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#trending: From set of ‘horror movie’ to ‘artistic’ photoshoots, viral Tampines BTO becomes new hot spot for shutterbugs

Even though there were people who saw the red colour scheme of the new Tampines GreenVines Build-to-Order (BTO) public housing blocks and thought they were “spooky”, “inauspicious” or like the “set of a horror movie”, a number of individuals saw it as a potential backdrop for photoshoots instead.

Photographs by Mr Jayden Tan (left) and Mr Marcus Chow (right) taken at Tampines GreenVines' red- and yellow-themed housing blocks.

Photographs by Mr Jayden Tan (left) and Mr Marcus Chow (right) taken at Tampines GreenVines' red- and yellow-themed housing blocks.

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  • Tampines GreenVines, the new BTO public housing development that went viral for its vivid colour scheme, has become a new venue for photo-taking
  • The estate's famed red- and yellow-tiled lift lobbies were recently featured in a number of fashion and lifestyle photoshoots by Singapore social media users
  • However, some online users pointed out that such photoshoots by members of the public visiting the estate could potentially pose a nuisance to residents

SINGAPORE — Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Even though there were people who saw the red colour scheme of the new Tampines GreenVines Build-to-Order (BTO) public housing blocks and thought they were “spooky”, “inauspicious” or like the “set of a horror movie”, a number of individuals saw it as a potential backdrop for photoshoots instead.

Singapore-based photographer and art director Jayden Tan, who goes by the moniker “jaydenation” on social media, recently shared a behind-the-scenes video of a photoshoot he held at Block 640B of the estate on Instagram and TikTok.

The video shows two male models, dressed in monochromatic white and black outfits, posing for photos at the block’s red-tiled lift lobby.

@jdenation A super spontaneous night out with #cinestill400d featuring @Glenn Goh & @rui 😎😎 Thanks @terryterribleee for the BTS 😘 #640B #tampinesgreenvines ♬ original sound - Cam Kirk Studios

Sharing the final images in a separate Instagram post, Mr Tan said that the red BTO housing block was “totally a vibe”.

“Perhaps it’s just (the) wrong shade of red to be palatable for the general public?... Here’s us trying to hold on to what is left of the half white-washed lobby,” he wrote.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) repainted the red ceiling of each floor’s lift lobby to white, after negative feedback from residents and the public. HDB said that the colour scheme of Tampines GreenVines was "inspired by its green surroundings and nearby parks". 

“As the precinct is large, the bright accent colours of the lift lobbies are intended to differentiate the different clusters of blocks and facilitate way finding for residents."

It added that the colours of the lift lobbies were "inspired by tropical fruits (dragon fruits, mangoes and mangosteens)”.

Mr Tan’s video has chalked up a total of about 117,000 views and 7,400 likes on both TikTok and Instagram since it was posted last Sunday (March 5).

Many online users were impressed by how good the red lobby looked in Mr Tan's pictures.

One top comment with more than 385 likes on TikTok read: “Don’t know why people are complaining especially since the normal HDB flats aren’t exactly spectacular. This is something new at least.”

Another user wrote: “Turning something negative to (positive).”

An Instagram user said: "You nailed it! Artistically portrayed the red vibes and coolness."

A few people disagreed, though, insisting that the design still looks “dated” and “ugly”.

Digital content creator Kyla Tan also posted photos and a video from a shoot at the same location over the weekend.

Captioning her Instagram post “too red or too rad (radical)?”, Ms Tan can be seen sashaying across the red lift lobby and posing with her pet dog.

Even though it was the red blocks at Tampines GreenVines that have received the most attention, the yellow-themed blocks have proven to be just as photoshoot-worthy.

Freelance photographer known as “marcuschow” on TikTok shared a number of photos featuring both the red and yellow blocks on Wednesday.

The photos, which Mr Chow said were for a collaboration with a brand, show a solo female model posing in Converse high-top sneakers with the estate’s red and yellow tiles featured prominently in the background.

One of the photos that TikTok user “marcuschow” took at a yellow-themed housing block of Tampines GreenVines.

One online user lamented that it could become annoying for Tampines GreenVines residents if people begin flocking to the estate to take photos.

An Instagram comment by Mr Tan confirmed that there were “quite a few” groups of people already doing so when he was there.

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