HDB flats get smaller, families also shrink

[mrEngineer]

Absolutely crap..

HDB flats get smaller, families also shrink Propertyguru - Thursday, December 30

HDB flats have become smaller over the years, but the majority of occupants nowadays actually have more space as the size of families has also decreased.

This trend is reflected from the data that The Business Times obtained from HDB. Since the 1980s to 2000s, each type of flat has been scaled down. The changes appear most noticeable from the 1990s to the 2000s.

HDB said it "reviews flat sizes regularly, taking into consideration changes in demographic trends and lifestyle habits, as well as the need to optimise limited land available for housing".

Property hunters have observed the change in the sizes of flats. The change stands out especially to those who have been looking for resale flats across estates, said Chris Koh, director of Dennis Wee Group.

Mohamed Ismail, chief executive of PropNex, agreed that flats have gotten smaller in the past 20 to 30 years, but stressed that there has also been a more "efficient use of space".

While data from HDB proves that flats have gotten smaller, it also emphasises that many residents nowadays should have more living space since their families are smaller.

Based on official surveys, the average household size was 3.4 and 4.6 in the 2000s and the 1980s, respectively. This means that an occupant in a 110 sq m five-room flat will have 32 sq m of space to himself, while a resident in a 123 sq m five-room flat in the 1980s had only about 27 sq m of space.

"Over the years, while flat sizes have been adjusted, living space per person has improved for HDB residents as household size has decreased due to the nuclearisation of families and formation of smaller families," said HDB.

HDB "will continue to provide a wide variety of flats and ensure that flat sizes are reviewed regularly to cater to prevailing and future needs".

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/pg/20101230/tbs...1e0e1.html

[d.o.g.]

I wonder what the next topic will be... I know! Food prices!

Rising food prices have caused portions to shrink, but that's OK, because families are now smaller! So there is less danger of obesity! It's a more efficient use of stomach space! All hail rising food prices!

"Over the years, while portion sizes have been adjusted, calories per person have improved for diners as household size has decreased due to the nuclearisation of families and formation of smaller families," said Hawker Development Board.

Hawker Development Board "will continue to provide a wide variety of dishes and ensure that portion sizes are reviewed regularly to cater to prevaling and future needs."

[brattzz]

haha! very true!

but funny thing is cars are getting BIGGER and BIGGER!! hahaha!

[barista]

I wonder what the next topic will be... I know! Food prices!

Rising food prices have caused portions to shrink, but that's OK, because families are now smaller! So there is less danger of obesity! It's a more efficient use of stomach space! All hail rising food prices!

"Over the years, while portion sizes have been adjusted, calories per person have improved for diners as household size has decreased due to the nuclearisation of families and formation of smaller families," said Hawker Development Board.

Hawker Development Board "will continue to provide a wide variety of dishes and ensure that portion sizes are reviewed regularly to cater to prevaling and future needs."

smaller families means less spending and hence business got to charge higher. pay for quality --> higher quality of life!!

on serious note, they forgot that now you do not have much running/cycling/playing space in void deck or open spaces between blocks.

[arthur]

I wonder what the next topic will be... I know! Food prices!

Rising food prices have caused portions to shrink, but that's OK, because families are now smaller! So there is less danger of obesity! It's a more efficient use of stomach space! All hail rising food prices!

"Over the years, while portion sizes have been adjusted, calories per person have improved for diners as household size has decreased due to the nuclearisation of families and formation of smaller families," said Hawker Development Board.

Hawker Development Board "will continue to provide a wide variety of dishes and ensure that portion sizes are reviewed regularly to cater to prevaling and future needs."

D.o.g-san,

Honestly, I never knew you are capable of humour & sarcasm mixed into one as well. Thought you are one uber serious and logical guy.

[Musicwhiz]

Haha I like it - Hawker Development Board!

I think the "efficient use of space" phrase is one big bunch of bollocks! Some of these analysts should consider getting their heads examined.

These are the people who do a lot of creative social engineering to make the masses BELIEVE that smaller is better, even as pricees get higher. It really stretches incredulity to have to put up with this kind of inane remarks - it's really an insult to our intelligence!

[bb88]

One thing that our Government is great at and surely widely acknowledged and unlikely to be refuted - they have just about perfected the art of patting backs.

Why is it that smaller flats are justified by smaller families but never though of that it is precisely the shrinking flat sizes that family nucleaus are getting smaller? When was the last time people heard of the "3-generations under the same roof" value?

[Musicwhiz]

Why is it that smaller flats are justified by smaller families but never though of that it is precisely the shrinking flat sizes that family nucleaus are getting smaller? When was the last time people heard of the "3-generations under the same roof" value?

Yeah, it's called circular logic. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Apparently, the Govt doesn't recognize the problem of smaller families stemming from higher costs; rather they seem to think that smaller families require smaller houses! Instead of trying to solve the root cause of the problem, they are just tackling the symptoms. How will there ever be a "cure"?

[Satchmo]

Well, it's not all bad. With a smaller size, u will have less to clean(assuming u are not using a maid/cleaning service)

And won't it be more appropriate to build more 3-4 room flats instead of scaling down the size of the flats?

[arthur]

Maybe they are going to use the excuse of ease of cleaning to justify the smaller size flats offered nowadays. Its just like d.o.g quote of smaller portion food is good for your tummy and weight.
I could also throw in a social research report on how mice react more aggressively when too many of them are in a cage. Or how chickens get more sick when squeeze one too many within a pen.