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And the reign of the colourful Tampines Build-To-Order BTO blocks has come to an end.

In a Facebook post on Mar. 28, 2023, Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said the Housing & Development Board would paint all the ceilings and non-tiled walls of the Tampines GreenVines lift lobbies white.

This was after the colourful blocks were called everything from creepy to creative.

Baey noted differing views from residents and the public on whether the lobbies should be repainted or retained.

However, HDB decided to "apply a consistent approach to all blocks - red, yellow and blue", he wrote.

He also noted that many have showed up to take photos, but urged members of the public to be considerate to the privacy of residents living in the estate.

"Please keep your volume down and do not intrude into their living spaces," he said.

Tampines GreenVines comprises 11 HDB blocks and 1,271 flats.

Among these 11 blocks, four have lift lobbies that feature a red colour scheme.

Another four lift lobbies are painted a purplish blue, and the remaining three are painted yellow.

A spokesperson for HDB stated that the colours were inspired by tropical fruits.

An Instagram post uploaded on Mar. 4, 2023, showcased photographer Jayden Tan's "spontaneous photoshoot" at one of the red BTO blocks in Tampines.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JAYDEN TAN (@jaydenation)

HDB response

In response to Mothership's queries, HDB said residents gave feedback that the colour of the lift lobbies was painted "too strong".

HDB said:

In a Telegram poll done, the views of residents on the colours so far were mixed, with more residents in the blocks where the lift lobbies are painted in red providing negative feedback (the blocks with lift lobbies painted in purplish blue hue have not been handed over).

Following residents’ feedback that the colour of the lift lobbies that were painted in red was too strong, we have re-painted the ceiling of the lift lobby of Blk 640B to white, and will similarly be re-painting some of the walls white, to tone it down.

We will also do so for the other blocks in the same precinct progressively. The tiled areas will remain to help with way-finding and maintain the precinct identity.

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Top photos via Baey Yam Keng's Facebook