By Joanne Chan | Posted: 10
November 2011 1355 hrs
SINGAPORE: Public flats in Singapore may be getting
smaller but this has not lowered quality of living, says Housing
and Development Board's (HDB) CEO Cheong Koon Hean.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a housing forum on
Thursday morning, Dr Cheong noted that there were now fewer persons
living in one flat which works out to increased living space per
person.
"Our families are smaller. In the old days, we have very large
families living in a flat. Today, the family is two, three, four
(people)."
The size of HDB flats has shrunk by five to 10 per cent over the
last 20 to 30 years.
For example, a five-room flat in Bukit Batok Central built in 1989
has a floor area of 121 square metres, compared to 110 square
metres for a similar unit built in 2003.
Based on official surveys, the average household size was 3.5 in
2010, and 4.9 in 1980.
This means an occupant in a 110 square metre five-room flat today
will have 31 sq metres of space, while a resident in a 121 sq
metres five-room flat in the 80s had only about 25 sq metres of
space.
Dr Cheong added that interior design also plays a part in creating
good living space.
"In many global cities of the world or big cities, people do pay
attention to how they do the inside of the flat as well as
optimising the use of furniture and storage. It can be a very
comfortable living environment."
- CNA
