Comments on: Singapore Housing: Past, Present, Future at the HDB Gallery

By: rk

rk — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:30:42 +0000

gr8 pics

rk View all comments by rk

By: Tamlyn Richards

Tamlyn Richards — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:30:57 +0000

nICE!!!!!!!!!!!!! View all comments by Tamlyn Richards

By: Veron

Veron — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:26:52 +0000

Let’s see. There’s StarHub, HDB Hub, and the Singapore Sports Hub in future… I can’t think of more! View all comments by Veron

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:28:44 +0000

Who’d think HDB was so exciting. This is really the first time I’ve heard of the “HDB Hub”. Singaporeans seem to love the word “hub” a lot. :) View all comments by Kevin

By: Otterman

Otterman — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:03:33 +0000

Wow, lovely post. Right under our noses (been to HDB Hub for exhibitions twice) and never a clue it existed. But that’s how blogs are helpful I guess. Came over form Yesterday.sg. I will check it out but it looks to be a reccomended visit for the Duke University Masters in Environmental Management class we host every year. That exhibition, this blog and the exchange of comments! Thanks! View all comments by Otterman

By: Veron

Veron — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:17:24 +0000

Very exciting. I’m intrigued! View all comments by Veron

By: Edna

Edna — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:56:55 +0000

Veron, you are right. There is a certain quota (chinese, malays and indians). You cannot have a neighbourhood of all chinese, or all malays. The concept of HDB is to foster inter-racial harmony. That’s why you will find community centres, schools and other amenitites located within the neighbourhood. As far as mixed couples are concerned, I believe the ratio of mixed couples to chinese, malays are not that high. I guess HDB would probably have worked out a certain weightage to allocate flats to couples of mixed marriages. Btw, your dream home of motorised curtains, scene control lighting with just 1 button, internet access to control and monitor your home is possible today. I am in such an industry and feel free to find out more if you are interested…..haha…. LOL View all comments by Edna

By: Mai

Mai — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:48:28 +0000

Thanks a lot for the answer !
But I was wondering, how does HDB manage with its quota when there are mixed couples, or mixed couples that already had mixed parents ??? :-P View all comments by Mai

By: Veron

Veron — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:39:14 +0000

To be honest, people who are part of the majority race in a country would not feel or notice any form of racial discrimination. If it wasn’t for what I had heard from the non-Chinese (as well as the less-than-pleasant remarks that I had heard from the Chinese), I probably wouldn’t be aware that there is some inherent form of prejudice against them, including Singaporean Malays and Indians. Furthermore, the way in which we regard foreign maids and workers is embarrassing. What you said is true: No society is perfect.

On a lighter note… To foster racial cohesion, HDB has a specific quota pertaining to each of the three main races in each block of flats. I wonder if people are aware of this. View all comments by Veron

By: Mai

Mai — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:23:19 +0000

Veron: In think that the matter is slightly different in France, since the majority of people is obviously caucasian, and there is a tendency to discriminate against other minorities (I think of pple coming from North Africa especially). So being asked about your origin, is a risk of being discriminated against.
In S’pore, since the majority of pple are Chinese related, it is not such a big deal being asked about it. But when I was in S’pore I heard quite a lot of prejudices against Malay related people for example, or foreign workers and maids. I guess no society is perfect. And S’pore is not a bad place to be :-) …. as long as they don’t make HDB flats any tinier lol View all comments by Mai

By: Joyz

Joyz — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:15:15 +0000

Mai: The HDB flats are definitely increasing in height. In the past, the norm was 12 storeys…now its not surprising to see 50 storeys flats. But the sq foot has reduced tremendously. The rooms are so small, you can only fit in a single bed and a wardrobe and that’s it! We are really looking more and more like HK…the lack of space is killing us. =( View all comments by Joyz

By: Veron

Veron — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:33:16 +0000

The only reason why people in Singapore see no problem in asking about races is because race is not an issue. We are a multi-racial society. Most of the time when this question is raised, it is purely out of curiosity. I myself get asked this question all the time because some people find it hard to believe that I’m pure Chinese. (I have colored hair and natural light brown eyes.) I don’t get offended, nor do I see any reason to be. See? It is really not a big deal, and certainly not taboo. View all comments by Veron

By: Mai

Mai — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:18:18 +0000

Veron : I’m definitely French (never lived anywhere else than France and 6 months in S’pore in my whole life :-P ), but my parents came from Vietnam. I find it very strange that people often ask for “races” in S’pore. It is quite a taboo in France to talk about it. I actually don’t mind, as long as people don’t try to categorize you based on that.

Joyz : I would ask the same question. Why are the flats so small ???? Maybe they should build higher buildings to fit more flats in ^^ View all comments by Mai

By: Veron

Veron — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:26:56 +0000

I have already submitted a post to yesterday.sg. Hope it gets published soon! View all comments by Veron

By: Walter

Walter — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:19:03 +0000

Nice post and set of photos. You should submit to yesterday.sg as a post too (or maybe its up already?)

I live in a HDB flat and I love it here at my estate which is a mature one with lots of greenery and a splendid view. Honestly, things are so much more convenient here compared to living in condominiums or private homes where you have to travel much further to get your daily necessities. View all comments by Walter

By: Veron

Veron — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:14:07 +0000

Mai: Pools are overrated! (But that’s probably because I can’t swim.) Just out of curiosity, are you Vietnamese or French?

Joyz: Guess what? I pass by those Tiong Bahru flats all the time! They look old alright, but I didn’t expect them to be among the oldest flats in Singapore!

py: There doesn’t appear to be any staff manning the gallery. Getting stuck in there alone must have been a little creepy. But luckily there is a part of the gallery that is fully visible to the Coffee Bean patrons at level one. Still, there should have been an announcement when it’s nearing closing hours! View all comments by Veron

By: py

py — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:51:30 +0000

Hi Veron, I went to the gallery once. Guess what? There was no public announcements when the gallery was to be closed, and somehow, I ended up locked all alone in the gallery. So just a note of caution for your readers that they should read the opening hours and take note of it before entering the gallery.

Thank goodness, I was able to attract the attention of a passerby who then went to get the security guard to unlock the door.

The gallery is pretty cool. I quite like it. :) View all comments by py

By: Joyz

Joyz — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:58:36 +0000

Who would have thought that such a museum exist? I would drop by to take a look if I’m at the HDB hub (if I’m lucky to get a queue no for my recent ballot!). I love the Tiong Bahru flats that are under the conservation scheme; there is a very nostalgic feel to them. And with the new enviro-friendly and smart flats coming up, it seems that HDB is constantly improving itself. My only grouse..why are the flats getting tinier and tinier? View all comments by Joyz

By: Mai

Mai — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:27:53 +0000

HDB flats are definitely of very high standards in S’pore. Actually, in France we also have the equivalent that are called HLM (Habitation à loyer modéré ~ Housing for a moderate rent) and are state-owned, but they are usually either in areas where no one wants to live, or very difficult to get, cause very scarce (you need to wait for decades to get a flat).
Unlike most of my fellow non S’porean friends in S’pore, I decided to go for HDB rather than condo, and I’m 99% happy with that (public transportation is much more accessible, living among the locals, lower rent….). Well, sometimes I regret not having a pool though, even if most of the time its too cloudy to sunbathe :-) View all comments by Mai

By: Veron

Veron — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:00:16 +0000

I’m glad 80% of the population disagrees :) View all comments by Veron