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While they may consist of just two colours – black and white – these animals have been key in bringing vibrancy into the lives of residents in one HDB estate.<\/p>\n
Residents and netizens alike are gushing over the cute panda murals on the facades of some HDB blocks in Teck Whye, as seen in a post on Reddit by user Spoonfulofsoul last Saturday (April 25).<\/p>\n
The post, which has since garnered over 1,700 likes as of Wednesday (April 29) morning, introduced netizens to the HDB block design at Block 7 Teck Whye Lane.<\/p>\n
A photograph of the block in the post shows multiple depictions of the furry bear species along the block’s facade, together with paw prints, clouds and star shapes.<\/p>\n
The cutesy design of the block drew much endearment from netizens, with many comparing this Teck Whye block to others in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Said one: “So jealous of people living in cute kawaii (cute in Japanese) HDB blocks, mine is an eyesore. Can’t wait for the next repaint!”<\/p>\n
“Love the non-standard paintings on the older HDBs, compared to the uniform paint schemes on the newer estates nowadays,” another opined.<\/p>\n
“Khatib old blocks have fruits and fruit basket painted on the blocks. They are massive!” A user also compared.<\/p>\n
Some users also stressed that this could be an opportunity for town councils to commission local artists for assistance, boosting our local art scene.<\/p>\n
“I would love to see HDB\/town council partner up with local artists on such projects,” commented a user. “BTO (Build-to-Order) designs and colour schemes are so industrial looking.”<\/p>\n
Speaking with Lianhe Zaobao, Teck Whye residents praised the design of some of these HDB blocks in their estate, sharing their joy.<\/p>\n
A resident surnamed Xu (transliteration) told the Chinese daily on Monday that the HDB facades used to just be simple colours and patterns.<\/p>\n
Now, the 72-year-old gets to look at cute panda murals when he goes outside, which improves his mood.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Lee Na, shared that she had voted for the panda motif when the town council held a vote last September because she liked it and it was suitable for her children.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old commented: “The panda design brings a certain atmosphere to the community, giving us a feeling of returning to childhood.”<\/p>\n
The Chua Chu Kang Town Council (CCKTC) told AsiaOne that the exterior walls are repainted every seven years, and there has been a recent focus on distinctive colours and designs to help residents and visitors find their way.<\/p>\n
The design of Blocks 1 to 7 in Teck Whye were put up to a vote in September last year, where the panda motif was the most voted for.<\/p>\n
Painting commenced in the third quarter of 2025 and is expected to be completed a year after.<\/p>\n
“Beyond creating a unique precinct identity for the neighbourhood, we hope the colourful, cheerful panda illustrations will delight residents and be conversation starters, connecting neighbours,” CCKTC said.<\/p>\n
This isn’t the first time Teck Whye’s HDB facades have put the neighbourhood in the limelight, however.<\/p>\n
In 2018, the blocks were painted with red, blue, white and brown grids, drawing comparisons to Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian, Zaobao reported.<\/p>\n
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khooyihang@asiaone.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n