S1E1: Liu Thai Ker on being the "architect of modern Singapore"

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features. Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore. Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats. How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't? ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore. This is because he helped to plan 20 out of the 24 HDB towns in Singapore during his time from 1969 to 1989. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:33 Essence of early public housing: "Low-cost" evolving to "public" housing, home ownership and affordability a challenge back then 5:27 What did liveable public housing look like back then? 8:13 The design principles behind the early HDB flats 13:56 Slab blocks versus point blocks; Dr Liu on not allowing himself to compromise on floor area 20:08 Dr Liu explains the "courtyard in the sky" principle  26:45 Key principles he left behind to bear in mind when planning for the long term in Singapore Listen to the the design duo behind HDB's gamechanging Pinnacle@Duxton: https://str.sg/iYZy Discover ST's interactive graphic article of this topic: https://str.sg/JXMGj Produced by: Michelle Ng ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.