For us Singaporeans, lifts are just a mundane, functional part of everyday life. But from time to time, you come across one unusual enough to warrant a second look. Such is the case with the lifts at a handful of old HDBs near the old Tampines Regional Library, which regularly makes the rounds on social media every few years.
Unusual Tampines HDB lifts that act as a passageway
A Reddit post by user Newez in August 2024 documents an unusual through-door lift that doubles as a passageway, allowing pedestrians to cut through an HDB block. According to netizen replies, such lifts can be spotted at the HDBs near the former Tampines Regional Library.
Image credit: u/Newez on Reddit
“I’ve seen people call the lifts down to use as a shortcut to get to the other side. The alternative would be to walk an extra 10m around the side of the block,” wrote user asuna2504.
As user danpoptarts notes, this isn’t a new development. “This is in Tampines. Every year, it goes viral among people who rarely use social media. If I’m not mistaken, it’s a four-storey block or something close to that. It’s a long stretch with no passage to pass through, hence the lift is designed that way so that people can cut through the block easily.”
Dual-function lifts in Tampines HDB as a creative solution
In response to the viral Reddit post, Mustsharenews visited the Tampines HDBs to see the fabled lifts for themselves.
Image adapted from: Google Maps
The Mustsharenews video highlights blocks 501, 502, and 509 in particular. The 4-storey blocks in this cluster were completed in the late 1980s and are just a stone’s throw away from Tampines 1.
According to the video, the lifts function as an “interesting workaround” that tackles the structural challenges posed by the design of older HDBs. As part of upgrading works, HDB installed lifts in residential blocks to improve accessibility. But, due to the design of some blocks, common areas such as walkways had to be sacrificed to make way for the lifts.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
This meant that, if a regular lift was installed, residents now had to walk around the entire span of the HDB block to get to the other side. To get around this problem, HDB chose to install through-door lifts that opened on two sides, forming a passageway that allows pedestrians to cut through the block.
Though it’s a smart workaround, it has its limitations. As noted by a few users in the Reddit post, the lift is smaller than usual and can fit up to 4 people, and even then, it’s a tight squeeze. More worryingly, it barely fits a stretcher, which can spell problems when residents here have medical emergencies.
Tampines HDB lift that serves as a passageway
Image adapted from: Google Maps
To people who live in the area, these through-door lifts in Tampines may be just an everyday part of life. To others, it’s an unusual sight worth a second glance, and an example of out-of-the-box thinking.
Still, it’s interesting to see how our architects combat challenges when upgrading older structures, especially as the lifestyles and expectations of Singaporeans continue to evolve.
For more unusual HDB designs, check out:
Cover image adapted from: Google Maps and u/Newez
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