Solution for 'half-landings'

THE Housing Board has come up with a novel lift design to tackle the problem of blocks that are not able to provide direct lift access for residents.

Offered under the HDB's Lift Upgrading Programme, the new plan involves a separately built lift shaft, with landings accessible via new doors within residents' homes.

This design was initiated to overcome the challenge faced in building lifts for the 180 'half-landing' blocks in Singapore.

Units in such blocks are located along staircase landings between floors and do not share common corridors, making it necessary to build a new lift shaft next to existing staircases.

Previous designs, which would have required residents to climb a flight of stairs to and from the lift, were deemed less ideal by the HDB.

To date, upgrading works have been completed in two blocks in Tampines. Work continues at five other blocks in Hougang.

At least two other blocks, both in Clementi, have also been offered the scheme although works have not commenced there due to insufficient support from residents.

Visits by The Straits Times to the three estates found differing views on the new design.

A survey conducted by HDB showed that 90 per cent of residents at Block 906, Tampines Avenue 4 - where lift upgrading was completed earlier this year - were satisfied or very satisfied with the new lifts.

Madam Lim Ah Choo, 74, who has lived in her fourth-storey unit in Block 906 for more than 20 years, said she is glad to finally have a lift. 'Now I won't have to spend 15 minutes climbing the stairs to get home,' she said.

It is a different story at Blocks 101 and 103 in Clementi Street 14, where the majority of residents hoped the new lifts would be approved, despite a straw poll for the new design showing that support fell short of the 75 per cent needed.

'I definitely hope the lifts will eventually be built. My mother can't come to visit me because she is unable to climb the stairs to and from the lift,' said a 49-year-old lab technician who lives in Block 101.

But some of those who said no to the new lifts cited the view from their balconies as a reason.

A retiree who wanted to be known only as Mr Gue said the proposed new lift shaft would block the view across the Ulu Pandan Canal from his 13th-floor unit in Block 101.

'This scenery was one of the main reasons I bought this flat,' he said. 'I would rather not have lift upgrading if it means I have to give it up.'

Residents in 'half-landing' blocks in Hougang, where lift upgrading works are well under way, also expressed some misgivings about the new design, even though a majority of them had voted for the upgrade.

Some feared strangers would be able to easily look into their homes from the new lift landings.

Safety is also a concern for residents like Mr Jimmy Chan, who lives with his family at Block 245 in Hougang Avenue 1.

'The lift landing is separated from the staircase, which I feel is not safe,' said the retiree. 'If there's a fire or lift breakdown, people would be trapped.'

The HDB said that such privacy and security issues were taken into consideration in the new design. Emergency buttons at lift landings allow residents to call for assistance in case of any emergency or lift breakdown.

Metal grilles will also be installed at lift landings to protect residents' privacy.

Source: Straits Times, 7 May 2009