Design Vocabulary: Types of Dwellings in Singapore
A guide to the types of housing available on Singapore's real estate market
This year might just be the right time to buy that dream dwelling. Online financial adviser Get.COM recently reported yet another dip in property prices, on the back of the slowing global economy and the government’s property market cooling measures. Furthermore, real estate experts like Propertyguru and 99.co foresee this trend continuing in the near future.
There’s a wealth of housing options on the market, from a bungalow in the highly coveted Sentosa Cove enclave to a condominium in the quieter yet fast-developing environs up north like Sembawang. Take a look at your options.
There’s a wealth of housing options on the market, from a bungalow in the highly coveted Sentosa Cove enclave to a condominium in the quieter yet fast-developing environs up north like Sembawang. Take a look at your options.
Good Class Bungalow (GCB)
Considered the most exclusive type of property in Singapore, GCBs must have a land area with a minimum plot size of 1,400 sqm and must be situated in areas zoned for GCB. Some popular GCB zones are Cluny Road, Ridley Park, Leedon Park near Holland Road and King Albert Park off Bukit Timah Road. Depending on the size and design features, GCBs can fetch upwards of $10 million.
Read about this Sentosa Cove home
Considered the most exclusive type of property in Singapore, GCBs must have a land area with a minimum plot size of 1,400 sqm and must be situated in areas zoned for GCB. Some popular GCB zones are Cluny Road, Ridley Park, Leedon Park near Holland Road and King Albert Park off Bukit Timah Road. Depending on the size and design features, GCBs can fetch upwards of $10 million.
Read about this Sentosa Cove home
Black and White House (Colonial Style Bungalow)
These iconic colonial-styled houses, which take their name from their distinctive painted facades, were built for expatriate families (British diplomats, government and military officers) in the 19th century and offer gracious living areas in space-scarce Singapore. These mostly government-owned properties are only available for rent. For more information, check with the Singapore Land Authority or online real estate portals.
See more of this house
These iconic colonial-styled houses, which take their name from their distinctive painted facades, were built for expatriate families (British diplomats, government and military officers) in the 19th century and offer gracious living areas in space-scarce Singapore. These mostly government-owned properties are only available for rent. For more information, check with the Singapore Land Authority or online real estate portals.
See more of this house
Semi-detached House
This is a landed house that is partially attached on one side to any number of other units, such as another semi-detached bungalow, a corner terrace and back-to-back semi-detached house. This also includes strata or cluster semi-detached houses with common areas and facilities shared by the units in the development.
This is a landed house that is partially attached on one side to any number of other units, such as another semi-detached bungalow, a corner terrace and back-to-back semi-detached house. This also includes strata or cluster semi-detached houses with common areas and facilities shared by the units in the development.
Terrace House
A terrace house is a landed house, which forms part of a row of three or more houses, attached side by side. Though joined together, each terrace house is a property in its own respect, with no other separate dwellings either above or below it. This also includes strata or cluster terrace houses with common areas and facilities shared by the units in the development.
See more of this house
A terrace house is a landed house, which forms part of a row of three or more houses, attached side by side. Though joined together, each terrace house is a property in its own respect, with no other separate dwellings either above or below it. This also includes strata or cluster terrace houses with common areas and facilities shared by the units in the development.
See more of this house
Cluster Housing
Also known as strata landed housing, cluster housing is a form of landed housing that’s uniformly designed, built in clusters (usually within gated estates) and comes with strata titles. It’s a relatively newer form of dwelling, where home buyers combine landed-house living with condo-style communal facilities.
More landed homes
Also known as strata landed housing, cluster housing is a form of landed housing that’s uniformly designed, built in clusters (usually within gated estates) and comes with strata titles. It’s a relatively newer form of dwelling, where home buyers combine landed-house living with condo-style communal facilities.
More landed homes
SHOPHOUSES
These historically significant buildings are prevalent in Singapore’s architectural and built heritage. Shophouses are narrow, small terraced houses, generally two- to three-storeys high and built in contiguous blocks with common party walls. These days, they have been carefully restored and conserved (closely following the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s conservation guidelines) and are used for both commercial and residential purposes.
Take a look at the restoration of three conservation shophouses
These historically significant buildings are prevalent in Singapore’s architectural and built heritage. Shophouses are narrow, small terraced houses, generally two- to three-storeys high and built in contiguous blocks with common party walls. These days, they have been carefully restored and conserved (closely following the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s conservation guidelines) and are used for both commercial and residential purposes.
Take a look at the restoration of three conservation shophouses
CONDOMINIUMS
Condominiums are the go-to for home buyers who want private housing but find landed properties out of their budget or who simply prefer the convenience of condo-living. This type of dwelling offers facilities like 24-hour manned security, well-maintained gardens, swimming pools, and, in some cases, tennis and basketball courts, and more.
Condominiums are the go-to for home buyers who want private housing but find landed properties out of their budget or who simply prefer the convenience of condo-living. This type of dwelling offers facilities like 24-hour manned security, well-maintained gardens, swimming pools, and, in some cases, tennis and basketball courts, and more.
PRIVATE APARTMENTS
These are private housing dwellings similar to condominiums, though they are usually smaller in size and with less communal and recreational facilities.
Read about this apartment
These are private housing dwellings similar to condominiums, though they are usually smaller in size and with less communal and recreational facilities.
Read about this apartment
GOVERNMENT-BUILT HOUSING
Housing Development Board (HDB) flats are the most popular and common dwelling in Singapore – more than 80 per cent of Singapore’s resident population live in HDB public housing.
The first incarnation of the HDB, the SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust), was founded in 1927 to address the serious housing shortage. SIT blocks still stand in neighbourhoods like Bukit Merah and Queenstown.
Read about this HDB
Housing Development Board (HDB) flats are the most popular and common dwelling in Singapore – more than 80 per cent of Singapore’s resident population live in HDB public housing.
The first incarnation of the HDB, the SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust), was founded in 1927 to address the serious housing shortage. SIT blocks still stand in neighbourhoods like Bukit Merah and Queenstown.
Read about this HDB
The HDB offers a wide variety of flats to cater to different household sizes and budgets. The flats are usually identified by the number of rooms each unit has (number of bedrooms + living/dining room). For instance, the smallest type, the two-room Flexi flat (36-45 sqm), has one bedroom and can accommodate singles, the elderly or a couple with a child.
A four-room HDB flat has three bedrooms and one living/dining room.
Inside an award-winning HDB flat
A four-room HDB flat has three bedrooms and one living/dining room.
Inside an award-winning HDB flat
Other variations on HDB dwellings are DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme), EC (Executive Condominium) and HUDC (Housing and Urban Development Corporation), which are pre-HDB flats built in the ’70s and ’80s.
Useful Links
Housing Development Board
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Building and Construction Authority
Singapore Land Authority
TELL US
What’s your dream property? Share with us in the Comments section.
Useful Links
Housing Development Board
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Building and Construction Authority
Singapore Land Authority
TELL US
What’s your dream property? Share with us in the Comments section.
Bungalow/Detached House
A bungalow is a free-standing dwelling unit within a plot of land that does not share any common wall or roofing with other separate dwellings. Bungalow development must have a minimum plot size of 400 sqm. This also includes strata bungalows, which offer home buyers an option that combines landed housing living with communal facilities and greenery like those available in private condominiums.
See more of this house