CTBUH Technical Paper http://technicalpapers.ctbuh.org Subject: Social Issues Paper Title: Designing High-Rise Housing: The Singapore Experience Author(s): Elena Generalova Viktor Generalov Affiliation(s): Department of Architecture of Housing and Public Buildings, Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering Publication Date: 2014 Original Publication: CTBUH Journal 2014 Issue IV Paper Type: 1. Book chapter/Part chapter 2. Journal paper 3. Conference proceeding 4. Unpublished conference paper 5. Magazine article 6. Unpublished © Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat/Author(s) About the Council The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, based at the Illinois Institute of Technology in CTBUH Journal Chicago and with a China offi ce at Tongji International Journal on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat University in Shanghai, is an international not-for-profi t organization supported by architecture, engineering, planning, development, and construction professionals. Founded in 1969, the Council’s mission is to disseminate multi- Tall buildings: design, construction, and operation | 2014 Issue IV disciplinary information on tall buildings and sustainable urban environments, to maximize the international interaction of professionals involved Case Study: One Central Park, Sydney in creating the built environment, and to make the latest knowledge available to professionals in High-Rise Housing: The Singapore Experience a useful form. The Emergence of Asian Supertalls The CTBUH disseminates its fi ndings, and facilitates business exchange, through: the Achieving Six Stars in Sydney publication of books, monographs, proceedings, and reports; the organization of world congresses, Ethical Implications of international, regional, and specialty conferences The Skyscraper Race and workshops; the maintaining of an extensive website and tall building databases of built, under Tall Buildings in Numbers: construction, and proposed buildings; the Unfi nished Projects distribution of a monthly international tall building e-newsletter; the maintaining of an Talking Tall: Ben van Berkel international resource center; the bestowing of annual awards for design and construction excellence and individual lifetime achievement; the management of special task forces/working groups; the hosting of technical forums; and the publication of the CTBUH Journal, a professional journal containing refereed papers written by researchers, scholars, and practicing professionals. The Council is the arbiter of the criteria upon which tall building height is measured, and thus the title of “The World’s Tallest Building” determined. CTBUH is the world’s leading body dedicated to the fi eld of tall buildings and urban habitat and the recognized international source for information in these fi elds. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat S.R. Crown Hall Illinois Institute of Technology 3360 South State Street Chicago, IL 60616 Phone: +1 (312) 567 3487 Fax: +1 (312) 567 3820 Email: [email protected] http://www.ctbuh.org ISSN: 1946 - 1186 Inside News and Events Features 40 Social Issues Designing High-Rise Housing: condominium ownership through their own The Singapore Experience means. The range of available housing types is There is a land shortage in Singapore, compelling the search for different improving for HDB owners and renters. For 02 This Issue 46 Tall Buildings in Numbers models of high-rise housing. Singapore’s experience breaks with the dual example, Executive Condominiums have stereotypes that high-rise construction is expensive, and that an apartment in been introduced in order to accommodate a skyscraper is a privilege of the rich. Reflecting the strategy of providing the the needs of young professionals who can afford more than a HDB flat, but for whom average consumer with affordable and comfortable housing, there is a rapid private commercial housing remains out of Daniel Safarik, Dream Deferred: Unfinished growth of design and construction of high-rise residential complexes in reach. Such flats are comparable to market- Elena Generalova Viktor Generalov Singapore. This process is based on the principles of sustainable urban rate condominiums in terms of design and development, minimizing environmental impact, and maximizing energy amenities. Figure 1. Map of HDB residential areas in Singapore. Authors efficiency. A clear standard of comfort for public housing has been developed, Elena Generalova, Associated Professor The Design, Build, and Sell Scheme (DBSS) was Viktor Generalov, Professor including a set of required improvements of the site, in the structure of Editor Tall Buildings Department of Architecture of Housing and Public launched in 2005, involving private develop- Buildings residential towers and in apartment layout. ers in a substantial way. Under DBSS, Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering developers are responsible for the entire Kievskaya Street, 15, App. 55 According to many researchers, the most become the owner of an HDB apartment, the design and construction process (including Samara 443013, Russia t: +7 927 695 0233; +7 905 0189298 dynamic and vibrant housing markets are applicant must meet certain requirements purchase of land, design development, e: [email protected]; [email protected] those where public and private sectors coexist concerning nationality, age, and marital status. construction, and sales). Apartments built harmoniously. Singapore has managed to Also, there are limits on the average gross under this scheme are intended for public Elena Generalova develop conditions that support a high monthly household income that can be housing. They are developed by private Elena Generalova, PhD, is a member of the Union of Architects of Russia and an associate professor in the standard of living by way of a set of required earned by residents of a given type of companies, which are free to design and Figure 2. People’s Park Complex, Singapore Figure 3. Golden Mile Complex, Singapore department of Architecture of Housing and Public elements and system quality criteria for apartment. implement their projects as they see fit, so Buildings at Samara State University of Architecture 04 CTBUH Latest 48 Talking Tall: Ben van Berkel and Civil Engineering. Her scientific interests focus on different consumer strata embedded in long as they do not jeopardize the objectives, Each HDB town is designed to be self-sustain- requirements of a barrier-free environment. researching modern high-rise residential complexes. high-rise residential complexes, innovative principles, and basic features of public ing. There is no need to venture out of town Generalova supervises post-graduate research students in Architecture. She is the author of more technologies and “green standards,” based on Development of Multiple Financing housing. This means that, while providing to meet the most common needs of In the initial years following the establishment than 50 scientific works, including monographs and the principles of energy efficiency and And Occupancy Models sufficient flexibility in design, finishes, and residents. Employment can be found in and development of the concept of HDB educational editions. She is also a practicing architect with more than 60 completed projects. environmental friendliness which have sizes, tight control is nevertheless exerted over industrial estates located within several towns, housing, in addition to housing groups and Antony Wood, From Block to Blob and Back become available for mass consumers. Public housing in Singapore was originally the developments’ integration into the urban and each has education and health care estates development, the idea of building Viktor Generalov intended to be for-rent only, but the policy environment, so as to support favorable social facilities, sports complexes, recreation zones, multifamily residential complexes in the Viktor Generalov, PhD, is a professor at, and head of the Department of Architecture of, Housing It should be noted that Singapore has was quickly adjusted to extend applicants the and aesthetic interaction with the surround- multistory car parks, and other common high-density areas of Singapore was also and Public Buildings at Samara State University of reached such a high standard of living in a opportunity to buy apartments. The govern- ing existing HDB buildings. To date, 13 DBSS facilities. All HDB residential areas are encouraged. Some examples of the resulting Architecture and Civil Engineering, a member of the Union of Architects of Russia, and advisor to the very short period of time, based on its unique ment attached great importance to allowing projects have been constructed in different connected to a well-developed public experiments with integrating various Executive Director Again Russian Academy of Architectural Sciences (RAASN). climatic, political, regulatory, and economic the popular majority to become owners. parts of Singapore on 10 sites. Notable transport infrastructure, including under- functions in “megastructures,” include: People’s His scientific interests focus on the modern problems of specific types of high-rises. Within this framework, conditions. The history of public housing in Those lacking sufficient income to purchase projects include City View @ Boon Keng, Park ground, buses, and Light Rail Transit (LRT). Park Complex, (1973, 31 floors, 103 meters) he supervises post-graduate research students in Singapore began in 1960, when the Housing homes, but who were eligible for