Open kitchen concept for all new flats where layout permits: HDB

SINGAPORE — All new Build-to-Order (BTO) projects will come with an open kitchen concept where the layout permits, starting from the February 2018 BTO exercise.

“This move comes as open kitchens have gained popularity in recent years, with seven in 10 BTO flat buyers opting for an open kitchen since the option was first made available in September 2012,” said HDB in a press statement on Sunday (Feb 4).

The provision of open kitchens in BTO projects offers home buyers greater choice and flexibility in how they want to use and design the space, and lay out their furniture to better suit their lifestyle needs, it said.

This will allow BTO flat buyers to save on the hassle and cost of hacking the partition walls to create an open kitchen layout, HDB added.

Flat buyers of a pilot project at an Ang Mo Kio BTO project, Teck Ghee Parkview were first given the option of having a kitchen partition wall under the Optional Component Scheme (OCS) in September 2012.

Since then, 94 of the 108 BTO projects launched for sale from September 2013 to November 2017 were offered the open kitchen concept under the OCS. These flats are located in various HDB towns and estates such as Bukit Batok, Hougang, Jurong West, Punggol, Sembawang, Sengkang, Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Yishun.

This month’s BTO launches will include units in Choa Chu Kang, Woodlands, Tampines and Geylang.

HDB’s show flats with the open kitchen concept can be viewed at the My Nice Home Gallery at HDB Hub Level 3 Biz Four. The show flats can also be viewed online on the HDB InfoWEB, or via the Mobile@HDB app.