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Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
It's always election season somewhere in Singapore: Inside HDB's colour democracy
Every day, residents across Singapore are casting their vote on municipal-level issues like flat repainting. ST PHOTO: TEO KAI XIANG SINGAPORE – When the residents of a Teck Whye Avenue housing estate went to the polls in 2017, they were not choosing political candidates or parties. They were deciding on whether the exterior of their flats should be repainted in a Mondrian-inspired red, white, blue and yellow scheme or something more conventional. The unusual choice claimed a landslide victory. The design inspired by Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian won 75 per cent of the votes in the seven blocks that make up the Housing Board estate, beating two alternatives. It was an outcome lauded by both residents and netizens at the time. Mr Dhaval Bhate, a 36-year-old former resident of the estate, says the striking colours added to Teck Whye's uniqueness. The estate's 25-storey seventh block was among the tallest HDB flats in the west of Singapore at the time. 'One often needs to read the road signs just to know where you are in Singapore because most HDB blocks look almost the same, whether it's Bedok or Clementi,' says the tech start-up worker, a 'perpetual renter' who has moved house 13 times in 19 years. 'But that's the thing about those Teck Whye blocks. They stood out, they really had character .' What happened in Teck Whye happens almost every day in Singapore. Over 77 per cent of the island's resident population live in public housing blocks, which are typically repainted every seven years. This everyday democratic exercise has become a distinctive feature of urban life in the Republic. When purple goes wrong Some Tiong Bahru residents were upset by the purple scheme used in the repainting of their block. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG The stakes of these consultations bubbled to the surface during a public spat at an HDB estate in Tiong Bahru in May. Some residents expressed anger over a block in Boon Tiong Road being repainted a 'gaudy' purple without a vote. This prompted an intervention from Mr Foo Cexiang, a newly elected Member of Parliamen t , to organise a vote. He is an MP for the Tanjong Pagar GRC and oversees the estate's Boon Tiong area. The vote, held over three days in May, resulted in 40 per cent opting for a brown scheme. 'More than 200 residents of Boon Tiong took the time to attend our town hall sessions, and more than 550 households participated in the voting, showing how invested residents are in shaping their neighbourhood together,' Mr Foo tells The Straits Times. He notes that there is no protocol on how the repainting process should be conducted. 'From my recent experience, such consultations can strengthen the community spirit and deepen a sense of belonging,' he adds. A 'colour scheme survey form' box outside the Boon Tiong RC Centre. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO According to experts, this clamour around flat colours reflects a broader trend towards participatory governance. Referring to the backlash sparked by the Tiong Bahru purple-paint episode, Nanyang Technological University lecturer Felix Tan says: 'I believe that this episode demonstrates how important participatory governance is to Singaporeans.' The public policy lecturer adds : 'There is a general expectation that citizens – and residents – should be given the opportunity to have a voice in such matters.' Colour democracy in action There is no standard playbook for colour consultations, says Dr George Wong, an assistant professor of sociology at Singapore Management University, who studies such municipal issues and grassroots organisations. 'But I don't think it means there is no coordination or there is no consultation,' he adds. ST contacted HDB for comment, but it declined. In practice, the process varies widely across neighbourhoods. For one thing , a vote is not always required. Dr Wong notes that in most neighbourhoods he has studied , there exists some kind of deliberative process – but the extent of residents' involvement differs. 'In most cases, what MPs or grassroots advisers would do is at the very least include the residents' network and grassroots leaders,' he adds. While some MPs might believe it is important to understand what other residents think, others might be confident that their grassroots leaders know what residents want – especially if there is no feedback or complaint to indicate otherwise. At this Jurong East HDB estate, residents could choose from three colour schemes. PHOTO: DEVINDRAN JEYATHURAI When votes do occur, the process varies widely. Ms Mariel Loh, a 32-year-old research executive, says that during the consultation process at her Jurong West estate in 2023, around half of the residents voted. ST reported in 2016 that the turnout rate of residents voting in such colour consultations was between 30 and 40 per cent. Ms Loh voted for a maroon-grey scheme that lost to blue and yellow. 'I'm a ppalled at my neighbours' tastes,' she quips, though she admits the winning colours eventually grew on her. 'The colour options that we got weren't exactly awesome. The other option was a hospital green combination that was dead last in the votes.' While most residents speaking to ST are satisfied with the ease of voting – taking place either online or through physical ballots, depending on the neighbourhood – some complain about the limited choices on offer . Depending on where they live, residents could pick from as few as two options or as many as four. 'I'm not crazy about the choices,' says Mr Devindran Jeyathurai, a 54-year-old polytechnic lecturer, about the consultation at his Jurong East housing estate in June. 'It feels like these are the colours that Nippon Paint couldn't sell.' At this Tampines HDB estate, residents could pick between two colour schemes, with the current palette for comparison. PHOTO: MATTHEW WEE These are not trivial concerns. Flat repainting may seem like a minor maintenance issue, but it plays a major role in shaping the visual character of neighbourhoods, says Dr Lee Kwan Ok, professor of real estate at NUS Business School. In Singapore, public housing is not just a place to live, but also a defining element of the urban landscape. Repainting affects both the economic value of flats (through perceived upkeep and visual appeal) and their social value (as part of a shared community identity). 'Residents naturally care about how their blocks look – not only because they live there, but also because the aesthetics signal something about the status and cohesion of the community,' says Dr Lee. 'So, it makes sense that this process occasionally sparks outcry , especially if colour schemes feel imposed or disconnected from residents' preferences .' Why the differences in consultation? Teck Whye Avenue's distinctive look was the result of brainstorming and discussion between grassroots leaders and residents' committees. ST PHOTO: TEO KAI XIANG According to Dr Wong, unevenness in how consultation is done across neighbourhoods results from three main factors: the MP or grassroots advisers , neighbourhood-specific legacies and the role of street-level bureaucrats. O lder neighbourhoods tend to have a greater interest in preserving an established aesthetic appearance, while neighbourhoods with younger populations are more open to unconventional designs. Some MPs have a greater appetite for engaging residents. And civil servants from organisations with a local presence on the ground – such as HDB, National Environment Agency and National Parks Board – as well as town council property officers, also have some agency in shaping how stakeholders make sense of the consultation process. In the case of Teck Whye's multicoloured flats, the palette was the result of brainstorming and discussion by the town council, residents' committees and paint specialists. The area's MP, then health minister Gan Kim Yong, told ST in 2018 he was 'initially quite concerned' about the bold idea, 'but since the residents were supportive in trying it out, I supported it and it turned out well'. Towards participatory governance While Singapore has traditionally taken a top-down approach to urban development, there is a growing recognition that everyday users of a space should have a voice in shaping it, says Dr Lee. Flat repainting is one of the most visible examples, but there is a host of other micro-consultations taking place across Singapore today. These include the public feedback process around transport signage on the Circle Line, the Remaking Our Heartland initiative – where feedback is gathered on the redesign of precinct facilities – and the input sought by HDB on public murals and playground design. Though small in scale, these are signs of a larger movement towards a more responsive and participatory urban planning culture, says Dr Lee. 'It signals a recognition that design – whether at the scale of a building facade or a transport node – deeply influences lived experience.' For another example of what this looks like in practice: Ang Mo Kio resident Mr Tan, who declined to give his first name, points to his estate voting on the installation of netting as a solution for high-rise littering, alongside a vote on colour schemes. Such netting, installed on a building's facade, prevents litter from being thrown onto a flat's exterior ledges by residents on upper floors. PHOTOS: ST READER A majority of residents voted in favour in 2022. 'After the washing, repainting and installing of the nets, the littering problem was eradicated completely,' says the 29-year-old transportation worker. With a more educated population, there is a growing desire to have a say in matters that have direct and personal impact, says Dr Yeo Kang Shua, an associate professor of architectural history at SUTD. An artist's impression of an HDB estate. Under HDB's Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, 17 projects across the island will get a $165 million facelift tailored to residents' feedback. PHOTO: A D LAB This goes beyond municipal issues like sheltered walkways, and extends to broader, longer-term matters that influence Singapore's built environment. Dr Yeo believes increased public outreach has helped more Singaporeans recognise how the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Master Plan may eventually shape their daily lives. He now observes more people attending the draft Master Plan exhibitions organised by the URA and submitting feedback. Dr Wong says: 'In the past 10 to 15 years, the Government has become more invested in co-creative processes. I see that happening a lot on the local level, different kinds of experimentations going on and different ways of deliberating with residents. ' 'Ultimately, the political actors and street-level bureaucrats all want to find a sweet spot in which we can include both deliberation and decision-making,' he adds. Finding the sweet spot With participatory governance on the rise, why does dissatisfaction still occur? One reason could be a perceived lack of agency. Some residents say that in their experience, consultations at the municipal level can feel like voting yes or no on predetermined plans. Diversity of colour schemes on offer was a common complaint among residents speaking to ST. PHOTO: ELLIOT NAPIER 'It seems like the town council already has something in mind and j ust implements it with regards to neighbourhood infrastructure matters ,' says Jurong resident Ms Loh. On the other hand, NUS researcher Matthew Wee, 29 , is satisfied with the consultation process for the repainting of his Tampines HDB estate. He notes that it might be impractical to offer residents more of a say without bogging down proceedings. ' I think Singaporeans like to complain, but they are also quite forgetful,' he says. Crucially, participation may not equate to empowerment. Dr Wong notes that consultation is not an end in itself, but a means of ensuring that stakeholders feel the process has taken shape in a way that allows them to feel they have agency. Where this falls short can come down to Singapore's 'political culture of performance'. This means government agencies and grassroots bodies often feel they need to show they have done their work and research, and not present an ' unfinished product', says Dr Wong. This often means 80 per cent of the work is complete by the time residents are invited to provide feedback. D iscussions revolve around implementation, rather than ideation or more foundational aspects. Dr Nikhil Joshi, a senior lecturer at NUS' department of architecture, observes a similar trend in macro-level consultations. He says public feedback is often sought for high-profile and medium- to large-scale projects like the Rail Corridor or the revitalisation of Kampong Glam – in ways that may not feel empowering to communities involved. 'Community empowerment and involvement from inception to launch make the project more sustainable than mere 'consultation',' he says. Consultation nation or complaint nation? These underlying tensions partly explain why discussions of municipality-level issues can seem so complaint-centric to the public. Dr Wong notes that when things go well, the public will not hear of it. But when tensions spill over, complaints about municipal-level issues can go viral online and make national headlines. This occurs partly because most Singaporeans know the appropriate channels for raising their concerns , especially when compared with local governments elsewhere . 'In Singapore, the locality of your MP is so reduced that you can – if not meet them during a Meet-the-People Session – e-mail them and likely get a reply in the next few days,' says Dr Wong. Complaints are often the result of a breakdown in communication or an expression of frustration by groups who feel left out – and are usually met with a swift response by street-level bureaucrats and grassroots representatives . MP Baey Yam Keng told ST in 2023 that the red scheme in this Tampines estate might not have been appropriate and asked HDB to look into it. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS For instance, in 2023, complaints about the red-tiled lift lobbies at a Tampines Build-To-Order flat – described by some residents as 'scary' – led to a repainting process to make the lift lobbies look more like those of other HDB flats. S imilar s tories regarding frustrating street barriers, unintuitive designs for covered walkways and residents' displeasure over paint emerge every year, with similar patterns of resolution. In Dr Wong's view, harnessing the power of residents' complaints has become an integral part of Singapore's urban politics. Outspoken local residents are often pulled into grassroots organisations, he observes. ' Why do people end up becoming grassroots leaders? Often because they were complainers themselves in the first place .' Technology also plays a role. A total of 1.7 million municipal-level complaints are made each year, according to the Ministry of National Development in 2023. Of these complaints, 38 per cent were made through the OneService app. 'If you think about it, who's on the ground most of the time? It's the residents,' says Dr Wong , who adds that the app has created a new social dynamic where citizen surveillance highlight s p otential blind spots. ' Residents feel empowered because their complaint is solved – which they can see in real time – and someone sends them an e-mail saying, 'Thank you, you've been a great resident.'' Yet, between complaints and consultations, there is the indifferent middle. In Teck Whye Avenue, where the Mondrian-style experiment may soon reach an end, there is notable apathy among residents about the participatory process that created it. A Chua Chu Kang Town Council spokesperson says four new colour schemes for the estate's repainting are being shortlisted for a poll to be held in July . The current Mondrian style will be one of the options. Teck Whye residents were not certain of their colourful block's aesthetic future. ST PHOTO: TEO KAI XIANG While most long-time residents speaking to ST appreciate their estate's distinctive style, most are unaware that it had resulted from a vote. Most are also unaware of what would replace it , seven years on . Madam Rani, a 66-year-old retiree who has lived in the estate for 17 years, notes the area's increasing wear and tear as a concern, but adds that she does not find it troubling enough to speak to her representative about it. Another long-time resident, Irene, a 65-year-old retiree who declined to share her surname, expresses indifference about the process . 'It's okay. I won't say if I like or don't like it,' she says. 'I hope they do the repainting soon, though.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Arabian Post
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Post
Confessions Wraps Filming: Eastern Dark Aesthetics Meet the Abyss of Human Nature, Elevating Chinese Drama to New Heights
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2025 – Confessions, a psychological suspense series written and directed by Wong Ching-Po and starring Ethan Juan, Gingle Wang, Alyssa Chia, Yi-Wen Chen, and Vivian Sung, officially wrapped filming on May 3. Hosted by Bowie Tsang, the press conference gathered the full cast and creative team. The set, featuring tree root installations and a Mondrian-inspired carpet, was meticulously designed. With a stellar team including multiple Golden Horse and Golden Bell Award winners, Confessions has drawn strong interest from international markets. Creative Roundtable: Elite Team Continues the Legacy, Delving Into the Gray Areas of Human Nature The series, from the creative team behind The Pig, The Snake, and The Pigeon, underwent four months of preparation and 120 days of filming. Building on the 'violent aesthetics and philosophical musings' of its predecessor, Confessions adds socially conscious suspense elements that heighten the narrative's intensity and complexity. It delves deeper into psychological issues such as family trauma and moral conflict. Ethan Juan shared that his character, Lin San, has a complex inner journey that mirrors many aspects of his own life. He described the experience as if he were stepping into Lin San's shoes, not only portraying the character's life but also undergoing a personal choice of his own throughout the process. First Teaser: Stark Aesthetics Hit Home At the press conference, the teaser trailer 'Destined Suspense' was unveiled. With chilling lighting and intense sound design, it builds a bold aesthetic that amplifies suspense. The trailer reveals the characters' psychological unraveling as they navigate family feuds and moral entanglements across two generations, drawing viewers into hidden truths and the abyss of human nature. Eight character stills and a themed poster were unveiled, using black-and-white tones to evoke a sense of psychological warfare and mystery, deepening the audience's immersion in the characters' minds. The series will be introduced to mainland China by Youhug Media and Youku, and exclusively streamed on Youku. Following the event, Confessions entered post-production. The team will fuse Eastern and Western cultural elements, using sharp editing and visual effects to help Chinese drama cross linguistic and regional borders. With its striking dark aesthetic and universal moral themes, the show aims to leave a bold mark on the psychological suspense genre and redefine the peak of Chinese storytelling. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Emirates Woman
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
22 female interior designers redefining the Arab world in 2025
Life by Aminath Ifasa 28 seconds ago The Arab world's design landscape is being transformed by an extraordinary generation of female creatives and interior designers who are redefining luxury, heritage, and innovation. These visionary women architects and interior designers are shaping the region's aesthetic future through groundbreaking projects that span hospitality, residential, and cultural spaces, proving that the Middle East's design industry is increasingly female-led. HRH Princess Alanoud Al Saud View this post on Instagram A post shared by A INTERIORS (@a_interiors) At her Riyadh studio A Interiors, the princess creates contemporary spaces that reinterpret Saudi heritage. Her designs skillfully combine traditional textiles and mashrabiya details with modern materiality in geometric forms. The princess's Riyadh studio crafts contemporary spaces that reimagine Saudi heritage. Her portfolio features a minimalist villa showcasing exquisite stone and wood craftsmanship, and a desert farmhouse blending organic textures with traditional architectural elements. Shaikha Al Sulaiti As design lead for Doha Design District, she mentors emerging Qatari talent while maintaining her own practice. Elevated from luxury home designer to creative force at Doha Design District, she champions Qatari talent while maintaining her own innovative practice. Her Mondrian-inspired tables, debuted at Milan Design Week 2024, reinterpret traditional stained glass motifs, while upcoming rug designs draw from historic Qatari plasterwork. Aljoud Lootah The Emirati designer celebrates her studio's tenth anniversary by merging traditional craftsmanship with minimalist aesthetics. Her Falaj Collection, inspired by ancient irrigation systems, debuted at Dubai Design Week, showcasing her signature approach to culturally rooted contemporary design. Aline Asmar d'Amman View this post on Instagram A post shared by MARIE MAROT (@marie_marot) With strong ties to the fashion world through collaborations with Chanel and the late Karl Lagerfeld, this architect brings couture sensibility to interior spaces. Her current projects include the restoration of Venice's Palazzo Donà Giovannelli for the Orient Express Hotel brand and a Haussmannian pied-à-terre in Paris. Nada Debs The Beirut-based designer preserves traditional craftsmanship through modern applications, from marquetry to weaving. Recent collaborations include decorative objects for Dior's fragrance collection and multiple variations of her signature Swirl table design. Rania Hamed View this post on Instagram A post shared by VSHD Design (@vshddesign) Through her Dubai and Montreal-based studio VSHD, the interior designer creates spaces that balance Japanese minimalism with Brutalist influences. Her Soub café in Dubai channels 1970s design elements while maintaining a Zen-like simplicity. Agata Kurzela The Polish-born, Dubai-based designer combines architectural training with engineering precision in her multidisciplinary practice. Her award-winning redesign of Abu Dhabi's Government Offices demonstrates her ability to modernize heritage structures. Current projects include the Kempinski Residences The Creek and a major Abu Dhabi museum development. Yasmina Makram The Cairo-based designer's HA-BEIT'A Pavilion at Cairo Design Week demonstrated her ability to create avant-garde yet authentic spaces. Upcoming projects include an Art Deco-inspired Nile apartment and futuristic offices in Saudi Arabia. Zeina Aboukheir The Italian-Lebanese designer's decades-long commitment to slow living design culminates in projects like Luxor's Al Moudira Hotel. Current work includes renovating a historic Cairo skyscraper, bringing new life to the city's architectural heritage. Pallavi Dean A true global citizen, Pallavi Dean, founder of Roar, brings a multicultural sensibility to her designs. Born in India, raised in Dubai, and honed in London, her portfolio is a testament to her versatility, encompassing high-profile hospitality, commercial, and residential projects across the Middle East, Africa, and the UK. Dean's work is defined by its narrative-driven approach, where every space tells a story. Dima Srouji Through her London-based practice and glassware brand Hollow Forms, this Palestinian architect explores cultural heritage using materials like glass and plaster. Her work often examines archaeological narratives, including historical excavations conducted by Palestinian women. Aisha Al Sowaidi This Doha-based designer infuses nostalgic elements into contemporary spaces, from playful mirror designs to reimagined majlis concepts. As director of Qatar Museums' Liwan Design Studios, she transformed a historic girls' school into a thriving creative hub for Doha's design community. Maja Kozel View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maja Kozel Design (@majakozel) For Maja Kozel, design is as much about social responsibility as it is about beauty. Drawing inspiration from Emirati heritage, she seamlessly weaves sustainability into her projects, championing recycled materials without compromising on artistry. Her award-winning Tubo lighting design for Surge for Water is a striking example of how ethical design can also be exquisitely crafted. Salwa Samargandi The Saudi architect takes a holistic approach to heritage preservation, as seen in her sensitive restoration of AlUla's historic mosque. Her work successfully balances historical authenticity with contemporary functionality. Maliha Nishat With a career spanning Design Worldwide Partnership and HBA, Maliha Nishat has become synonymous with elevated hospitality design. Currently shaping Marriott's footprint across the region, including the Marriott Hotel Rabat and Westin & Element Riyadh, Nishat collaborates with top design houses to create immersive travel experiences that resonate on a deeply human level. Hala Saleh View this post on Instagram A post shared by TDF+ (@tdfplus) The Cairo-based designer challenges conventional aesthetics through projects like her midcentury-inspired villa in Katamaya Heights, featuring an unconventional eggshell-blue palette. Her background in mechanical engineering informs her innovative approach to adaptive reuse. Lina Ghotmeh Known for her work with Hermès and the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion, the Lebanese architect emphasizes sustainable materials and craft techniques. Her upcoming project includes a contemporary art museum in AlUla designed as interconnected desert pavilions. Sneha Divias Portuguese-born Sneha Divias brings a European sensibility to the Middle Eastern design landscape. After honing her craft in Lisbon and New York, she founded her own atelier in Dubai, quickly earning recognition as Interior Designer of the Year at the 2017 Commercial Interior Design Awards. Her work is marked by its diversity, blending global influences with a keen understanding of local context. Sahar Al Yaseer & Cristina Gallenca The duo behind UAE-based La Bottega specializes in narrative-driven hospitality design. Their Delano Dubai penthouse project successfully translated the brand's Miami aesthetic into a Dubai context, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Laila Al-Yousef A champion of sustainability and female empowerment, Laila Al-Yousef co-founded Say Studio with a mission to integrate social responsibility into design. Her involvement with Surge for Water underscores her commitment to meaningful creativity, while her corporate workspaces at Perkins+Will remain benchmarks of innovation. Aziza Chaouni The Moroccan architect addresses climate challenges through socially conscious design. Her earthquake-resistant housing prototype for High Atlas communities and adaptive reuse of a 1930s bus station demonstrate architecture's potential for environmental and social impact. Zoubeida Chtiba Tunisian designer Zoubeida Chtiba's work is a masterclass in modern simplicity. Her use of warm hues and strategic mirrors creates spaces that are both luminous and serene. These remarkable female interior designers represent the vanguard of Middle Eastern design, challenging conventions and elevating the region's creative reputation on the global stage. Their 2025 projects not only showcase Arab design excellence but also demonstrate the growing influence of female leadership in shaping the built environment across the Arab world. From preserving cultural heritage to pioneering sustainable solutions, these designers are writing a new chapter in the region's design narrative – one where women's voices and visions are leading the way. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Instagram & Feature Image: Instagram @vshddesign @ aljoudlootah
