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.
Your browser does not support iframes, but you can use the following link: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/cd1f93dd-106b-4055-819d-5bffdc0088f7/dr-liu-thai-ker-a-meeting-with-the-architect-of-mo/embed" title="">Link</a><script>iFrameResize({ log: false }, '#iframe-field_embed_iframe-8173078')</script>
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?
Catch up on the news that everyone’s talking about
Thank you!
Sign up
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and T&Cs.
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
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
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt
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
ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
---
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
Unlock unlimited access to ST exclusive content, insights and analyses
ST One Digital - Annual
$9.90 $4.95 /month
Get offer
$59.40 for the first year and $118.80 per year thereafter.
ST One Digital - Monthly
29.90 $9.90 /month
Subscribe today
No lock-in contract
Unlock more knowledge, unlock more benefits
New feature: Stay up to date on important topics and follow your favourite writers with myST All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com Easy access any time via ST app on one mobile device
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
ST Podcasts ST Podcast Specials HDB ST Current Affairs Podcast
Facebook Telegram More Whatsapp Linkedin Twitter FB Messenger Email Print Purchase Article Copy permalink https://str.sg/pAuj
Read this subscriber-only article for free!
Just sign up for a free account and log in to continue reading.
Liu Thai Ker on being the “architect of modern Singapore”
Sign up
Already have an account? Log in.
All done! This article is now fully available for you
Liu Thai Ker on being the “architect of modern Singapore”
Read now
Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full
Liu Thai Ker on being the “architect of modern Singapore”
Resend verification e-mail
The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired.
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
Subscribe now
You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month.
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
Subscribe now
Read and win!
Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards
Let's go! Terms & conditions apply
Frequently asked questions
Good job, you've read 3 articles today!
Spin the wheel now
Let's go! Terms & conditions apply
Frequently asked questions