COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LAYOUTS IN TWO NEW TOWNS

Abstract

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) as the sole authority in public housing in Singapore has come a long way since 25 years ago, from providing mere shelters for the less fortunate to catering for the demands of the middle income groups. In its relentless effort at upgrading the standard of housing for its residents which make up more than 85% of the nation, the physical aspects of planning and design are emphasised to enhance the social and economic dimensions. This is necessary because each parcel of land is a focus of the complex but singular set of space relationships affecting other parcels. As such, the relationships between elements within the urban environment must be studied.