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Amenities at every corner, gardens at your door: Why families love the community vibe at new Tampines BTO
With developments like Tampines GreenGem, the Housing Board shows how it weaves greenery, shared spaces and daily conveniences into neighbourhoods that feel even more like home
Tampines GreenGem resident Jason Lim with his wife, Esther Chan, and their daughters at one of the development’s four playgrounds.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
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Ever since they moved into their five-room Housing Board (HDB) Build-To-Order (BTO) flat at Tampines GreenGem last June, Mr Jason Lim’s eight-year-old daughter, Reanne, has been eager to complete her school homework.
The incentive: She gets to head downstairs with her five-year-old sister, Leia, to one of the four playgrounds set within the project’s elevated gardens.
Mr Lim, a 41-year-old real estate agent, says the girls enjoy endless fun exploring the open courtyards and play areas.
As they expend their energy on the slides and climbing nets, he and his wife, Esther Chan, hit the nearby fitness stations set amidst the lush greenery of their neighbourhood.
Weaving green spaces into daily life
Greenery is a hallmark of Housing Board (HDB) estates, shaping not just how they look but also how residents live.
Deputy director of landscape policy at HDB Rachel Teo says: “We integrate greenery into our housing landscapes as part of our efforts to develop vibrant and liveable homes, and to support Singapore’s vision of being a City in Nature.”
Trees, shrubs and lawns are placed strategically between blocks, along footpaths and near playgrounds and fitness corners. These spaces help cool the surroundings, provide shade and offer visual relief from the urban environment, Ms Teo explains.
Greenery has also been extended upwards. She says: “If you look around our newer developments, you will notice rooftop gardens atop carparks and vertical greenery on facades. These enhance communal spaces and soften the built environment.”
Watch the video to better understand the landscape philosophy HDB adopts in designing new estates.
Day or night, Mr Lim also enjoys the tranquil and scenic views from his unit. “Just standing at our window, we get a great view of the greenery in the estate.”
This is because Tampines GreenGem – HDB’s first BTO project to be completed in the new Tampines South cluster – features 1.4ha of green spaces (around the size of two football fields).
Seamlessly connected, these spaces include playgrounds, fitness stations and courtyards with walking trails, open lawns and community gardens.
In the evenings, pet owners often gather at the amphitheatre, which also has open stairs leading up to a rooftop garden.
Award-winning design
This thoughtful integration of greenery and community spaces is a key reason why Tampines GreenGem was recognised with an HDB Design Award this year. The award recognises architectural consultants for their outstanding design of HDB projects.
Designed in-house by a team from HDB’s Building & Research Institute, the project comprises 13 blocks of 1,086 units that include two-room flexi, three-, four- and five-room flats.
In designing the development, the team studied factors such as wind, heat, sunlight and shade to determine block placement. To further shield homes from the sun and heat, the blocks feature unique angular facades made up of canopies and fins.
Mr Nigel Wong, a senior architect at HDB who was part of the design team, says: “We wanted to create a quality living environment where residents can feel at home while staying connected to nature and their community.”
As part of the team that designed Tampines GreenGem, senior HDB architect Nigel Wong says that the development was designed to balance lively communal spaces with tranquil green retreats.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
He explains that the team strived to create different “tempos” across the various spaces in the development. For example, commercial amenities such as the eating house and shops are located nearer to the edge of the estate, so residents can stop by on their way to and from home.
But as residents venture deeper into the development and approach the green spaces, the “tempo” visibly slows down, providing a sense of calm and relaxation.
Indeed, the extensive greenery in Tampines GreenGem does more than beautify the estate – it helps reduce ambient temperatures and enhances biodiversity by attracting insects and birds.
Fellow Tampines GreenGem resident Madam Neesha Ghulam Muhammad and her children enjoy taking walks through lush greenery.
PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
Madam Neesha Ghulam Muhammad, who also lives at Tampines GreenGem, enjoys exploring the gardens with her three children – aged two, eight and 16 – to see the different plants being cultivated.
The 35-year-old, who works in the early childhood sector, also likes that the estate is seamlessly connected to a wider network of green spaces, including Bedok Reservoir Park with its jogging tracks and recreational facilities. She goes for walks there occasionally with her children, and also with her husband on impromptu dates.
Creating liveable, green HDB towns
Tampines GreenGem is just one of the many HDB developments that have been planned with plenty of greenery and active spaces.
In Tampines North, for instance, the Tampines Boulevard Park – opened in February 2025 – offers residents more recreational options, and links up green spaces like Sun Plaza Park and Tampines Eco Green.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive network of cycling and pedestrian paths connects residents to the rest of Tampines town.
Meanwhile, the 4.2km Punggol Waterway meanders through Punggol town, offering scenic waterfront views for residents and creating a tree-lined activity corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.
At Bidadari, residents enjoy a unique “living in a park” experience, with rooftop gardens and multi-storey carparks built into the natural sloping terrain. A 1.6km-long green spine known as Bidadari Greenway traverses the length of the estate, connecting residents to Bidadari Park.
Bidadari estate offers residents the opportunity to live in modern homes close to nature.
PHOTO: HDB
Convenience close to home
More than just green spaces, HDB estates are planned to be self-sufficient, where residents can live, work, learn and play all in one place.
At Tampines South, meticulous town planning means seamlessly integrating the new blocks with the existing Tampines town.
Residents in the newer developments, including Tampines GreenGem, do not have to travel far to meet their daily needs. At the same time, the mature estate enjoys a renewed sense of vibrancy.
Madam Neesha values how her two older children’s schools are a short bus ride away, while her toddler son attends the pre-school located within the estate.
For the Lims, having everything “just downstairs” – including a supermarket, an eating house and shops – is what makes their home truly accessible.
Says a pleased Mr Lim: “It’s very convenient for us!”
What makes a liveable housing estate
These four key approaches guide HDB in designing homes that are comfortable, sustainable and well connected
Ample greenery within the town
Roof gardens, landscaped common areas and parks create beautiful green spaces where residents can relax and unwind, and children can play.
Amenities within easy reach
HDB plans different facilities at the town, neighbourhood and precinct levels. Those closer to home cater to residents’ daily needs, while town-level ones serve more people with a wider range of services.
Communal spaces to bond
Spaces like community living rooms, pavilions and seating areas are designed to help neighbours interact and build a sense of community.
Designed for comfort
Sustainable design creates a comfortable living environment. For example, flats are placed facing north-south where possible to reduce direct sunlight.
