Check out the most unexpected photo spots in Singapore – our own public housing estates
The most photo-worthy spots in Singapore isn't always the ones you see on Instagram. The skyscrapers, glittering city lights, the majestic green spaces and cute cafés are not the only places are not the only things about worth celebrating. The heartlands and HDB flats have so much character and charm. More than 80 percent of Singapore's residents live in public housing and though some HDB neighbourhoods may look just like any other, there are a few gems worth checking out (after the 'circuit breaker' of course)
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Tiong Bahru estate is a true paradigm of the beautiful marriage of new and old-world allure – a place where plush condominiums nestle against pre-war shophouses, and where time-honoured food markets sidle up to pristine cafés. You haven't properly seen Tiong Bahru yet if you haven't explored its charming laneways – and snapped a pic while you're at it.
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Although Tampines is known for its clusters of retail malls and new developments, it really is the HDB flats that lend the neighbourhood its character. You'll find the red-bricked estate near Tampines Junior College which is the spot of many photo opportunities – as seen on Instagram – and who can forget the blocks painted with the retro TV test pattern?
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The neighbourhood was named after Queen Elizabeth II to mark her coronation, but you can also find other royal references in the names of the estates in Queenstown. Singapore's first satellite town is also where you might find some of the oldest HDB flats in Singapore. Some landmarks here include the pastel-coloured flats at Stirling Road, Forfar Heights (a cluster of 40-storey HDB flats) and Princess House which was the first dedicated building for HDB headquarters.
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You can spot the unique trademark sloped roofs of these HDB flats from a distance away. This stemmed from the early days where HDB wanted to create identities for different housing estates by building flats with prominent features. The estate was also a longtime ward of an opposition party and the community is less urbanised compared to the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Named after the reddish-brown hues of the soil in the area, Bukit Merah is a mature town near nature parks, the west coast and also the city – which means the views from the perfectly situated flat can be stunning.
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