On the Breakfast Special, we look at the evolution of Singapore’s public housing from the 1960s, when our first prime minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, set the vision of housing a nation.

From turning squatters into stakeholders to the challenges we face today and looking into the future with former CEO of HDB and URA in the late 1960s, Dr. Liu Thai Ker, Founding Chairman of MORROW, who's also known as the “Architect of Modern Singapore”, takes us on a walk down memory lane, sharing some of his works, his insights, and advice for our future Singapore.

*This podcast is produced in commemoration of the 100th birthday anniversary of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. 

Presented by Ryan Huang

This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

Do contact her for topics: C-Suite, SME, Sustainability, Property, Intergenerational Family Business, Industry Outlook, Fintech

Highlights:

(0.08) Mr Lee Kuan Yew's speech on public housing progress in the 1960s

(1.10) Introduction - Housing A Nation

(2.00) Introduction to Dr Liu Thai Ker 

(2.22) Past: What were your most memorable moments in transforming Singapore from slums to a garden city?

(5.15) Present: How do you perceive the current state and challenges of our urban housing?

(8.16) Present: What are your thoughts on shrinking flat sizes and the rising number of million-dollar flats?

(10.35) Present: Have we drifted away from the original mission of public housing?

(12.12) Present: What innovations or strategies do you recommend to resolve current issues for aspiring young homeowners?

(14.38) Future: What are the most critical considerations for the future of urban planning?

(18.42) Future: What advice will you give to future urban planners?

Credits:

-Audio file of Mr Lee Kuan Yew: National Archives of Singapore

-Music: pixabay; bensound ; soundcloud ; chosic ; mixkit

-Sound Effects: deadsounds