SINGAPORE — Housing Development Board (HDB) will have all the ceilings and non-tiled walls of the controversial Tampines GreenVines lift lobbies painted white.
This was shared by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Mr Baey said that while there have been differing views from residents and the public on whether the lobbies should be repainted or retained, HDB has decided to apply a consistent approach to all blocks.
He also said that he supported this decision by HDB.
Noting that many members of the public have visited the blocks, Mr Baey reminded the public that these are residential properties and to accord the residents their privacy.
“Please keep your volume down and do not intrude into their living spaces. Be careful of yourselves too as residents are moving in and there are renovations going on.”
The red lift lobbies at the Tampines GreenVines HDB project made headlines last month after a viral video had netizens expressed discomfort with the design.
Some people have even called it spooky and eerie, especially when the corridor lights are on at night.
The video showed the interior of Block 640B on Tampines Street 62, which featured red tiles on the walls and floor, as well as red paint and lighting.
Some TikTokers have compared the red-themed design to a red light district, while others expressed concern that residents may feel scared entering the compound at night.
According to online information, the Tampines GreenVines project opened for application in 2018 and has a total of 11 blocks and 1,271 units. Each block in the estate is divided into different colours, namely yellow, blue, and red.
The red-themed block is Block 640B on Tampines Street 62.
https://www.tiktok.com/@zelia2702/video/7204859207395314951
Design of Build-to-Order (BTO) HDB projects finalized before launch
Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee said that the precinct design is finalized before the launch of Build-to-Order (BTO) projects by HDB allowing prospective buyers to refer to the launch brochures for a general understanding of each development’s design.
This was in response to Miss Cheng Li Hui, People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, who raised the issue of HDB consultations with BTO flat purchasers during construction to better balance residents’ preferences and creativity in design aspects.
According to online information, the project opened for application in 2018 and has a total of 11 blocks and 1,271 units. Each block in the estate is divided into different colours, namely yellow, blue, and red.
Explaining the process by which HDB collaborates with architectural consultants and reviews design proposals for BTO flats, Mr Lee acknowledged concerns about the design process for HDB BTO flats following public feedback on the red lift lobbies at Tampines GreenVines.
Mr Lee noted in his reply that architects were given the flexibility to incorporate new approaches and distinctive elements, such as bright accent colours inspired by local fruits.
