Not all HDB flats are created equal, and if you’ve ever wandered around Potong Pasir, you might have noticed something a little unusual about the top floors. Unlike the usual cookie-cutter block designs we’re used to, some of these buildings come with slanted “ski-slope” roofs and soaring ceilings that stretch up to a jaw-dropping 5.5 metres high.
Back in the 1980s, HDB was in its experimental phase, trying out different layouts and architectural quirks to add variety to public housing. Potong Pasir, one of Singapore’s earliest housing estates, became a kind of testing ground, which is why you’ll find these rare sky-high flats tucked away at the top.
Today, these top-floor units are a hidden gem in Singapore’s housing landscape, prized for their rarity and the sheer sense of space they offer, a stark contrast to the compact HDB flats most of us are familiar with now.
The “Ski-Slope” design
Image credits: Darren Soh
If you stroll past blocks 140 to 146 in Potong Pasir, you’ll immediately spot their distinctive “ski-slope” roofs, a design quirk that sets them apart from the flat-topped silhouettes of most HDBs. From the outside, it looks like the blocks are wearing slanted hats. From the inside, however, this translates into soaring ceilings that can stretch up to 5.5 metres in the top-floor units – a feature that many people don’t even realise exists in HDB flats.
For residents, this unusual roofline isn’t just an aesthetic feature; it’s a spatial game-changer. The extra vertical space allows for creative renovations, like adding elevated storage or even designing a living area that feels more like a mini-maisonette than a standard flat. The result? Homes that feel brighter, airier, and far more spacious than their square footage suggests, which is a hidden perk tucked away at the very top of these blocks.
Top-floor flats have sloped ceilings that are 5.5M in height
Image credits: Mr Shopper Studio
Potong Pasir’s sloped-roof top-floor units are easily one of the rarest in Singapore. They sit in the same exclusive league as other unicorns in the resale market, think loft HDBs in Punggol or jumbo flats in Ang Mo Kio.
To add to the rarity, residents have a “private” lift lobby beside their balcony due to the architecture, and you have to access a different set of stairs in order to get home. Talk about exclusivity.
@edmund.lim.property 📍RARE 3-Room HDB @ Potong Pasir For Sale! You won’t believe this… 🏠 5-Metre High Ceiling – loft vibes in an HDB flat?! YES please! ✨ Super spacious, bright & airy – feels just like a condo 🛋️ Unique layout perfect for creative design lovers or loft-style living 🚇 3 mins walk to Potong Pasir MRT 🛒 Surrounded by eateries, cafes & daily essentials 🌳 Near parks, schools, and city fringe convenience 💡 Rarely available and super limited – don’t miss out! 📞 Contact Edmund Lim 9858 1770 to view before it’s gone! #edmundlimproperty highceiling #rarehouse
♬ original sound – Edmund Lim Property – Edmund Lim Property
Compared to the standard HDB ceiling height of about 2.6 metres, these units are practically double in scale. That extra verticality doesn’t just create breathing room; it opens up endless design possibilities. While most flats require residents to squeeze in clever storage hacks, these homes let you build upwards.
It’s this kind of character that makes such units highly coveted. In today’s market, where most BTOs are built with efficiency in mind, the chance to own a flat with cathedral-like ceilings is slim to none. That rarity translates into value: just like loft units that fetch a premium on the resale market, Potong Pasir’s top-floor, sky-high flats are likely to see appreciation thanks to their distinctive design and limited supply.
Image credits: Roy Zuo
Step into a typical HDB flat and you’ll find a ceiling height of around 2.6 to 2.8 metres, perfectly functional, but nothing out of the ordinary. Now, walk into one of Potong Pasir’s top-floor units and you’re greeted by ceilings that shoot up to 5.5 metres at their peak. The difference is immediate: instead of a compact, boxy space, the flat feels open, airy, and almost maisonette-like.
Design-wise, standard HDBs tend to rely on clever furniture placement or built-in carpentry to maximise limited vertical space. By contrast, these sloped-roof units give homeowners a literal blank canvas to build upwards, adding sound systems to enhance the natural echo, or even elevated storage. It’s not just about fitting more things in; it’s about creating a sense of volume and character that’s rarely seen in public housing.
In short, while regular HDBs are designed for efficiency, these Potong Pasir gems are designed for expression, offering both practicality and personality in one.
Potong Pasir Avenue’s sloped ski roofs
Image credit: Discovery Walking Tours TV
At the end of the day, Potong Pasir’s sloped-roof HDBs stand in a class of their own. While you might find high-ceiling style flats in other estates, nowhere else in Singapore will you spot this distinctive “ski-slope” roof design paired with ceilings soaring up to 5.5 metres.
Their rarity, architectural character, and spacious feel make them more than just homes; they’re conversation starters and design canvases for bold homeowners. For those looking to buy a resale with a touch of uniqueness, these Potong Pasir gems are worth keeping on your radar.
Who knows, your next HDB could come with a ceiling so high, even your ceiling fan will require a ladder to reach.
If you like looking at unique things as much as us, check these articles out:
- 12 unique HDBs that look nothing like your cookie-cutter blocks
- 11 unique front door designs so you can enter your home with a bang
- Is Whampoa West’s block 34 Singapore’s longest corridor?
Cover image adapted from: Darren Soh, Mr Shopper Studio
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