This is the Lift Lobby of a Tampines HDB Block & People Are Freaked Out By It

Last Updated on 2023-03-03 , 9:50 am

While most of us can probably relate to the phrase “Home Sweet Home”, it seems like residents of a Housing Development Board (HDB) block in Tampines would probably relate to “Home Spooky Home” a little more.

Block 640B Tampines Street 62 is part of the Tampines GreenVines Built-to-Order (BTO) project at Tampines North.

And before you worry about whether it’s haunted or not, it isn’t. But to some residents who are moving in soon, it might as well be.

If you’ve only 30 seconds, you can watch this video to learn more about what happened:

 

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For the unaware, Tampines GreenVines opened for application in 2018. The project consists of 11 blocks, which house 1,271 units in total, and are split into three colour themes: Red, yellow and blue.

And when I say “themes”, I mean that the entire block is doused in its assigned colour.

Needless to say, there’s one theme that most people would avoid: Red.

Unless you don’t mind feeling like you’re walking right into a scene from a horror movie whenever you leave your bright and cheery flat. That or find the red “huat” enough to bring about prosperity.

Here’s what the residents have to say and what actions have been taken by HDB since then.

Residents’ Reactions: Block Gives Off Eerie Vibes

When reporters from Lianhe Zaobao visited the block at around 9 pm yesterday (28 February), they noted that the lift lobbies and mailboxes of the HDB block were all red.

In particular, red bricks were lining those areas. The ceilings and other surfaces were all painted red, with red tiles lining the floor.

Image: Lianhe Zaobao

100 points for sticking to the theme, but also 100 points for the shock factor when you’re stepping out of your house.

When speaking to Zaobao, a homeowner surnamed Fu (Hanyu pinyin), who had just received the keys to his unit, said he only felt that the design was “gloomy and dark” when he first saw the photos of the block.

However, after hearing other homeowners’ opinions, he soon realised how creepy the block looked. His wife and child echoed similar sentiments and said they were afraid.

For him, he feels that the appearance of the block is “alright” and that it looks like a festive Chinese New Year scene in the morning and a temple at night.

Although he didn’t specify what kind of temple.

On the other hand, another resident, Yan (Hanyu pinyin), who will be moving into the nearby Block 639B, also visited the area with his wife to check the block out.

According to the resident, his block will be red-themed as well.

He explained that he would only receive the keys to his house at the end of this month and that he came down specially to look at the block to see how red it was.

The resident said that even walking out of the lift gave him goosebumps, and he expressed his hopes that the relevant authorities would change the colour scheme of the block.

Baey Yam Keng Responded After Someone Posted a TikTok Video

And that’s not all.

A TikTok user uploaded a video to the platform yesterday (28 February) to complain about the overwhelming redness within the block.

@zelia2702 #bto #tampinesgreenvines #red #unacceptable ♬ 原聲 – 我是R醣 – 我是R糖

The video showed various sights within the block, such as the lift landings and mailboxes.

Image: TikTok (@zelia2702)

Besides the interior of the block, the TikTok user also showed how the block looked extremely red from the outside as well.

Image: TikTok (@zelia2702)

It’s literally radiating redness. Spooky.

Many netizens called HDB out in the comments section for the odd and creepy colour theme. Others jokingly said the block would become the new “red light district”. Literally.

Others shared that the other blocks in the area, such as the yellow-themed ones, are not aesthetically pleasing.

Several residents also said they would be terrified to go home after the sun sets due to the spooky vibe of the block.

And the powers of TikTok have seemingly worked again, for a netizen who tagged politicians such as Desmond Lee and Baey Yam Keng actually got a response.

In the comment, the person wrote, “Hello sirs, hope you’ll have a look and have HDB review this. It’s really scary[;] how will residents go home every night…”

Image: TikTok (@zelia2702)

To that, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng responded that he is aware of the issue as several residents have informed him about it.

“I do agree that the colour scheme doesn’t look appropriate with the lighting at night,” he added.

He also mentioned in a separate comment that he has brought the issue up with HDB and that HDB is currently looking into it.

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Ceiling At Fifth Floor Lift Lobby Has Already Been Painted White

According to Zaobao reporters, painters were sent to the block yesterday (28 February). They painted the ceiling of the lift lobby at the fifth storey white.

Image: Straits Times

Residents interviewed afterwards were all in favour of the change in ceiling colour and said the lift lobby looks much better now.

They added that they hope the relevant authorities can arrange for all the red ceilings and walls to be painted white.

Meanwhile, you can also read this article to find out why the (unfortunate) colour scheme for the BTO project was chosen.