{"id":25859,"date":"2023-03-19T15:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-19T15:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/?p=25859"},"modified":"2023-03-19T15:46:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T15:46:42","slug":"hdb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/hdb\/","title":{"rendered":"HDB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last Thursday, I went to a very instructive visit of Singapore to discover the HDB. HDB stands for \u201cHousing Development Board\u201d and means council housing. Today, 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB and 70% are owners of their flats. Here, in Singapore, public housing doesn\u2019t have the pejorative meaning it has in France or the UK. This is pretty amazing actually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeudi dernier, je suis all\u00e9e faire une visite tr\u00e8s instructive pour d\u00e9couvrir les HDB de Singapour. HDB signifie \u00abHousing Development Board\u00bb c’est-\u00e0-dire l’organisme qui g\u00e8re les logements sociaux. Aujourd’hui, 80% des Singapouriens vivent en HDB et 70% en sont propri\u00e9taires. Ici, \u00e0 Singapour, le logement social n’a pas la m\u00eame connotation p\u00e9jorative qu’en France ou au Royaume-Uni. C’est assez incroyable en fait.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me give you a bit of background on the history of Singapore. When the British left Singapore in 1959, they took everything with them, people and equipment. Singapore was faced with three serious problems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Unemployment. There are no natural resources in Singapore and the population was mostly unskilled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Not enough housing. Over the 2 million people living in Singapore at the time, around 2\/3 lived in slums. The fear of fire was very serious (a fire would not just destroy a house but an entire area and could kill thousands). But also, hygiene, health and security were not good.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. No army. Very quickly, this problem was solved by establishing a 2-year national service for all boys aged 18.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Voici un peu de contexte sur l’histoire de Singapour. Lorsque les Britanniques ont quitt\u00e9 Singapour en 1959, ils ont tout emport\u00e9 avec eux, personnes et mat\u00e9riel. Singapour \u00e9tait alors confront\u00e9e \u00e0 trois probl\u00e8mes graves :<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Le ch\u00f4mage. Il n’y a aucune ressources naturelles \u00e0 Singapour et la population \u00e9tait majoritairement non qualifi\u00e9e.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Pas assez de logements. Sur les 2 millions de personnes vivant \u00e0 Singapour \u00e0 l’\u00e9poque, environ 2\/3 vivaient dans des bidonvilles. La peur des incendies \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s importante (un incendie ne d\u00e9truisait pas seulement une maison mais toute une zone et pouvait tuer des milliers de personnes). Mais aussi, l’hygi\u00e8ne, la sant\u00e9 et la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 \u00e9taient tr\u00e8s mauvaises.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Pas d’arm\u00e9e. Tr\u00e8s vite, ce probl\u00e8me a \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9solu en instaurant un service militaire de 2 ans pour tous les gar\u00e7ons de 18 ans.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      So, imagine, early 60s Singapore: most people living in very bad conditions, earning small incomes and just surviving. The mafia (or triads) was controlling entire districts offering \u201cprotection\u201d against money. The British started building social housing before leaving, but they were too expensive for most people who could not commit to a monthly rent (most people didn\u2019t have a guaranteed monthly salary).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Imaginez Singapour au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 60 : la plupart des gens vivent dans des conditions insalubres, gagnent des revenus minables et survivent \u00e0 peine d\u2019un jour \u00e0 l\u2019autre. La mafia (ou les triades) contr\u00f4lait des quartiers entiers en offrant une “protection” contre de l’argent. Les Britanniques ont bien essay\u00e9 de rem\u00e9dier \u00e0 la situation en construisant quelques logements sociaux, mais sans succ\u00e8s. Ils \u00e9taient toujours trop chers pour la plupart des gens qui ne pouvaient pas s’engager sur un loyer mensuel (la plupart des gens n’ayant pas de salaire mensuel garanti).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>
      \n

      Here comes Mr Lee Kuan Yew (read more here<\/a>), the first Singapore prime minister in 1959. He believed that affordable housing was the foundation for everything: education, health wealth, etc.. With that in mind, he borrowed money form the World Bank and created HDB. To give you a bit of perspective, the British built 30,000 flats in 20 years. The Singaporeans built 15,000 the first year and today there are more than 1 million of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Entre sur sc\u00e8ne M. Lee Kuan Yew (plus d’infos ici<\/a>), le premier Premier ministre de Singapour en 1959. Pour lui, le logement abordable \u00e9tait la base de tout : l’\u00e9ducation, la sant\u00e9, etc. Dans cet esprit, il a emprunt\u00e9 de l’argent \u00e0 la Banque mondiale et a cr\u00e9\u00e9 HDB. Pour vous donner un peu de perspective, les Britanniques ont construit 30 000 logements en 20 ans. Les Singapouriens en ont construit 15 000 la premi\u00e8re ann\u00e9e et aujourd’hui il y en a plus d’un million.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      The first location was Toa Payoh, located north of Novena. Toa Payoh means \u201cbig swamp\u201d. It was a big swamp with a few villages and farmers. The area was controlled by the mafia and police didn\u2019t dare go there. Bear in mind that Singapore was often referred to as the Chicago of the East at this time (to give you an idea\u2026). So why choose this area? Because it was close to the central business area, the government wanted to reduce criminality and to de-isolate small villages. At first, the residents didn\u2019t want to leave their homes and they were supported by the mafia. By 1964, results started to show. Little by little, residents are re-housed in temporary accommodation while a building is built and so one. Farmers were paid by trees for their farms, residents were paid to leave their houses and in the end the Toa Payoh HDB district emerged from the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Le premier emplacement choisi pour ces logements sociaux a \u00e9t\u00e9 Toa Payoh, situ\u00e9 au nord de Novena. Toa Payoh signifie “grand marais”. C’\u00e9tait effectivement une zone maraicageuse avec quelques villages et fermiers. La zone \u00e9tait contr\u00f4l\u00e9e par la mafia et la police n’osait pas s’y rendre. Il para\u00eet qu’\u00e0 l’\u00e9poque, Singapour \u00e9tait souvent surnomm\u00e9e le Chicago de l’Est (pour vous donner une id\u00e9e\u2026). Alors pourquoi choisir cette zone ? Pour trois raisons : 1. C\u2019\u00e9tait proche du quartier central des affaires ; 2. le gouvernement voulait r\u00e9duire la criminalit\u00e9 et ; 3. d\u00e9senclaver les villages. Au d\u00e9but, les habitants ne voulaient pas quitter leurs logements et ils \u00e9taient soutenus par la mafia. En 1964, les r\u00e9sultats ont commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 appara\u00eetre. Petit \u00e0 petit, les habitants sont relog\u00e9s dans des logements provisoires le temps de construire un immeuble et ainsi de suite. Pour la petite histoire, les agriculteurs recevaient un d\u00e9dommagement correspondant au nombre d\u2019arbres sur leur terrains. Et il parait que certains arbres se d\u00e9pla\u00e7aient de fermes en ferme ! C\u2019est ainsi que le quartier de Toa Payoh HDB a \u00e9merg\u00e9 du sol.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"
      Shops and flats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      Toa Payoh now with new show flats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      What is very interesting is that they didn\u2019t just build housing buildings, but also shops, schools, hospital, public transport, etc. The concept is that when you live in a HDB, everything is available on your doorstep, no more than 10 minutes away. So not only the flats are affordable, but they were literally building complete communities with everything anyone could need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ce qui est tr\u00e8s int\u00e9ressant, c’est que HDB ne s\u2019occupe pas seulement des immeubles d’habitation, mais pr\u00e9voit tout ce qui est n\u00e9cessaire \u00e0 la vie des r\u00e9sidents. HDB cr\u00e9e des quartiers entiers. C\u2019est de l\u2019urbanisme. HDB pr\u00e9voit ainsi les commerces, les \u00e9coles, les lieux de sant\u00e9, les transports en commun, etc.. Le principe est que chaque r\u00e9sident peut trouver tout ce dont il a besoin \u00e0 10 minutes de chez lui. Ainsi, non seulement les appartements sont abordables, mais il construit litt\u00e9ralement des communaut\u00e9s enti\u00e8res avec tout ce dont on a besoin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
      Toa Payoh’s evolution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Amazing, right? A few points of interest: HDB flats are reserved for Singaporean. They can buy their flats at a really good price or rent it. If you own a HDB, you cannot let it out, but you can sell it to the open market. However, there are restrictions to whom it can be sold to, so that there is a balance of ethnicity in every block. In addition, when a HDB flat is first sold, it has a lease of 99 years. After 99 years, it goes back to the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Il faut savoir que les HDB sont r\u00e9serv\u00e9s aux Singapouriens. Ils peuvent acheter leur appartement \u00e0 tr\u00e8s bon prix ou les louer. Si vous poss\u00e9dez un HDB, vous ne pouvez pas le sous-louer, mais vous pouvez le vendre au prix du march\u00e9 comme n\u2019importe quel appartement. Cependant, il y a des restrictions, vous ne pouvez pas le vendre \u00e0 n\u2019importe qui. Il faut qu\u2019il y ait un \u00e9quilibre ethnique dans chaque bloc. De plus, lorsqu’un appartement HDB est vendu pour la premi\u00e8re fois, il a un bail de 99 ans. Apr\u00e8s 99 ans, il revient \u00e0 l’\u00c9tat.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Today, there are 24 HDB cities in Singapore. Each has its own personality. The buildings are maintained regularly, for example the pipes are changed (free of charge for the residents), or the bathroom is refurbished (for an affordable fixed price). Very rarely are the buildings destroyed to be rebuilt. Nowadays, HDB is conscious of being green and avoiding waste. One of the rules is that for each square meter of concrete, a square meter of green area must be created. It is now also possible to buy a flat on plan and to have it built to your own specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Aujourd’hui, il y a 24 complexes de HDB \u00e0 Singapour. Chacun a sa propre personnalit\u00e9. Les b\u00e2timents sont entretenus r\u00e9guli\u00e8rement, par exemple les canalisations sont chang\u00e9es (gratuitement pour les r\u00e9sidents), ou la salle de bain est remise \u00e0 neuf (pour un forfait abordable). Tr\u00e8s rarement les b\u00e2timents sont d\u00e9truits pour \u00eatre reconstruits. De nos jours, HDB est conscient de l\u2019environnement et veut \u00e9viter le gaspillage. L’une des r\u00e8gles est que pour chaque m\u00e8tre carr\u00e9 de b\u00e9ton, un m\u00e8tre carr\u00e9 d’espace vert doit \u00eatre cr\u00e9\u00e9. Il est d\u00e9sormais \u00e9galement possible d’acheter un appartement sur plan et de le faire construire selon ses propres sp\u00e9cifications.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We spent a long time in Toa Payoh as there is a very interesting exhibition recounting the history of public housing development in Singapore. After that, we went to Tiong Bahru where one of the first public housing projects had been developed there by the British. When they left, Singapore’s HDB took over these buildings and maintained them. They are in the Art Deco style and are now graded. They are absolutely lovely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nous avons pass\u00e9 beaucoup de temps \u00e0 Toa Payoh car il y a une exposition tr\u00e8s int\u00e9ressante relatant l’histoire du d\u00e9veloppement du logement social \u00e0 Singapour. Apr\u00e8s cela, nous sommes all\u00e9s \u00e0 Tiong Bahru o\u00f9 l’un des premiers projets de logements sociaux y avait \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9velopp\u00e9 par les Britanniques. A leur d\u00e9part, le HDB a repris la gestion de ces b\u00e2timents et les a entretenus. Ils sont de style Art D\u00e9co et sont d\u00e9sormais class\u00e9es. J\u2019adore !<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
      Tiong Bahru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      The third complex we went to was Skyville. It is very modern and has an amazing rooftop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Le troisi\u00e8me complexe o\u00f9 nous sommes all\u00e9s est Skyville. Il est tr\u00e8s moderne et poss\u00e8de une terrasse incroyable sur le toit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
      Skyville<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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      Something interesting is that all HDB flats have a bomb shelter. Interesting to think that Singapore is in fear of being bombarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ce qui est curieux, c’est que tous les appartements HDB ont un abri anti-bombes. Int\u00e9ressant de penser que Singapour a peur d’\u00eatre bombard\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      I was really amazed by what has been built: the long-term vision for the people of Singapore. I wish our leaders have this engagement and courage. But there are a few things that bother me a little. Making sure that ethnic communities do not regroup is for integration, yes, but is it not a good way to avoid revolt? All this is restricted to Singaporeans, what about the others? All these workers who come here in search of a better life and work hard and have limited resources? I am not talking about us, expat and privileged, but about the Malay, the Indonesian the Thai, etc. who are doing the jobs nobody wants and are scrapping a living. There is no integration for them and no HDB either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      J’ai \u00e9t\u00e9 vraiment impressionn\u00e9e par ce qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 construit et surtout par la vision \u00e0 long terme pour les habitants de Singapour. J\u2019aimerais que nos dirigeants aient cet engagement et ce courage. Mais il y a quelques choses qui me d\u00e9rangent un peu. S’assurer que les communaut\u00e9s ethniques ne se regroupent pas, c’est pour l’int\u00e9gration, oui, mais n’est-ce pas un bon moyen d’\u00e9viter la r\u00e9volte (diviser pour mieux r\u00e9gner) ? Tous ces logements sont r\u00e9serv\u00e9s aux singapouriens, qu’en est-il des autres ? Tous ces travailleurs qui viennent ici \u00e0 la recherche d’une vie meilleure et travaillent dur et ont des ressources limit\u00e9es ? Je ne parle pas de nous, expatri\u00e9s et privil\u00e9gi\u00e9s, mais des malais, des indon\u00e9siens, des tha\u00efs, et autres qui font des boulots dont personne ne veut et qui joignent \u00e0 peine les deux bouts. Il n’y a pas d’int\u00e9gration pour eux et pas de HDB non plus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      Image at the top, part of the HDB exhibition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Last Thursday, I went to a very instructive visit of Singapore to discover the HDB. HDB stands for \u201cHousing Development[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-fullwidth.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25859"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25996,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25859\/revisions\/25996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sebetanne.co.uk\/hkblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}