Condominium housing in Singapore: Design development and regulatory control

Abstract

Singapore introduced the condominium housing concept in 1972. This was in response to the problems of urban sprawl where traditional low density landed residential developments proved to be an inefficient method for optimization of land use. The introduction of the concept also served to strategically reinforce the 'garden city' concept to enable the concept to permeate into the living environment. Planning gu idelines were formulated to regulate building standards, control development and land use. Building and fire safety regulations were also introduced, especially for high-rise and high-density developments to establish safety standards that are appropriate and commensurate with that of a modern metropolis. Condominium design and d evelopment in Singapore is therefore strictly conditioned by the planning and fire safety guidelines and regulations. At the same time, planning and building regulations evolved in tandem with trends in design innovation. At the time when Singapore introduced the condominium housing concept, the city state had a population of three million people. By the year 2004, the population had grown to around four million. The government projected a further growth in population to around five million people over the next 20 years. Higher density developments accompanied by further revisions to planning and safety regulations will be the inevitable result of such population expansion. This paper will discuss the development of condominium housing since its inception in 1972 and the inter-relationship between planning, fire safety regulations and housing development in Singapore. It will also discuss ideas that will enable the country to sustain a green, clean and safe environment for future developments. Copyright © 2005 IAHS.