About Us
Uncover how we embrace reinvention and strengthen community ties in our homes, to create public housing that is uniquely Singapore’s.
Dwellings chronicles our efforts in creating homes for Singaporeans. We strive to reinvent and transform Singapore’s housing landscape, developing homes that Singaporeans would be proud to live in. Through Dwellings, we share how we create public housing that is uniquely Singapore.
Big changes are afoot in Queenstown. As part of HDB’s ‘Designing for Life’ roadmap, the pioneer town is now set to be the site of Singapore’s first health district. This issue dives into this first-of-its-kind multi-stakeholder collaboration, where initiatives to enhance the health and wellness of Singaporeans of all ages will be piloted. As the Singapore population ages rapidly, compounded by health issues stemming from an increased lifespan and a COVID-19 world, public housing—where most of the population live—can play an important role to support residents in living active and fulfilling lives well into their advanced years. The impact of continual renewal and rejuvenation can also be felt in younger towns such as Punggol, with the completion of the first two smart-enabled Build-to-Order (BTO) projects — Northshore Residences I and II. Catch an exciting glimpse of the future of HDB living, and take a look at the smart technologies that have been deployed to make daily living more convenient and comfortable for residents. The pursuit of delivering quality homes and living environments for HDB residents is ever constant. However, manpower shortages and disruptions to supply chains worldwide have affected many construction projects, including BTO developments. HDB has been finding ways to expedite construction work without compromising the built quality and safety of the workers. We will also continue to do our utmost to assist affected flat buyers. There is perhaps no greater embodiment of the adage “age is but a number” than a group of fit and active seniors in the heartland who call themselves Team Strong Silvers. With members in their 60s, 70s and even 80s, they seek to inspire others to keep moving and stay active during their golden years.
Issue Oct/ Nov 2021
Behind the neat, ordered facades of HDB blocks is a living compendium of lives, people and stories; some more colourful than others, but all unique and interesting in their own special way. Living by the motto “Never Too Old”, a group of seniors passionate about health and fitness seeks to inspire fellow seniors to keep on moving and age actively in their golden years.
Amidst manpower shortages caused by the tightening of border controls, disruptions to material supply, and stringent safe management measures imposed on worksites, HDB and its partners have been working tirelessly to deliver BTO flats for Singaporeans.
As the first public housing district to holistically incorporate smart features, Punggol Northshore offers an exciting glimpse into the future of HDB living.
In Queenstown, the groundwork has been laid for a future where initiatives to enhance the health and wellness for Singaporeans of all ages are seamlessly built into daily living.
Issue Feb/ Mar 2021
A carpenter hopes to bring happiness and cheer to his neighbours by handcrafting festive decorations for all to enjoy.
Dwellings invites you to rediscover a world of cherished sights and distinctive spaces captured in our heartlands. These are some of the photos submitted for the Shapes of Home photo contest held in September and October 2020, as part of a collaboration between HDB and SPH’s Photonico platform.
Placing the holistic well-being of residents at the centre of its planning efforts, HDB’s new roadmap will guide HDB through its plans, policies, and programmes as it continues to improve and enrich the lives of residents over the next decade.
Having steered HDB towards creating a new generation of public housing in Singapore in the last decade, Dr Cheong Koon Hean concludes a remarkable career after 40 years of public service, much of which has been devoted to shaping Singapore’s urbanscape.
Issue Feb/ Mar 2020
Behind the neat, ordered facades of HDB blocks is a living compendium of lives, people and stories; some more colourful than others, but all unique and interesting in their own special way. To ensure less privileged students in Kembangan-Chai Chee are able to enjoy opportunities and new experiences, Fung Chun Chang dedicates his time to mentoring them and creating a community where they can belong.
Beyond four walls, an HDB home extends into the wider precinct and town, where thoughtful greening and landscaping concepts have been put in place to drive green and sustainable living for the future.
Across global cities, where inflation and high cost of living have made home ownership out of reach for many, Singapore stands out as a nation of home owners, supported by a range of housing options and policies that cater to various needs.
For 60 years, HDB has focused its attention on building quality homes for Singaporeans. A willingness to experiment and embrace change has created a distinctive brand of public housing that has pride of place in the lives of its residents.
Issue Sep/ Oct 2019
Behind the neat, ordered facades of HDB blocks is a living compendium of lives, people and stories; some more colourful than others, but all unique and interesting in their own special way. A barber offers more than just haircuts in her heartland shop, as she seeks to bring people closer together and make a difference in her community.
The HDB Service Master Plan was drawn up to ensure that HDB customers are cared for at every stage of their service journey. By leveraging Design Thinking and technology, HDB is providing a more convenient and personalised experience for its customers.
More than just flat owners, our residents are instrumental in shaping active, thriving communities in HDB towns. With the many community programmes introduced to spur ground-up participation, more residents have been playing an active role in co-creating and enlivening community spaces in their neighbourhood.
To advance its goal of building well-designed, quality homes, HDB has been on a continual quest to deepen its expertise in construction technology. More recently, new partnerships and research projects have broadened the horizons to keep HDB towns future-ready.
Issue Feb/ Mar 2019
A home-grown group of chapteh players is keeping the heritage activity alive, with hopes of reigniting its popularity across the heartland.
The ubiquitous playgrounds in HDB estates have evolved from being just simple play areas into vibrant civic spaces and iconic landmarks.
Capturing nearly 6 decades of Singapore’s public housing journey, HDB’s revamped gallery tells its story through an immersive, multimedia experience.
HDB Town Design Guides chronicle the history, vision, and distinct character of each of our 24 towns, guiding and unifying the development of each town.
Check out the eBook versions of Dwellings:
In 2021
In 2020
In 2019
In 2018
Issue 1/ 2018
Issue 2/ 2018
In 2017
Issue 1/ 2017
Issue 2/ 2017
Issue 3/ 2017
In 2016
Issue 1/ 2016
Issue 2/ 2016
Issue 3/ 2016
In 2015
Issue 1/ 2015
Issue 2/ 2015
In 2014
Issue 1/ 2014
Issue 2/ 2014
In 2013
Issue 1/ 2013
Issue 2/ 2013
In 2012
Issue 1/ 2012
Dwellings is a publication by the Housing & Development Board, Singapore’s public housing authority. Through Dwellings, we want to share how we create quality and affordable public housing that is uniquely different, and also uniquely Singapore’s.
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Dwellings is a platform for sharing of ideas, works and projects that promote and advance quality and sustainable housing. We welcome contributions from all who share a keen interest in housing and habitats, whether you are an academic, industry practitioner or professional.
If you would like to contribute an article, do email your article or the synopsis to the editorial team at dwellings@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg and we will get in touch with you.
