The Housing Development Board (HDB) was formed in 1959 to solve the housing crisis left behind by the colonial masters. The majority of the population were concentrated within the city centre which caused issues including poor sanitation and overcrowding. (Lim, 1990) Within 5 years, HDB had succeeded in building more than 500,000 homes for the increasing population of Singapore. Since then, HDB has always been the sole Housing Association for public housing. Today, Singapore is the envy among many countries for its successful implementation of high density housing.

According to Mercer, Singapore is known to be one of the most liveable cities in Asia, even ahead of Tokyo and Hong Kong. These results are based quality of living provided for expatriates for the change of environment they would experience between their home and host countries, the efficiency and convenience a city can provide expatriates despite living away from home. At the same time, Singapore has also being ranked first place for providing excellent infrastructure, indicating the quality of the urban services attracting and satisfying expatriates and other residents. (Uk.mercer.com, 2013) The diagrams below indicate Singapore’s position as a Liveable City worldwide. (Fig 1.1 & 1.2)

How do you define liveability? Is Singapore really a liveable city, and if so, what makes Singapore such a liveable city? If the model is so successful, can it be used anywhere else? How has, within the space of 50 years this small island nation at the bottom of the Malaysian peninsula transformed itself from a crowded, third world city to one of the most, clean, liveable and technologically advanced cities in Asia?

Numerous interviews have been conducted to gather their definition of a liveable city. Responses are shown in Appendix A. Many responses include convenience, affordability of their ideal lifestyle and a place with excellent work opportunities. Healthy, secure and a controlled environment provided by the government is of course a requirement together with a city that provides the needs of the inhabitants, and most importantly, a city that has a sense of place with good infrastructure to support the day-to-day living. Does Singapore fulfil these requirements?

This paper will explore and investigate the techniques that have being adapted by the planners of Singapore with reference to the influential modernist movement and political ideals stated above, emphasis will fall on one of the most successful towns in Singapore, Tampines New Town.

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