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HDB design has evolved tremendously throughout the years to accommodate the changing needs of every household. As a result, the shifts in floor plans, layouts, and sizes have influenced homeowners’ decision to buy a particular property and their HDB renovation plans.
To know more about what sets the old and the new designs apart, take a look at some of the most distinguishable differences below.
Kitchen Size
Older flats tend to have bigger kitchens than newer ones. On the other hand, newer ones have narrower and more compact kitchen spaces. The change happened because HDB realised that the original layout was not being utilised to its full potential. Hence, they opted to decrease space allotment for the kitchen with the newer flat installation.
Today, kitchens in new HDBs have a width of around 2.2 to 2.5 metres. With this new elongated plan, homeowners have more space to install cabinets and other storage options on either side of the kitchen.
Despite its decrease in size, however, the majority of the newer HDB designs allow homeowners to eliminate the wall separating the kitchen and living room for a more open-type concept. Unfortunately, this option is not possible for 2-room flats as the space is too small.
Window Installation
In the past, HDB windows were installed in a north-south facing orientation to reduce the amount of heat and maximise wind flow throughout the flat.
Nowadays, windows are still following this rule, but they’re also taking into account the structural and architectural components to optimise wind, heat, and natural light. With advanced techniques and technologies available, field experts can formulate design plans to achieve maximum comfort.
One apparent change in this respect is the increase in window size. In order to improve lighting and ventilation, architects and building designers have opted to install wider and bigger windows in new flats.
Layout
In the hopes of maximising space and creating a more conducive living environment, HDB changed the layout of new flats.
Before, the bedroom in old flats opened directly to the living area with no hallway in between. Now, the bedrooms are separated from the living room with a narrow corridor. In doing so, the sizes of some of the rooms had to be reduced to accommodate the additional hallway.
Although there may be space constraints in newer apartments, a corridor allows the inhabitants to move freely across the space. For this reason, it’s considered a beneficial modification in HDB design.
Available Sizes
Because of the country’s decreasing household numbers and the increasing cost of living, the developers decided to create smaller HDB options that are more affordable and practical to accommodate the changing demands.
With older HDBs, the smallest option was a 3-room flat. Now, there are smaller options like the 2-room or Flexi-flats that are perfect for new homeowners and young professionals.
A 2-room HDB comprises one master bedroom with an attached bathroom, a living room, kitchen, and a shared bathroom. It has the essential amenities to comfortably house not just individuals and couples but also small families. That’s why this is considered an excellent option for those who want to buy a home on a budget.
For larger families, a 3Gen flat is also available in new HDB designs that can house multi-generational families. It has a total of four bedrooms–two of which have bathroom attachments, one common bathroom, a kitchen, a living and dining area, and a service yard.
Compared to older HDBs, newer ones are more flexible and versatile to cater to various types of families.
External Differences
Besides these, you can find other changes in the more minor details.
Balconies:
In old HDBs, balconies were more common across different flat types. Now, balconies are only present in a select few, specifically, in executive HDB types. In addition, since balconies are considered a luxury today, they’re only available in more high-end living spaces.>
Rubbish chutes:
Before, rubbish chutes were installed in every old HDB flat for optimal convenience, but this is no longer the case in newer ones. Developers discovered that a rubbish chute in every apartment could invite pests into their homes. That’s why they decided to install a shared line in the lift lobby. This allows all the trash to be centralised in one area for easier cleaning and lower infestation rates.