Design and Build Scheme is introduced

The Design and Build Scheme was introduced by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in 1991 to inject more variety into public housing designs. Under the scheme, private architectural and construction firms were invited to take part in the design and construction of HDB flats.^[1]

Tan Cheng Bock, who was then the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development, first mooted the idea of involving the private sector to introduce new design forms to public housing on 13 March 1991. In his proposal to parliament, Tan argued that fresh inputs were needed to add colour and character to HDB housing estates. He felt that mass public housing suffered from the same look and lacked identity because it relied on the tried and tested approach of the HDB. Participation from private architects would allow for more creative re-imagining of social and internal spaces.^[2]

Then Minister for National Development S Dhanabalan welcomed the suggestion.^[3] To this end, HDB’s first advertisement inviting interested firms to participate in the scheme was published on 31 May 1991. Each application had to come from a “design and build” team consisting of an architectural firm, a structural engineering firm and a building contractor. The architectural firm was required to be registered with the Board of Architects and have prior experience in designing and overseeing the construction of residential or high-rise projects. These teams had to deliver flats that were both affordable and aesthetically pleasing.^[4] Fifteen private developers were eventually shortlisted following the close of applications on 12 July.^[5]

The call for tender for the construction of the 620-unit pilot project at Tampines Street 25 under the Design and Build Scheme was published on 6 September 1991^[6] and closed in December three months later.^[7] The contract was awarded to Kajima Overseas Asia and P&T Consultants on 29 April 1992.^[8] Following the success of the Design and Build Scheme, the HDB launched similar programmes such as the Design Plus flats in 1996 ^[9] and the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) in 2005.^[10]

References
1. HDB seeks private sector design bids (1991, May 31). The Straits Times, p. 26. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Housing and Development Board. (1992). Annual report 1991/92 (p. 28). Singapore: Housing and Development Board. Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN-[AR].
2. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1991, March 13). Budget, Ministry of National Development (Vol. 57, cols. 456–459). Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN.
3. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 13 March 1991, Budget, Ministry of National Development, Vol. 57, cols. 459–460.
4. The Straits Times, 31 May 1991, p. 26.
5. Housing and Development Board, 1992, p. 26.
6. First design-and-build HDB job for private sector. (1992, April 30). The Straits Times, p. 3; Private designed HDB blocks boast big courtyard. (1994, October 14). The Straits Times, p. 24. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Housing and Development Board, 1992, p. [iv].
7. Housing and Development Board, 1992, p. 26.
8. The Straits Times, 30 Apr 1992, p. 3; Housing and Development Board. (1993). Annual report 1992/93 (pp. 4, 33). Singapore: Housing and Development Board. Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN-[AR].
9. Housing and Development Board. (1996). Annual report 1995/96 (p. 4). Singapore: Housing and Development Board. Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN-[AR]; Tan H. Y. (1996, January 10). HDB launches new Design Plus flats. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Housing and Development Board. (2006). Annual report 2005–2006 (pp. 21–22). Singapore: Housing and Development Board. Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN-[AR]; Steps to allow new housing scheme. (2005, July 19). The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.