UTILISATION OF HDB ROOFTOP SPACE FOR LEISURE

Abstract

Singapore's population is growing and the strain on our scarce land resource is increasingly felt. This calls for more creative methods of utilising our limited land. One of the commonly adopted methods is to develop vertically upwards. The study examines the viability of the conversion of HDB rooftop into leisure space. The land available for other purposes if all the common areas, such as children's playground and gardens, are moved up onto the rooftop has great potential to be put to alternative uses. Outram and Punggol, with their existing rooftop gardens were selected for the case study. The profiles and preferences of the users and non-users were then surveyed and analysed. Their attitudes towards the proposal to create rooftop gardens on the rooftop with regards to the physical, social and environmental aspects were also examined. The results show that the residents' responses had been positive to the proposal of having a rooftop garden just above their HDB flats. In addition, they do not have a problem with the height as most Singaporeans are used to staying in high-rise buildings.