@@kevinlimdotsg We really hope so, because it is really rare to find people who are willing to point out errors and move the society towards a better future.
@@parodoxppp Our ministers knew what they were talking about. Rhys just explained it in layman terms so that everyone can understand what they are saying.
Fully agreed with you. I have lived in my 4 room bto flat for more than 10years. And I really hate the small kitchen and bedrooms. The kitchen is really tiny as compared to my previous resale 3 room. The toilets at the centre are always dark and I have to light them all the time. It is not energy and cost efficient at all.
As a designer that isnt in the industry, i also wondered how the windows would affect the layout of this type of flat. Its very interesting to know the insight of how a minute 400mm of space would affect the size and possibilities of a room and flat. I completely agree that the issue isnt that the walls are being knocked down it's that the new flats just arent big enough to accommodate the necessary use.
@@totallyathome Yes. It takes experience and the ability to decode the technical language of building and interior design into simple space planning language so the general public can understand the concept that is being piloted and whether something is inherently wrong in the design of the new BTO Flats. We are trying our best to bridge the gap between the real world and the design process.
Very good points you have raised and I hope HDB will not just listen but adopt!! My 24yrs ago 5rm flat in punggol was converted from 3 bedrooms to 1.5rms to cater for my design n lifestyle n kids otw. It was beautiful n practical, but little did I expect a 2nd kid came along immediately and I sold it off before MOP with HDB approval. Those were the years HDB still listens.....😂😂😂😂
Am staying in a old flat, can put king size bed, buildin wardrobe from one end to another of a wall, a big study table to put 2 computer and monitor and still hv plenty of space to walk and exercise space
Nice sharing. It is shocking to hear those post-covid era BTOs have such narrow bedrooms of only 2.8m. No wonder a few of my friends who recently received their keys exclaimed that my 3-rm BTO unit feels more spacious than their 3-rm and even 4-rms, after seeing mine. My master bedroom is about 3.1m wide, while common bedroom is 3.3m wide, measured internally. It TOP in 2018, just before covid.
@@edmundlee6307 Exactly. The extra 400mm to 700mm means it would be possible to fit a wardrobe or study table at that wall rather than at the corner of the room. So it opens up a lot more options to design and do space planning for older flats.
I really hope the newer projects allow resizing of rooms instead of sacrifice. We should be able to choose to sacrifice space from shared areas to private areas. Some don't even need a living room, its always empty when everybody camp in their own room and play computer or mobile phones. In addition, the gotchas HDB may give you are the Beams which are never indicated in the floor plans. The structural beams will either break or make your house.
Totally agreed 👍 Over the 20yrs the kitchen size has shrink by 50% or higher. Buying Washer and Refrigerator has to be very careful. Not buy what you like but buy those can fit or easily replace if spoilt. Bedroom has also shrink about 20%. Wardrobe and a dressing table of a decent size is no longer possible. If you have more that 1 child, living in a bto 3rm is definitely a nightmare. Compare to older days where 2 children can share 1 bedroom furnished with a double deck, decent wardrobe and study tables.
I’m honestly starting to think that the Singapore government isn’t really serious about increasing the birth rates actually. The labour laws are weak in protecting working parents whom are caregivers to the very young and the elderly from employers whom used “poor performance” against them during appraisals. HDB units getting so small till it is not practical to raise a decent sized family comfortably. When spaces are cramped, it leads to quarrels and unhappiness between couples living together. If I could recall, it was when Ex MP Mah Bow Tan whom took over the HDB portfolio that HDB flats started getting ridiculously Smaller and Smaller while at the same time PRICIER.. 🤦🏼 The worst was that DESPITE the feedbacks, HDB can still insist that the flats’ sizes are “still the same as before” for at least two DECADES.. 🤦🏼🤦🏼
@@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG The new NDR 2024 has some birth rate friendly measures but nothing to address the small BTO bedrooms sizes yet. Hopefully things will improve when more feedback is given to the Govt.
Well, you want corridor units? If no, then there is limit on how big the rooms is going to be if they keep the bomb shelter. It’s not the size but the design.
Thanks for your sharing. May i know is it HDB will not approve the renovation to build partition at the middle of window panels or it is only the inconvenience for the home owner to use the window or bad soundproof? Can the home owner change the 3 panels windows to add a small wall to separate the windows panels so that can build the partition wall someway at the window?
@@skyleryunn972 Nothing about HDB approval. Just that we have no way to seal up the end of the wall so there will be a gap where the window ends. No. We are not allowed to change the new BTO windows as they are pre built into the structure.
3 room flat become 2-room "Flexi", then 4 room flat become "3 room Flat", then 5 room become "4 room flat". And they can reduce the size of the "rooms" further next time since the bedroom become "bigger" mah. Also, since we reduce, but because of the "layout" change only, so 3,4,5 room naming remains, the price can "remain" loh. Then current 2 room flexi next time become hotel room layout.
Probably HDB should sell this batch of flat on Single Scheme ( to Single - SC ), bring the Single eligibility age to 30 instead of 35 years old. After they hold flat for 5years , married with kids then can sell and upgrade to family size or bigger flat.
Yes Sir! You are damn right. I am one of those who have TENGAH BTO ... Everyone knows about the problems with the" Centralised AIRCON system!" I even checked HDB which is the designing company they give the project to? I think nowadays their designers are only through books or (cert) not through experience!... Even my master toilet door can land at the end of the room and just beside my bed!! What type of ideal is this ..? If someone boo inside I think the smell also can smell it!! 🤔🤭😔 We are just A Guinea pig of all those NEW projects 👎👎👎👎which the ministers want, after all, they don't have to stay in one of those!!
Ex HDB CEO Tan meng dui once famously mentioned that young couples nowadays preferred smaller flats and better design than large one. Who is she trying to bullshits?!And the best of all, the late KBW said hdb floor size remained unchanged over the last 20 yrs.
Actually I think another reason they offer this no wall design is because more and more young couples want to change the layout of the house and knock off the internal walls to open up the space. Nowadays there are decreasing number of married couples who want to have children. They tend to anyway knock off walls to combine 2 bedrooms into 1 and have 1 study / work room, and an open concept kitchen. To be honest, I will prefer the white flat because if I want to segregate the space, my ID can have a blank canvas to suggest how and where to place the internal walls, instead of wasting money hacking away the existing wall and rebuild a wall at a different position. Also when hdb don’t have to build internal walls, they can cut down time to deliver the completed units faster and beneficial for people who need to move out with a tight timeline. And hdb can save costs on materials. Personally, im a big fan of small spaces, and there are lots of beautiful small spaces that other western countries have greatly demonstrated good design and space planning. Also extremely easy to clean and maintain. That’s just my personal opinion thou.
@@sunrainsnow Yes, take note we are not saying white flat is a bad design, but if the windows and structural walls restrict the possibility of a good redesign and space planning then the white flat pilot program would be pointless and bound to cause more complaints from the future home owners.
I have a bad feeling about this, if it succeeds, the next step they will build smaller bedrooms. Don’t mark me on this, it just my hunch. Simple logic, the population is increasing and residential land gets lesser.
To tackle the problem, it should really start with the architect. 1st, build livable bedrooms like the past and usable kitchen. And not the type in the showflat which is really for show. Btw, I worked as a quantity surveyor in the past, so bad design from architect can result in bad function and sometimes heavily in cost.
@@txy4670 Very true. Bad design really cost a lot to rectify, worst is that people living in such badly designed houses would feel disgruntled having waited so many years for a poorly designed and planned house.
Hi. You are the very few among the contractors who talk sense. Hope HDB hear you.
@@kevinlimdotsg We really hope so, because it is really rare to find people who are willing to point out errors and move the society towards a better future.
Ris will make a very good contractor, very calm and patience and very knowlegeable.
You know yr home will be in good hands
@@chewhweehong6880 Thank you for your kind compliments. We will continue to keep up the good work and continue to improve.
I wish Desmond Lee is watching this. Rhys nailed it with his explaination.
@@parodoxppp Our ministers knew what they were talking about. Rhys just explained it in layman terms so that everyone can understand what they are saying.
Very good analysis
@@mirrorlessmacro2162 Thanks for the support.
Fully agreed with you. I have lived in my 4 room bto flat for more than 10years. And I really hate the small kitchen and bedrooms. The kitchen is really tiny as compared to my previous resale 3 room. The toilets at the centre are always dark and I have to light them all the time. It is not energy and cost efficient at all.
@@txy4670 I hear you. Resale houses may take more to renovate but you cannot beat the spaciousness of the bedrooms and kitchen.
I definitely agree with you that HDB should seek industrial opinion and ideas from professionalism like yourself in building the design of an HDB.
@@angelinekoh-ms8lx We really hope our videos and feedback are taken seriously
As a designer that isnt in the industry, i also wondered how the windows would affect the layout of this type of flat.
Its very interesting to know the insight of how a minute 400mm of space would affect the size and possibilities of a room and flat.
I completely agree that the issue isnt that the walls are being knocked down it's that the new flats just arent big enough to accommodate the necessary use.
@@totallyathome Yes. It takes experience and the ability to decode the technical language of building and interior design into simple space planning language so the general public can understand the concept that is being piloted and whether something is inherently wrong in the design of the new BTO Flats. We are trying our best to bridge the gap between the real world and the design process.
nice sharing! really dunno what this govt doing. getting from bad to worse...
Very good points you have raised and I hope HDB will not just listen but adopt!!
My 24yrs ago 5rm flat in punggol was converted from 3 bedrooms to 1.5rms to cater for my design n lifestyle n kids otw. It was beautiful n practical, but little did I expect a 2nd kid came along immediately and I sold it off before MOP with HDB approval. Those were the years HDB still listens.....😂😂😂😂
@@33Nautiboy Yes. Having to hack the walls and rebuild bigger rooms defeats the purpose of designing such small BTO bedrooms.
Am staying in a old flat, can put king size bed, buildin wardrobe from one end to another of a wall, a big study table to put 2 computer and monitor and still hv plenty of space to walk and exercise space
@@chewhweehong6880 This perfectly describes the spaciousness of a resale Master Bedroom. Thank you for sharing.
Nice sharing. It is shocking to hear those post-covid era BTOs have such narrow bedrooms of only 2.8m. No wonder a few of my friends who recently received their keys exclaimed that my 3-rm BTO unit feels more spacious than their 3-rm and even 4-rms, after seeing mine. My master bedroom is about 3.1m wide, while common bedroom is 3.3m wide, measured internally. It TOP in 2018, just before covid.
@@edmundlee6307 Exactly. The extra 400mm to 700mm means it would be possible to fit a wardrobe or study table at that wall rather than at the corner of the room. So it opens up a lot more options to design and do space planning for older flats.
I really hope the newer projects allow resizing of rooms instead of sacrifice. We should be able to choose to sacrifice space from shared areas to private areas. Some don't even need a living room, its always empty when everybody camp in their own room and play computer or mobile phones. In addition, the gotchas HDB may give you are the Beams which are never indicated in the floor plans. The structural beams will either break or make your house.
@@Magurosenbei Yes. You are right. The beams will affect the layout of the rooms as well. But there are “beamless” flats been designed as we speak.
Totally agreed 👍
Over the 20yrs the kitchen size has shrink by 50% or higher. Buying Washer and Refrigerator has to be very careful. Not buy what you like but buy those can fit or easily replace if spoilt.
Bedroom has also shrink about 20%. Wardrobe and a dressing table of a decent size is no longer possible.
If you have more that 1 child, living in a bto 3rm is definitely a nightmare. Compare to older days where 2 children can share 1 bedroom furnished with a double deck, decent wardrobe and study tables.
@@dhamol4497 Totally agree with your analysis and sharing.
Very insightful!
@@xiufangong7677 Thank you for your support!
I’m honestly starting to think that the Singapore government isn’t really serious about increasing the birth rates actually.
The labour laws are weak in protecting working parents whom are caregivers to the very young and the elderly from employers whom used “poor performance” against them during appraisals.
HDB units getting so small till it is not practical to raise a decent sized family comfortably.
When spaces are cramped, it leads to quarrels and unhappiness between couples living together.
If I could recall, it was when Ex MP Mah Bow Tan whom took over the HDB portfolio that HDB flats started getting ridiculously Smaller and Smaller while at the same time PRICIER.. 🤦🏼
The worst was that DESPITE the feedbacks, HDB can still insist that the flats’ sizes are “still the same as before” for at least two DECADES.. 🤦🏼🤦🏼
@@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG The new NDR 2024 has some birth rate friendly measures but nothing to address the small BTO bedrooms sizes yet. Hopefully things will improve when more feedback is given to the Govt.
Well, you want corridor units? If no, then there is limit on how big the rooms is going to be if they keep the bomb shelter. It’s not the size but the design.
Thanks for your sharing. May i know is it HDB will not approve the renovation to build partition at the middle of window panels or it is only the inconvenience for the home owner to use the window or bad soundproof? Can the home owner change the 3 panels windows to add a small wall to separate the windows panels so that can build the partition wall someway at the window?
@@skyleryunn972 Nothing about HDB approval. Just that we have no way to seal up the end of the wall so there will be a gap where the window ends.
No. We are not allowed to change the new BTO windows as they are pre built into the structure.
3 room flat become 2-room "Flexi", then 4 room flat become "3 room Flat", then 5 room become "4 room flat". And they can reduce the size of the "rooms" further next time since the bedroom become "bigger" mah. Also, since we reduce, but because of the "layout" change only, so 3,4,5 room naming remains, the price can "remain" loh. Then current 2 room flexi next time become hotel room layout.
@@briantan2963 food for thought..
Probably HDB should sell this batch of flat on Single Scheme ( to Single - SC ), bring the Single eligibility age to 30 instead of 35 years old.
After they hold flat for 5years , married with kids then can sell and upgrade to family size or bigger flat.
@@RacTan-q6e Food for thought. Thanks for sharing.
"I'm also scared HDB will come after me.."😂😂😂
Yes Sir! You are damn right. I am one of those who have TENGAH BTO ... Everyone knows about the problems with the" Centralised AIRCON system!"
I even checked HDB which is the designing company they give the project to? I think nowadays their designers are only through books or (cert) not through experience!... Even my master toilet door can land at the end of the room and just beside my bed!! What type of ideal is this ..? If someone boo inside I think the smell also can smell it!! 🤔🤭😔
We are just A Guinea pig of all those NEW projects 👎👎👎👎which the ministers want, after all, they don't have to stay in one of those!!
Ex HDB CEO Tan meng dui once famously mentioned that young couples nowadays preferred smaller flats and better design than large one.
Who is she trying to bullshits?!And the best of all, the late KBW said hdb floor size remained unchanged over the last 20 yrs.
Hdb better start to rebuild Executive massionate
Before watching the video i already felt it is bad idea 😂😂😂
@@Koekie5616 Great minds think alike. Cheers
Actually I think another reason they offer this no wall design is because more and more young couples want to change the layout of the house and knock off the internal walls to open up the space. Nowadays there are decreasing number of married couples who want to have children. They tend to anyway knock off walls to combine 2 bedrooms into 1 and have 1 study / work room, and an open concept kitchen.
To be honest, I will prefer the white flat because if I want to segregate the space, my ID can have a blank canvas to suggest how and where to place the internal walls, instead of wasting money hacking away the existing wall and rebuild a wall at a different position.
Also when hdb don’t have to build internal walls, they can cut down time to deliver the completed units faster and beneficial for people who need to move out with a tight timeline. And hdb can save costs on materials.
Personally, im a big fan of small spaces, and there are lots of beautiful small spaces that other western countries have greatly demonstrated good design and space planning. Also extremely easy to clean and maintain. That’s just my personal opinion thou.
@@sunrainsnow Yes, take note we are not saying white flat is a bad design, but if the windows and structural walls restrict the possibility of a good redesign and space planning then the white flat pilot program would be pointless and bound to cause more complaints from the future home owners.
The current Bto layout with toilet at the centre is really a very, very bad layout. I really hope HDB do something about it.
I don't like the way HDB design is not practical
I have a bad feeling about this, if it succeeds, the next step they will build smaller bedrooms. Don’t mark me on this, it just my hunch. Simple logic, the population is increasing and residential land gets lesser.
@@raymond3360 Good hunch. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
To tackle the problem, it should really start with the architect. 1st, build livable bedrooms like the past and usable kitchen. And not the type in the showflat which is really for show. Btw, I worked as a quantity surveyor in the past, so bad design from architect can result in bad function and sometimes heavily in cost.
@@txy4670 Very true. Bad design really cost a lot to rectify, worst is that people living in such badly designed houses would feel disgruntled having waited so many years for a poorly designed and planned house.