Singapore’s public housing, once synonymous with affordability, is facing a new reality as some apartments are now being sold for over $1 million.
Urban planner Liu Thai Ker, credited with Singapore’s housing approach, expressed sadness at the shift, emphasizing that public housing should remain affordable.
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Liu, instrumental in developing Singapore’s public housing, returned in 1969 to lead the Housing and Development Board’s design unit. His vision included self-sufficient neighborhoods with schools, shops, and playgrounds, aiming to avoid the poverty concentration seen elsewhere.
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By 1985, virtually every Singaporean had a home, a remarkable feat in a city once plagued by slums. The government tied affordable flats to pro-family policies and integration efforts, ensuring a balanced mix of ethnic groups in neighborhoods.
Despite record secondary market prices, public housing remains broadly affordable for those qualifying for subsidies. Singapore’s model, though challenging to replicate, serves as a blueprint for other countries, albeit with land acquisition hurdles in democratic settings.
As Singapore continues to evolve, its public housing legacy stands as a testament to the vision of planners like Liu Thai Ker, whose foresight transformed the city-state’s housing landscape.