Essence of early public housing

What did liveable public housing look like

Design principles behind the early HDB flats

Slab blocks versus point blocks

The "courtyard in the sky" principle

Key principles Dr Liu left behind

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features.

Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore.

Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats.

How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't?

ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore. This is because he helped to plan 20 out of the 24 HDB towns in Singapore during his time from 1969 to 1989.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:33 Essence of early public housing: "Low-cost" evolving to "public" housing, home ownership and affordability a challenge back then

5:27 What did liveable public housing look like back then?

8:13 The design principles behind the early HDB flats

13:56 Slab blocks versus point blocks; Dr Liu on not allowing himself to compromise on floor area

20:08 Dr Liu explains the "courtyard in the sky" principle 

26:45 Key principles he left behind to bear in mind when planning for the long term in Singapore

Listen to thethe design duo behind HDB's gamechanging Pinnacle@Duxton: https://str.sg/iYZy

Discover ST's interactive graphic article of this topic: https://str.sg/JXMGj

Produced by: Michelle Ng (ngmich@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow ST Podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK

Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features.
Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore.
Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats.
How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't?
ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore. This is because he helped to plan 20 out of the 24 HDB towns in Singapore during his time from 1969 to 1989.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:33 Essence of early public housing: "Low-cost" evolving to "public" housing, home ownership and affordability a challenge back then
5:27 What did liveable public housing look like back then?
8:13 The design principles behind the early HDB flats
13:56 Slab blocks versus point blocks; Dr Liu on not allowing himself to compromise on floor area
20:08 Dr Liu explains the "courtyard in the sky" principle 
26:45 Key principles he left behind to bear in mind when planning for the long term in Singapore
Listen to the the design duo behind HDB's gamechanging Pinnacle@Duxton: <a href="https://str.sg/iYZy" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/iYZy&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1705118900886000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3CtnlMEr7qNq4LGHbGjF74">https://str.sg/iYZy</a>
Discover ST's interactive graphic article of this topic: <a href="https://str.sg/JXMGj">https://str.sg/JXMGj</a>
Produced by: Michelle Ng (<a href="mailto:ngmich@sph.com.sg">ngmich@sph.com.sg</a>), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa'izah Sani
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Follow ST Podcasts:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wvz7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wsCr43CsrhO_-IhVV6NdK">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/wukK" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wukK&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2e6QHjxNUJaDNv1Pb86Yim">https://str.sg/wukK</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/wukH" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wukH&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1bAwa3t7MO4TO_8l80Xdcj">https://str.sg/wukH</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.awedio.sg/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P6OVpRxbQ0x-_Wb81Yjtj">https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Y-Bi-bFkjRz8hcfgkAzF-">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
The Usual Place: <a href="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wEr7u</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
COE Watch: <a href="https://str.sg/iTtE">https://str.sg/iTtE</a>
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
Hard Tackle: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Music Lab: <a href="https://str.sg/w9TX">https://str.sg/w9TX</a>
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ST Podcast website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/i44T">https://str.sg/i44T</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Invisible Asia (9 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
Stop Scams (10 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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