bringing your own stylish lunchboxes and bottles. Encourage the family to take up the habit and have fun creating cute bentos to surprise your loved ones.

AN ATMOSPHERIC SWITCH

Much like Earth Hour in March, major organisations and retailers like to organise a lights-off event for Earth Day on 22 April. You can join in the movement by planning an entire activity around it – like a romantic evening for your significant other or an atmospheric candle-lit night for the family preceded by a candle-making session.

Replacing your bulbs with energy-saving or LED options will help reduce energy consumption. LED bulbs with smart hue-changing options can liven up the home, because saving our planet is a beautiful thing.

Small steps for mankind, a big hug to our earth. Join in the efforts and enjoy the green lifestyle this Earth Day on April 22.

Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to “Receive Digital Frontline Magazine”, through the App Settings.