The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is set to unveil a new open-concept design, known as “white flats,” during the upcoming October Built-To-Order (BTO) exercise. According to HDB, these flats will be sold without internal dividing walls, giving homeowners the freedom to customize the layout of their space according to their needs. The absence of these non-structural walls will be reflected in the pricing of these units. Buyers will have the option to choose this new layout when they are invited to book their flats.
However, this innovative design could pose a potential challenge when it comes to resale, as it may appeal to a narrower group of buyers, notes Christine Sun, Senior Vice President of Research & Analytics at OrangeTee & Tie. The “white plan” concept, which allows homeowners to personalize their living spaces, has traditionally been available only in high-end private residences.
Emerald of Katong in Singapore
Despite the flexibility that the white flats offer, Sun does not anticipate a significant difference in pricing. The cost of constructing non-structural walls is relatively low, meaning any price variation is expected to be minimal.
Eugene Lim, Chief Executive Officer of ERA Singapore, highlights the practical benefits of this new design. For example, a four-room flat typically includes three bedrooms, which may not be immediately necessary for young couples without children. The open layout allows them to temporarily partition the space with furniture or glass dividers. As their family grows, they can easily reconfigure the space to add more bedrooms.
Sun also points out that public housing units with this “white plan” concept could attract investors looking for a unique offering. Those planning to renovate their new flat may also appreciate the cost savings, as they won’t need to demolish existing walls, unlike traditional HDB flats.
These “white flats” will feature continuous living and bedroom spaces without any columns or dividing walls. The first batch of these units will be available at the Kallang-Whampoa BTO project, which will offer 310 three- and four-room flats.
This concept is not entirely new in Singapore. For instance, Far East Organization’s Inessence brand of ultra-luxury residences, such as Alba, Boulevard Vue, and Skyline @ Orchard Boulevard in the prestigious Orchard Road area, also offers buyers the flexibility to personalize their units.
Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced the introduction of the “white flats” at a speech on May 27. He emphasized that this new design allows HDB flats to be customized and reconfigured to meet the changing needs of households.