Majority of residents of brick-faced Tampines blocks vote for paint that matches original colour

SINGAPORE – An iconic eight-block public housing project in Tampines with a distinctive brick-faced facade will be painted a colour that matches the blocks’ original paintwork.

The decision was made after more than three-quarters of the residents of the eight blocks – 497A to D, 497F to H and 497J Tampines Street 45 – had cast their votes for one of three proposed colour schemes in the planned Repairs and Redecoration (R&R) exercise to fix water seepage issues.

The second colour option largely retains the original colour palette but introduces some variations. The third is a complete overhaul of the blocks’ look.

The result of the poll, conducted between Aug 31 and Sept 13, was announced by Tampines GRC MP David Neo, who oversees the Tampines North ward, at a Kopitalk X Precinct Dialogue held on Sept 19 at a nearby multipurpose hall.

Over 80 residents from the neighbourhood attended the dialogue where Neo, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, spoke about housing upgrades, estate maintenance and rodents, said a resident who gave his name only as Wai.

Civil servant Justin Quek, 28, said he is not surprised by residents’ choice.

“Everybody wants these colours because that’s the estate’s identity,” said Quek, who has lived at Block 497A since he was born.

Wai, a 66-year-old retiree, said Neo had asked residents whether they wanted the blocks’ distinctive brick-clad facade painted over, or preserved with a clear, water-resistant coat to prevent seepage.

“Many of us prefer the original bricks, but some of the blocks in the 498 series have already been painted over,” Wai noted. “There’s no changing that now.”

In a statement to The Straits Times on Sept 8, Tampines Town Council said residents had expressed various views on how the works should be carried out for the blocks.

“Some would like a more colourful paint scheme and a move away from the brick facade, while others feel that the exposed brick facades should be preserved because of their distinctive character and heritage value,” said the town council.

It added that it considered residents’ feedback during the last R&R cycle from 2017 to 2019, and painted areas of the walls affected by water seepage using a colour that closely matched the original brickwork.

“However, as the brickwork has aged since, further seepage has affected residents’ homes,” the town council said.

To highlight the estate’s heritage, Neo invited architectural photographer Darren Soh, 50, to speak about the historical significance of the 497 series blocks. These blocks were the first flats designed by private architects under the HDB Design and Build scheme.

Soh said that the layout of the three massive community courtyards enclosed by the blocks was revolutionary when it was built in 1994.

“This estate is one of the last remaining HDB precincts from the 1990s that still retain their original colours.

“The majority of the others have been painted over, some several times,” said Soh.

Longtime resident Razali Talib, 64, agreed that the earthy tones and unpainted brickwork give the precinct a unique charm.

“The estate is busier now but looking at the blocks relaxes me,” said Razali, who has lived there for over two decades.