Tampines block with red theme causes 'goosebumps' among residents
Following discussion with MP Baey Yam Keng, HDB has re-painted block to "tone it down"
UPDATE: HDB has responded to residents' concerns and has toned down the lift lobby's colour scheme.
SINGAPORE — A Tampines HDB block is causing consternation among its residents with its glossy red tiles lined on its ceiling, floor and walls.
Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported on Tuesday (28 February) that the lift lobbies and mailboxes are awash in red at Block 640B on Tampines Street 62, a block in the upcoming Tampines GreenVines neighbourhood.
A resident named Fu, who had just received his keys, told Zaobao that when he first saw photos of the HDB block, he noticed that the building looked "gloomy and dark".
He later found out that other neighbours had already expressed their concerns about the eerie appearance of the block. Likewise, his wife and child felt creeped out as well.
However, the resident feels the block's appearance is fine, evoking a Chinese New Year celebratory atmosphere in the morning and resembling a temple in the evening.
The red-themed HDB causes eerie feelings for some residents
Other residents around the residential area are also feeling queasy about the block's reddish hue.
One of them, surnamed Yan, told Zaobao that he will be moving into the nearby Block 639B, and said his block will be red-themed as well.
He explained that he came down to see how red it is, and said that even walking out of the lift gave him goosebumps. He hoped that the relevant authorities would change the block's colour scheme.
In a video posted Tuesday, a TikTok user also voiced concerns over the intense redness within the block.
Various sights within the block were shown in the video, including lift landings and mailboxes.
Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said that HDB is looking into the matter
Another user tagged National Development Minister Desmond Lee and Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng in the comments section to review the HDB block's colour scheme.
In response to complaints from residents, Baey commented on TikTok that he agreed that the colour scheme was inappropriate with the lighting at night, and that he had discussed the matter with HDB, who are looking into it.
HDB re-painted the ceiling of the lift lobby following the feedback
The HDB told Yahoo News Singapore on Thursday (2 March) that after residents' feedback about the red colour of the lift lobby, it has re-painted the ceiling of the lift lobby in Block 640B white and will also be re-painting some walls white "to tone it down".
"We will also do so for the other blocks in the same precinct progressively. The tiled areas remain to help with way-finding and maintain the precinct identity," HDB added.
In a statement, HDB explained that the colour scheme of Tampines GreenVines, which has 11 HDB blocks and 1,271 flats, was inspired by its surrounding greenery.
"As the precinct is large, the bright accent colours of the lift lobbies are intended to differentiate the different clusters of blocks and facilitate way-finding for residents."
Among the 11 blocks, 4 have lift lobbies painted in red, 3 have yellow, and 4 have purplish blue hue lobbies.
The three colours chosen were inspired by fruits – dragon fruit, mango and mangosteen, according to HDB.
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