Housing & Development Board: The Linkway

Housing & Development Board (HDB) build affordable public housing in Singapore. The Void Deck is an open space built into each of their buildings. In the 1970s and 1980s, this space served as a substitute for former communal ‘kampong’ (village) squares for many residents who were newly resettled from villages and in the process of adapting to living in high-rise buildings. Today, it is a shared common space used for multiple purposes. Everything happens here: from social functions, celebrations and funeral rites to some people simply hanging out or catching up with friends.

HDB wanted to redefine the value of each of their apartments. Residents don't just buy the square feet of space within their HDB apartments, they actually also enjoy the square metres of planned public spaces like Void Decks, Linkways and Fitness Corners that enhance their quality of life. By focusing on these spaces and giving them their own voice, HDB showed its big picture planning in a subtle way.