Housing and Community Development

In response to housing shortages following its independence in 1965, Singapore established the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Currently, the HDB is responsible for policy, grants, design and construction of public housing towns. With 80% of households residing in public housing, 91% of which are home-owners, HDB towns are designed with comprehensive amenities. Tampines Town was honored with the World Habitat Award in 1992. Singapore’s public housing efforts serve as a spatial planning tool to advance state policies aimed at pro family, ethnic integration and community building. This presentation will provide an overview of its origin, policies, financing, design transformations, and future challenges. This program is part of a series by the AIA Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community addressing the right-to- housing.