Who Started HDB in Singapore? - Singapore HDB Interior Design

Uncovering the Founders of Singapore’s World-Class Public Housing System

Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB) is globally renowned for its success in public housing. With over 80% of the population living in HDB flats and nearly 90% being homeowners, the HDB system is often cited as one of the most effective and inclusive housing strategies in the world. But how did it all begin? Who started the HDB, and what vision and leadership shaped it into what it is today?

To understand the origins of the HDB, we must look at Singapore’s post-war housing crisis, the limitations of the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), and the determination of newly elected leaders in the 1950s and 1960s to give every Singaporean a decent place to live.

Singapore’s Housing Crisis Before HDB

Before HDB was established, Singapore faced a severe housing shortage. In the early to mid-20th century, the population grew rapidly due to immigration and urbanization. However, infrastructure and housing development lagged far behind. By the 1950s:

Over 400,000 people lived in overcrowded and unsanitary shophouses and squatter settlements.
Entire families were crammed into one-room units.
Slums were common, particularly in the city center and kampungs (villages).
Fire hazards, poor sanitation, and disease outbreaks were everyday threats.

The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), established in 1927 by the colonial government, was tasked with urban planning and building housing. However, the SIT was inefficient and under-resourced. In over three decades, it completed fewer than 30,000 flats—far from enough to meet demand.

By the time Singapore achieved internal self-government in 1959, housing had become one of the most pressing socio-political issues.

The Founding of the HDB: 1960

In response to the growing housing crisis, the newly elected People’s Action Party (PAP) government under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew decided to overhaul the public housing system. One of its first moves was to abolish the Singapore Improvement Trust and replace it with a new, more efficient, and authoritative statutory board: the Housing and Development Board (HDB).

The HDB was officially established on 1 February 1960 under the Housing and Development Act of 1959.

Key Founders and Leaders Behind the HDB

The success of the HDB can be attributed to several visionary leaders, most notably:

1. Lim Kim San – The First Chairman of HDB

Lim Kim San is widely regarded as the founding architect and driving force behind the success of the HDB.

Background:

A businessman turned civil servant, Lim was appointed as Chairman of the HDB in 1960, despite having no prior experience in housing or urban planning.
His appointment was made by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who valued Lim’s ability to get things done without bureaucratic delay.

Achievements:

Within three years, Lim Kim San led the construction of over 20,000 housing units—an achievement unprecedented in Singapore’s history.
He pioneered mass construction techniques, using standardized designs and efficient workflows.
Lim adopted a no-nonsense, results-oriented approach, famously saying: “I had no blueprint. I was given a job, and I had to deliver.”

Philosophy:

Believed in practicality over perfection: Simple, functional flats over luxury or design flourishes.
Focused on speed, cost-effectiveness, and scale.
Prioritized essential infrastructure—such as toilets, piped water, and proper waste systems—to improve quality of life.

Later, Lim Kim San became Minister for National Development and continued to champion housing, infrastructure, and urban renewal in the years that followed.

2. Lee Kuan Yew – The Political Visionary

As Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew was instrumental in setting the political direction that made the HDB possible.

Vision for Housing:

Saw housing not only as a social service, but as a tool for nation-building.
Believed that homeownership would create a sense of responsibility and loyalty to the state.
Wanted to avoid the urban ghettos and racial enclaves that plagued other cities.

Lee supported the HDB with ample funding, strong legislative backing, and policy innovation, such as:

The use of state-acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act
Integration of housing policy with education, employment, and infrastructure
Introduction of ethnic integration policies to promote harmony

His leadership ensured that housing remained at the top of the national agenda.

3. Dr. Goh Keng Swee – The Financial Strategist

As Singapore’s Finance Minister at the time, Dr. Goh Keng Swee played a critical role in allocating funds and providing strategic direction for housing development.

Ensured that financial resources were directed efficiently to the HDB.
Developed frameworks that allowed the use of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) to finance home purchases—a revolutionary move that made home ownership possible for the average Singaporean.

Dr. Goh’s support enabled the HDB to function with financial autonomy and fiscal discipline.

HDB’s Initial Success: The Emergency Housing Programme

Shortly after its formation, the HDB launched its first major initiative: the Five-Year Building Programme (1960–1965).

The goal was to build 50,000 flats in 5 years. The first units were simple, no-frills 1- and 2-room flats, built quickly using modular construction. These flats:

Were small but functional
Came with modern sanitation
Cost only a few thousand dollars and were heavily subsidized

By 1965, the HDB had exceeded its target, building over 54,000 flats, housing more than a quarter of Singapore’s population.

This was a monumental achievement that transformed Singapore’s urban landscape and set the tone for decades of public housing excellence.

The Home Ownership Scheme: A Game-Changer

In 1964, HDB introduced the Home Ownership for the People Scheme. This policy allowed Singaporeans to buy their flats using funds from their Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts.

Key Impacts:

Dramatically increased homeownership rates
Instilled a sense of pride and investment among citizens
Turned public housing into a wealth-building tool
Aligned personal interests with national success

This scheme was the first of its kind globally, and it solidified the HDB’s role not just as a landlord, but as an enabler of social mobility and stability.

Legacy of the HDB’s Founders

Thanks to the vision and execution of its founding leaders, HDB has become a model for urban planning and public housing around the world.

Their combined contributions laid the foundation for:

Modern satellite towns like Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, and Tampines
Innovations in housing affordability, such as BTO flats, housing grants, and resale policies
Integration of green and smart technologies in new towns like Tengah
Social harmony through Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) and multi-generational housing

Continuing the Mission

While Lim Kim San, Lee Kuan Yew, and Dr. Goh Keng Swee are no longer with us, their vision lives on.

Today, the HDB continues to evolve, focusing on:

Sustainability and eco-design
Smart home infrastructure
Housing the aging population
Rejuvenating older estates
Balancing affordability with rising costs

These ongoing efforts are part of a larger strategy to ensure every Singaporean has a quality home, regardless of income or background.

Conclusion

So, who started HDB in Singapore? The answer lies not in one person, but in a trio of visionary nation-builders:

Lim Kim San, the bold executor who made mass public housing a reality
Lee Kuan Yew, the visionary Prime Minister who saw housing as the bedrock of nationhood
Dr. Goh Keng Swee, the strategic policymaker who ensured financial and structural sustainability

Together, they launched an ambitious and effective housing model that has become the gold standard of public housing worldwide. Their foresight and commitment not only solved a housing crisis—they gave generations of Singaporeans a place to call home.