Ask most people to picture an HDB flat, and you’ll get roughly the same image: a rectangular block, uniform corridors, and a standard layout. But spend enough time exploring Singapore’s neighbourhoods, and you’ll realise there are plenty of unusual HDB blocks scattered across the island, from unique amenities to uncommon lift systems and standout designs.
If you didn’t already know, here are some unusual HDB facts that prove public housing is far more varied than it looks.
Contents
- 1. DBSS flats come with condo-like features like bay windows & sky gardens
- 2. This HDB block in Tiong Bahru has 3 different addresses
- 3. Some Potong Pasir HDB flats have high ceilings & slanted roofs
- 4. Bubble lifts were introduced to HDB blocks in 2009
- 5. This Geylang Bahru HDB block has a preschool on the top floor
- 6. There’s a clover-shaped HDB block in Ang Mo Kio
- 7. Some 5-room HDB flats have dual entrances
- 8. Inverse executive maisonettes exist
- 9. Whampoa West Block 34 has the longest HDB corridor
- 10. HDB’s first overseas flats are in Australia
- 11. HDB’s smallest block has only 2 units
- 12. 2-storey HDB units in Punggol & Queenstown have bedrooms on both floors
- 13. There are “landed” HDB flats
- Unusual HDB facts you might not have known
1. DBSS flats come with condo-like features like bay windows & sky gardens
Image credit: Studio Super Safari
Living in an HDB flat often means practical perks like sheltered walkways that lead to your nearest MRT station and easy access to various amenities. But while most HDBs tend to follow a more standard, cookie-cutter layout, DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme) flats may make you stop, stare, and question whether you’re looking at a condo or an HDB.
A balcony in City View @ Boon Keng. Image credit: Minutiae
Some DBSS projects, such as City View @ Boon Keng and The Peak @ Toa Payoh, feature gated entrances you’d typically associate with private condos rather than HDBs. The flats at City View also come with bay windows and spacious balconies, adding to the overall condo-like vibes.
Image credit: @russian_singapore
Even non-DBSS HDBs like SkyTerrace can look and feel like condos, with features like sky gardens, roof gardens, and vertical greenery. Each flat also includes near floor-to-ceiling windows and a “Tetris-like” stacked layout instead of plain rectangular slabs.
2. This HDB block in Tiong Bahru has 3 different addresses
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Yes, it sounds unusual, but it’s not a mistake. The block commonly known as 78 Moh Guan Terrace curves out to Yong Siak Street on one end and Guan Chuan Street on the other, forming a distinctive horseshoe shape. Each section has its clearly designated address and entrance.
Image credit: Roots.sg
This unique building has been preserved for over 80 years and is the only HDB block with an air raid shelter, which played an important role in keeping residents safe during the war.
It’s also the only pre-war civilian air raid shelter left standing in Singapore, spanning about 1,500sqm and can fit about 1,600 people. However, it remains closed to the public except during special events or the monthly Tiong Bahru heritage tour.
3. Some Potong Pasir HDB flats have high ceilings & slanted roofs
Image credit: Darren Soh
While most HDB flats today follow standardised layouts, there are still pockets of older estates with more distinctive designs. In Potong Pasir, Blocks 140 to 146 stand out with their unique “ski-slope” roofs, a rare architectural feature that differs from the usual flat-topped HDB blocks.
The slanted roof design doesn’t just change the exterior. Top-floor units can have ceiling heights of up to 5.5m, so the space feels a lot taller and airier than a typical flat. This added vertical space also gives homeowners more flexibility, whether for loft-style storage or more open layouts.
4. Bubble lifts were introduced to HDB blocks in 2009
Image credit: Google Maps
HDB lifts are typically enclosed and purely functional; a small number of older blocks feature something more distinctive. As part of a pilot to upgrade lift systems, HDB introduced “bubble lifts” in 19 selected blocks across Singapore.
These lifts are partially enclosed with glass panels, allowing residents to see outside as they move between floors. The design was not just for aesthetics. It was also considered practical due to its lower construction cost, making it a unique but viable alternative to conventional lifts.
In more recent years, HDB has stopped including bubble lifts in newer projects, making them a rare find.
5. This Geylang Bahru HDB block has a preschool on the top floor
Image credit: Google Maps
My First Skool at Block 66 Kallang Bahru looks like any other preschool in an HDB estate, except for one detail: it sits on the top floor.
Most HDB preschools are tucked away at void decks, so seeing one upstairs is a rare twist. This preschool is likely placed there due to site constraints, where ground-level space may not have been available or suitable. The result is a preschool setup that feels quite different from the norm.
6. There’s a clover-shaped HDB block in Ang Mo Kio
Image credit: Property Guru
A bird flying past Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 would spot one of the most unusual HDB blocks in Singapore: The Clover @ Kebun Baru. From above, it forms a distinctive 4-leaf clover made up of 4 circular towers joined together.
Except for 1 common bedroom, every room is shaped like a quadrant, with curved walls that soften the layout. These curves also make the space feel more spacious than standard rectangular flats.
While not the easiest for renovation, The Clover remains a standout example of a time when HDB experimented more boldly with form, resulting in a one-of-a-kind living environment that prioritises design and identity over efficiency.
7. Some 5-room HDB flats have dual entrances
Having 2 points of entry is a feature that’s not exclusive to condos or landed houses. Some HDB flats at Shunfu Gardens have ended up with dual entrances after upgrading efforts were carried out to provide lift access on every floor.
As a result, certain units now have 2 front doors; one leading to the stairs and another to the lift. This dual-access setup has since become a quiet selling point in resale listings, especially for larger flats like those along Shunfu Road.
8. Inverse executive maisonettes exist
Image credit: PropertyGuru
Unlike most maisonettes, where bedrooms are usually on the second floor, this HDB maisonette with an “inverse” layout has its bedrooms on the lower floor instead.
Though this means your guests have to walk downstairs to get to the bedrooms, it also creates a clearer separation between the entrance and private spaces. And as a result, the homeowner gets a less conventional but clearly zoned and functional layout.
9. Whampoa West Block 34 has the longest HDB corridor
Image credit: @stanley_chee
Measuring up to a whopping 320m, the corridors at Whampoa West Block 34 provide access to 46 units each. This local landmark holds the title of Singapore’s longest continuous corridor, taking about 4 minutes to walk from end to end.
While lifts are conveniently placed throughout the block, the sheer length of the corridor still gives it an almost walkway-like feel that sets it apart from other HDB blocks.
10. HDB’s first overseas flats are in Australia
Image credit: u/ArmedSweeping on Reddit
Before it became Australian territory in 1958, Christmas Island was administered by Singapore. The island is home to Poon Saan: HDB’s first overseas project, developed to house Southeast Asian workers and families.
The only thing unusual about Poon Saan is its location. To this day, the estate remains a microcosm of Singaporean culture, with familiar architectural styles and a strong sense of community that reflects the kampong spirit.
11. HDB’s smallest block has only 2 units
Image credit: 8PROP
With only 2 units, Block 10C at Bedok South Avenue 2 is known as “Singapore’s Smallest HDB Block”.
The block has 2 storeys and houses 2 Executive Apartments that span 1,528sqft each. This means that, on top of the privacy of having only 1 neighbour, the generous unit size places these homes on the larger end of HDB living.
12. 2-storey HDB units in Punggol & Queenstown have bedrooms on both floors
Image credit: Superhome Design
We see your maisonette and raise you a loft HDB. Unlike your regular HDB flats, these loft-style units have bedrooms on both levels, creating a more balanced layout with extra room for flexible use.
A loft HDB typically has double-height ceilings, often exceeding 5m. And, as its name suggests, these units make use of vertical space for a more open and layered feel compared to typical flats. The ones at Punggol even come with open terraces or roof decks.
Still, only a small number of loft units exist islandwide, making them one of the more uncommon unit types in public housing.
13. There are “landed” HDB flats
Image credit: Sean Lim
Queenstown and Whampoa are home to Singapore’s last HDB terrace houses. Each of these highly coveted units has its own block number and direct street-level access, making them look like landed houses.
Even though they’re technically terrace houses, these units are still considered public housing by HDB. The only difference is that you have an entire block to yourself. And since these units offer more space than a typical HDB, they are also sold at a higher price. A quick Google search shows they’re going for upwards of $1.2M these days.
Unusual HDB facts you might not have known
From pre-war architectural quirks to modern design experiments, these unusual HDB facts prove that public housing is far from one-size-fits-all. While practicality and efficiency have shaped the majority of today’s flats, pockets of history and individuality are all across the island, often hidden in plain sight.
The next time you go house hunting, be sure to venture past the beaten path and find a place that best reflects your ideal lifestyle.
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Cover image adapted from: 8PROP, Darren Soh, Wikipedia, Google Maps
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