03/09/2018

10 Instagram-worthy HDB blocks in Singapore

Hoardings are creeping up on the iconic rainbow-coloured Rochor Centre in the downtown Bugis area - meaning demolition of the landmark is imminent. The 40-yr-old estate - now emptied of residents - once attracted Instagrammers from far & wide.

But shutterbugs & architecture buffs still have plenty of other fun HDB haunts to take in - some Tudor-inspired, some with Mondrian-style accents and others with more than a splash of pop art front & centre.

Over 80% of Singapore's resident population lives in public housing apartments & these distinctive blocks not only stand out among soulless prefab HDB neighbourhoods, they also confer bragging rights on residents. We scoured the island for 10 HDB blocks that are anything but flat:


The Waterway Terraces at Punggol were inspired by the terraced rice fields of Asia. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Potong Pasir, meaning "cut sand" in Malay, used to be a sand quarry back in the day. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Block 259 is the only circular HDB block in Singapore. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

The high-contrast white and black blocks used to be a shade of brick red. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

The total length of 34 Whampoa West's corridor is about three football fields. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Although 15 blocks at Tampines Street 41 have the TV test screen emblazoned on their walls, some of the paintings vary. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

The many towers of the Pinnacle are linked by sky bridges on the 26th and 50th floor. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Teck Whye Avenue decked out in red, blue and yellow. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Block 316 on Hougang Avenue 7 might be the only HDB block in Singapore with a rainbow. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Hoardings seen on the yellow blocks of Rochor Centre in May 2018. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

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