An iconic eight-block public housing project in Tampines featuring a distinctive brick-faced facade has sparked a debate over its heritage value as residents weigh a scheduled repair-and-paint job to fix persistent water seepage, according to The Straits Times. The housing project, comprising blocks 497A to D, 497F to H, and 497J at Tampines Street 45, was left largely unpainted for more than 30 years after becoming the first to be awarded under the Housing & Development Board’s Design and Build scheme.
Residents Vote on Proposed Colour Schemes
Residents living across the eight blocks were asked to cast their votes for one of three proposed colour schemes in an ongoing Repairs and Redecoration exercise that runs from August 31 to September 13, as reported by The Straits Times. Among the three options presented by the Tampines Town Council, one closely matches the original colour palette, another largely retains the palette with some variations, and a third introduces a complete overhaul of the buildings’ look.
While some residents interviewed by The Straits Times expressed a desire to avoid radical colour changes, other residents and industry observers raised objections to painting over the exposed brick facade entirely. In a statement issued on September 8, the Tampines Town Council acknowledged that residents hold diverse views, noting that some prefer a more colourful paint scheme while others emphasize the heritage value and distinctive character of the exposed brick facades.
Architectural Experts and Observers Raise Concerns
Yeo Kang Shua, the Hokkien Foundation professor in architectural conservation at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, told The Straits Times that although the blocks are not formally conserved buildings, their architectural character remains valuable because the fair-faced brickwork makes them very recognisable. Similarly, architectural photographer Darren Soh took to Instagram on September 4 to urge the town council to pursue localised repairs rather than completely painting over the bricks, warning that fully painting over the bricks would wipe out the spirit and essence of the estate.
Soh also pointed to a broader trend over the past 10 to 15 years where fair-faced brick or brick-tiled HDB facades in estates such as Bishan North and Hougang have been painted over. Yeo noted that once an opaque coating is applied to bricks, much of the texture and variation of the original brickwork will inevitably be lost.
Town Council Cites Weather and Seepage Protection
Defending the planned overhaul, the Tampines Town Council stated that it previously attempted localised repairs during the 2017 to 2019 R&R cycle by painting only the walls affected by water seepage using a colour matching the original brickwork. However, according to the town council, aging brickwork has led to further seepage affecting residents’ homes.
The town council explained that while treating only affected areas would preserve more exposed brickwork, it would leave residents facing recurring seepage, repeated repairs, and ongoing inconvenience. Professional evaluations now support painting over the brick surfaces because paint provides better protection against weather and water seepage over time, the council stated.
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