In early 1980s nine New Towns were born: Bishan 1984, Bukit Batok 1982, Hougang 1980, Jurong East 1980, Jurong West 1981, Serangoon 1983, Tampines 1981, Woodlands 1980 (integrating Marsiling estate), Yishun 1981 (integrating Nee Son), as well as small estates: Kaki Bukit 1985 (in Bedok), Bukit Purmei 1982 (in Bukit Merah), Ubi 1984 (in Geylang), McNair 1982 (in Kallang), Potong Pasir 1983 and Upper Aljunied 1982 (in Toa Payoh).
In the late 1980 four more New Towns were born: Bukit Panjang 1986, Choa Chu Kang 1987 (integrating Teck Whye), Nanyang 1986 (extension of Jurong West), Pasir Ris 1987, as well as Estates: Simei 1987 (near Tampines), Kembangan 1988 (in Bedok), Toh Yi 1987 (in Bukit Timah).
1980s towns were composed by slab blocks with 10-13 floors, usually with 10 or 12 units per floor, plus point blocks with 20-25 floors, but also many 4-storey blocks. After 1985 just few blocks were built with more than 13 storeys. Compared with previous decade, the blocks were arranged in more rigid patterns, with corners bend to give the precinct a sense of enclosure. Most 10-13 floors blocks were perfectly aligned to east-west direction to avoid sun, surrounded on east and west sides by 4-storey walk-up blocks. Minimal distance between facades was 24 metres.
Ground floor units were reintroduced, most 1980s high-rise blocks have few (usually 4) units at ground floor while rest of floor is void deck. Most 4-storey blocks do not have void decks.
In 1980 first prefabrication contract was awarded, raising the construction ratio to about 190,000 flats built in 1981-1985, the record being 67,856 flats in 1984. Prefab blocks were built in 16 months, 20% faster than 20 months for normal blocks (source: Straits Times 1982).
These 1980s prefab blocks with load-bearing walls can be identified by being uglier, having simple floorplan, plain external walls (unlike normal blocks which have columns visible on facade and windows pushed back). Prefab flats have lower value than non-prefab blocks, hacking walls is not allowed except a door-size opening, ceiling leaks are common.
A confusing thing: today BTO blocks use prefabricated panels too, but does not look similar with 1980s blocks, construction time is double, 3-4 years, and internal walls can be hacked. Probably they were referring that in 1980s they made blocks entirely prefab, load-bearing prefab walls.
Rising home ownership left rental blocks empty. Most blocks with Emergency flats built in 1960s were demolished in 1980s and land was redeveloped into 3-Room to Executive flats.
The percentage of population living in public housing hit the all-time record of 87% in 1988-1990, construction ratio had to be reduced to 10,000 units per year in 1989-1991 to avoid oversupply, leaving some estates unfinished, for example Yishun 4xx with its 8 blocks surrounded by open space.
Jurong West neighborhood 5xx (built 1981-1985) / Bishan neighborhood 1xx (built 1985-1987)
Bukit Batok iconic blocks along MRT line (built 1982-1989) / Hougang Central (built ~1989)
Bukit Panjang blocks 418, 419, 420 (built 1988) / Pasir Ris neighborhood 4xx (built 1989)
1980s typical HDB floor plans
Along the 3/4-Room New Generation and 5-Room Improved, in 1981 were introduced Model A flats: 3-Room (75 sqm), 4-Room (105 sqm), 5-Room (135 sqm), 5-Room Maisonette (139 sqm), and in 1984 were introduced Simplified flats, 3-Room (64 sqm), 4-Room (84 sqm).
Executive Apartment / Maisonette (146-150 sqm) were introduced in 1983 and replaced 5-Room Model A flats, in addition of the 3-bedroom and separate living/dining found in 5A flats, EA and EM feature an utility/maid room. 80% of Executive units were Maisonettes and 20% were Apartments. Some people misspell Mansionette.
New types of 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved, Executive Apartments / Maisonettes were introduced in 1987, the 5-Room and Executive having 4 bedrooms instead of 3 bedrooms (plus utility room in Executive), (source: Straits Times 1984).
Multi-Generation flats were 3/4-Room Simplified blocks reconfigured into 3-bedroom + Studio (granny flat), having 2 entrances and an internal door that join flats. The granny flat was not used as intended so the concept was abandoned after building only 8 blocks in 1987: Bishan 137, 148, Tampines 454, 460, Yishun 605, 632, 633, 666 (source: Straits Times 1986 + Straits Times 1988).
Rising popularity of bigger units left HDB with many unsold small flats. Last 1/2-Room Improved were in 1985 (Tampines 441, 442, 466, 471, all rental). Last 3-Room Improved and 3/4-Room New Generation were built in 1986. Last 3-Room Model A was built in 1987. Last 3/4-Room Simplified was built in 1988. Few blocks of 3/4-Room flats were converted into 5-Room and Executive flats, popularly called “Jumbo flats” (source: Straits Times 1989). Average HDB flat size for early 1980s estates is 90-100 square meters, and 120 sqm in 1991.
Despite that at least 10,000 dwelling units were completed each year, very few flats have leases 1990 and 1991. Number of flats with lease 1991 is about 6% of the number of flats with lease 1989 and 1992 according my analysis of resale transactions. A possible hypothesis is that HDB changed the purchase scheme and lease started later than actual completion date (can someone confirm?).
1981-1987 slab block with 3-Room Model A (73-75 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (105-108 sqm)
3½-Room Model A (88-90 sqm) exists but is so rare that I never found floorplan.
Website visitors reported that early 4-Room Model A have different floorplan, similar in shape with 4-Room New Generation with toilets near each other, but big as 105 sqm instead of 92 sqm.
1981-1985 slab block with 4-Room Model A (104 sqm), 2 units per segment
1981-1985 slab block with 5-Room Model A (133-135 sqm), 2 units per segment
1984-1988 slab block with 3-Room Simplified (64 sqm), 4-Room Simplified (84 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (120 sqm)
A 4-room Model A lift-level version under 5-Room Improved should also exists.
1984-1988 slab block with 4-Room Simplified (84 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (104 sqm)
5-Room Improved Maisonette (133 sqm), only 3 blocks of this type were built in 1983 (Hougang blk 111, 122, 312) before 5-Room Model A Maisonette was introduced in same year, and replaced in 1984 with Executive Maisonette.
1982-1984 slab block with 5-Room Model A Maisonette (137-140 sqm, some -155 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (109 sqm) on corners (no floor plan found)
1983-1987 slab block with Executive Maisonette (144-147 sqm, some -160 sqm) and Executive Apartment (146 sqm) on corners
Many people asked me what is a 5-Room Maisonette or what is the difference compared with Executive Maisonette, the primary difference is the building year, because the two-storey Maisonettes were introduced earlier than Executive naming.
Late 1980s typical HDB floor plans
New types of 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved, Executive Apartments / Maisonettes were introduced in 1987, the 5-Room and Executive having 4 bedrooms instead of 3 bedrooms (plus utility room in Executive), (source: Straits Times 1984).
Multi-Generation flats were 3/4-Room Simplified blocks reconfigured into 3-bedroom + Studio (granny flat), having 2 entrances and an internal door that join flats. The granny flat was not used as intended so the concept was abandoned after building only 8 blocks in 1987: Bishan 137, 148, Tampines 454, 460, Yishun 605, 632, 633, 666 (source: Straits Times 1986 + Straits Times 1988).
Rising popularity of bigger units left HDB with many unsold small flats. Last 1/2-Room Improved were in 1985 (Tampines 441, 442, 466, 471, all rental). Last 3-Room Improved and 3/4-Room New Generation were built in 1986. Last 3-Room Model A was built in 1987. Last 3/4-Room Simplified was built in 1988. Few blocks of 3/4-Room flats were converted into 5-Room and Executive flats, popularly called “Jumbo flats” (source: Straits Times 1989). Average HDB flat size for early 1980s estates is 90-100 square meters, and 120 sqm in 1991.
Despite that at least 10,000 dwelling units were completed each year, very few flats have leases 1990 and 1991. Number of flats with lease 1991 is about 6% of the number of flats with lease 1989 and 1992 according my analysis of resale transactions. A possible hypothesis is that HDB changed the purchase scheme and lease started later than actual completion date (can someone confirm?).
1987-1989 slab block with 4-Room Model A (104 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (121 sqm), some blocks have L-shaped corners, with 4-Room Model A (108 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (122 sqm)
1988-1991 slab block with 4-Room Model A (103-107 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (121-123 sqm), 2 units per staircase.
Except corner units, all units are 4A, units at lift level are similar with 1987-1990 blocks, but units at next level up are 4A too instead of 5I, with a huge balcony, units at remaining levels have a small balcony facing over staircase void and big balcony of below units. Staircase landing is at middle of block, making lift upgrading unfeasible. Many such blocks did not got LUP.
First blocks with lifts stopping at every floor were announced in in Straits Times 1989 and was completed in 1992, featuring staggering corridors to offer privacy to at least 50% of units and direct lift access to at least 80% of units.
1987-1991 slab block with Executive Apartment (142 sqm) and Executive Maisonette (146 sqm)
1987 slab block with Multi Generation flats (151-171 sqm)
Jumbo and Adjoined HDB Flats
Some rental blocks were converted into bigger units, and sold with fresh leases from 1992 to 1996, unofficially called Jumbo Flat. They appear in HDB Resale Transactions as 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved / Model A, Executive Apartment and you cannot tell which of them are the jumbos.
Most Jumbo flats are in Woodlands and Yishun, few are in Tampines, Jurong East, and Ang Mo Kio (only smallest type from 2-room blocks). Their size vary from 90 sqm (2-Room + 2-Room) to 189 and 192 sqm (3-Room + 4-Room Model A), up to 7 rooms (5 bedrooms) and 3 toilets (source: Straits Times 1989). Unlike the 1980s Multi-Generation flats, Jumbos DO NOT have 2 entrances or 2 kitchens.
Since 1994 flat owners were allowed to buy an adjacent flat and adjoin them, but only for 3-room or smaller flats, officially called Adjoined Flat. They appear in HDB Resale Transactions as 4-Room / 5-Room / Executive Adjoined Flat. Adjoined flats CANNOT be 3-rm + 4-rm, can have 2 entrances but most owners walled one entrance.
Two examples of (Jumbo) Executive Apartment created from one 3-rm with one 4-rm, and one example of converting three 3-Room Simplified flats into two 4-rm flats.
images lost being deleted from the websites originally sourced from
Two examples of 5-Room Adjoined Flat composed by two 3-Room Improved or by two 3-Room New Generation (NOT a Jumbo flat)
1980s rare HDB floor plans
Unique 4-Room Model A (109 sqm) from blk 128 Geylang East Avenue 1 (there are more blocks with 45-degrees like this)
Unique 3-Room Model A (74 sqm) from blk 410, 414, 416 Eunos Road 5 (same block have 3-room flats measuring 80, 87 and 94 sqm, possibly including recess area at end of corridor)
Shophouse floor plan, similar with 3-Room Simplified
Rare Jumbo flat formed from two 4-Room New Generation flats, making a single unit per floor with 2 entrances. Found in Woodlands blocks 115, 119, 124.
In Bishan there are 13 point blocks different than point blocks in other towns, featuring 5-Room Improved (121 sqm) and two types of Executive Maisonette (150 and 163 sqm) sharing top 3 floors.
