Communal spaces, easy access to hawker centre: How flats are designed to help senior residents live and age well

For senior residents of Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok, home is not just within the four walls of their apartment.

It also extends to the communal areas and facility rooms on every residential floor, which serve as natural meeting points for neighbours to gather – whether to play a game of chess, share homemade treats or read the papers together in quiet company.

Harmony Village is one of the community care apartments jointly developed by the Housing Board (HDB), Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Health. 

As

Singapore’s first assisted-living public housing development

, it gives seniors an additional residential option. The units integrate senior-friendly housing with care services that can be scaled according to individual care needs, helping them age in place independently. 

Home-grown practice AGA Architects designed the development, which has senior-friendly layouts and is seamlessly integrated with estate-level amenities.

For its efforts, the firm was recognised with a Certificate of Merit (Design) at the HDB Awards 2025, which honours architectural consultants for their excellent design work in HDB projects.

For Mr Ng Hoe Theong, director at AGA Architects, the way residents have embraced the space affirms the company’s approach and dedication.  

He says: “Seeing residents take ownership of these communal areas validates our belief that thoughtful architecture can spark connection and reduce loneliness.

“Even the smallest gestures in design can make the most significant difference in people’s everyday happiness.”

Designing for an ageing community

As Singapore approaches super-aged status – where at least 21 per cent of the population will be aged 65 and above – community care apartments like Harmony Village will likely become more common. For AGA Architects, this means rethinking architecture to accommodate changing demographics.

Harmony Village, in particular, challenged the team to focus on how design can facilitate ageing with dignity, integrate care into daily routines and foster meaningful social connections, says Mr Ng. 

For example, those who enjoy the outdoors can head to the roof garden, complete with fitness stations for early morning exercise. A first-floor hawker centre is a popular spot for those who prefer catching up with neighbours over coffee. 

An activity centre on level three offers weekly activities such as tai chi, chair Zumba and mahjong, as well as a comfortable space to read newspapers and socialise.  

Practical touches – such as grab bars in residents’ bathrooms and along corridors, wide wheelchair-friendly main doors with built-in benches – ensure that autonomy and safety go hand-in-hand. 

“By prioritising these, we provide residents with not only functional homes but also a community in which they can prosper,” says Mr Ng. 

Strengthening connections for greater well-being

AGA’s people-centred approach also shaped the design of Whampoa Park, for which the company received the Landscape Award at the HDB Awards 2025. This award, given to outstanding landscape projects in HDB towns, recognises the efforts of industry partners in creating quality and sustainable living environments for Singaporeans.

Previously an underused open field along Sungei Whampoa, the 1.3ha site (about the size of two football fields) was transformed into a community park after extensive engagement with nearly 950 residents. 

AGA Architects and Surbana Jurong assisted HDB’s community relations group in holding multiple community consultations and design workshops, where residents came together to share their visions for the space.

The end result? A park comprising a jogging track, community lawn and pet park, where residents now enjoy morning exercises, dog walks and moments of quiet contemplation amid its lush landscape. 

Rather than treating Whampoa Park as a static space, Mr Ng says AGA designed it to evolve over time, as a living ecosystem – adaptable, inclusive and closely integrated with nature to support residents’ well-being.

He says: “We had to think about how people would interact with the space, whether it would be inclusive and how it would adapt to people as they aged. This meant choosing lasting materials, layouts and amenities that would encourage people to engage with the space and provide comfort in the long run.”

For example, hard-wearing stone ensures the park can withstand years of heavy use with minimal maintenance. Walking loops of different lengths cater to both casual strollers and regular joggers, while features like barrier-free paths, ramps and shaded rest areas make the park accessible and welcoming for residents of all ages.

Mr Ng emphasises that, beyond recognising AGA’s commitment, the awards underscore how architecture can profoundly improve communities by thoughtfully shaping their environments.  

He adds: “Receiving recognition for Harmony Village and Whampoa Park validates AGA’s dedication to human-centred, socially responsible design, and reminds us that architecture should not be measured solely by form or efficiency, but by how well it supports human well-being, resilience and inclusivity.”

Learn how the Housing Board and its partners work to deliver homes Singapore residents love returning to.