The Housing Board is looking to improve community bonding within the heartlands through better design.

Collaborating with the National University of Singapore, HDB has identified six estates across the island where researchers find out from 2,400 residents how communal facilities might enhance neighbourliness.

The study, which started last year and is slated to end next year, might even find their way into in future public housing designs. This initiative was revealed on Wednesday morning during the launch of HDB's annual Community Week held at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh, which aims to build more cohesive communities.

The six sites the study is looking at are: Jalan Membina, Toa Payoh Central, Toa Payoh Lorong 4 and 5, Yishun Street 71, Bukit Panjang Ring Road and Edgedale Plains in Punggol East. These areas were picked because they covered both old and new HDB estates, and have different physical attributes such as having rooftop gardens.

Community week, which was launched by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, marked the start of a string of activities that includes a photography exhibition, a youth carnival, a community building seminar and a race around the heartlands.

It will wrap up next Sunday (June 2).