When it comes to luxury real estate, Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) aren’t just homes — they’re cultural currency. In Singapore, owning one is the ultimate status symbol, a mix of legacy and location wrapped in exclusivity. The rules alone tell you everything: a minimum plot size of 1,400 square metres, no more than two storeys high, and only within 39 officially gazetted enclaves by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Translation? If a GCB were a handbag, it would be the Himalaya Birkin — rare, regulated, and never on sale.

But beyond the prestige, what really makes a GCB shine is how it feels. The interiors are where personal taste meets cultural storytelling — proof that luxury isn’t just marble and chandeliers, it’s mood, memory, and material intelligence.

Above The living room of interior designer Katherine Mazzali’s Singapore home

Take Katherine Mazzali’s GCB — a masterclass in mixing heritage with heart. The interior designer and founder of Katherine M Interiors brings in the warmth of California’s coastlines and the refinement of Parisian neoclassicism, creating rooms that breathe rather than boast. White seating with generous proportions invites lounging; every space whispers comfort wrapped in quiet confidence.

ABOVE: The homeowners selected the GCB as they admired its classic, grand facade

ABOVE: This GCB features vibrant touches like this blue Philip Jeffries crane wall covering, which adds a pop of colour

Then there’s the 16,500 sq ft residence designed by KGID, where seven bedrooms and eleven bathrooms somehow still feel intimate. With bespoke finishes, warm woods, and layered textures, it’s the kind of home that says “old money,” even if it’s brand new.

Above This tropical-inspired GCB features furnishings that echo the surrounding nature to draw the eye outside

Meanwhile, Guz Architects and Designworx Interior Consultants prove that luxury can be both lush and light. Their U-shaped GCB wraps elegantly around a central pool, blurring the lines between inside and out — a tropical fantasy of glass, air, and reflection. Every corner hums with art, modern furniture, and those subtle Asian influences that remind you you’re not just in a house; you’re in a conversation between architecture and nature.

In Tanglin, SuMisura’s Angela Lim transforms a 17,717 sq ft multi-generational bungalow into a sanctuary of white marble, glass, and greenery. It’s not just spacious — it’s graceful. Every room, from the children’s suites to the living hall with its Minotti furniture and custom cabinets, is designed for moments: picnics, music sessions, laughter echoing through high ceilings.

Then there’s The Metallicus by K2LD Architects, where modernism meets mystery. Wrapped in bronze aluminium screens, it glows at night like a futuristic lantern. Inside, sculptural staircases and cinematic light play turn structure into art. It’s luxury with restraint — less ostentatious sparkle, more quiet power.

And finally, Designworx’s Bukit Timah renovation proves that even a GCB built in the noughties can find new energy. With white marble floors, glass installations by SpectraOne, and feng shui–aligned spatial harmony, it’s a vision of renewal — proof that timeless design never dates, it just evolves.

Across the island, these bungalows show that Singapore’s most exclusive homes aren’t just defined by postcode, but by philosophy. In a city where space is gold, GCBs remind us that true luxury isn’t about having more — it’s about living beautifully within limits.