Fresh ideas applied to design of new neighbourhood centres

We thank Mr Lim Teck Koon for his interest in the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) new neighbourhood centres (“Develop neighbourhood centres with character”; Oct 29).

Over the past few years, the HDB has applied fresh design ideas and concepts to provide a complete live-work-play-learn environment for residents. In our new housing areas, we have been introducing new housing forms with lush greenery, ample community spaces and better connectivity to amenities. We have similarly applied these design ideas to our four new-generation neighbourhood centres in Punggol, Canberra and Buangkok.

Each neighbourhood centre has been designed with its own unique identity and character, capitalising on the characteristics of its surrounding areas. Oasis Terraces, for example, is situated along the Punggol Waterway, and is designed with a series of cascading gardens that allows for a good view of the waterway. In fact, Oasis Terraces recently won a 2015 World Architecture Festival award in the “Commercial Mixed Use - Future” category, the first time an HDB neighbourhood centre has been recognised internationally. Northshore Plaza, being the first seafront HDB neighbourhood centre, will offer a seafront shopping experience, while the design of Buangkok Square will be seamlessly integrated with its adjacent neighbourhood park.

Beyond serving the shopping needs of residents, our new generation neighbourhood centres, with their ample community spaces, will also be a place where residents can meet regularly and get to know each other.

To ensure that the new neighbourhood centres meet the needs of residents, we took a fresh approach by holding focus group discussions and surveys with residents of various age groups. They shared with us their lifestyle needs and preferences for the trade mix in the new centres. The final development takes into consideration their feedback.

The designs for the new generation neighbourhood centres are showcased in an exhibition at the HDB Hub. We would like to invite Mr Lim and interested members of public to visit the exhibition at HDB Hub, or find out more on the HDB InfoWEB.