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 might be able to relate to “Home Spooky Home” a little more.
The block in question?
Block 640B Tampines Street 62, which 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 seems like it might as well be.
For the unaware, Tampines GreenVines opened for application in 2018 and the 11 blocks, which house 1,271 units in total, are split into three colour themes: Red, yellow and blue.
And when I say “themes”, what I really mean is 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 unit and even 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 block were all red.
In particular, red bricks were lining those areas. The ceilings and other surfaces were all painted red as well, with red tiles lining the floor.
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, told reporters that when he first saw photos of the HDB block’s design, he only noticed that the block looked “gloomy and dark”.
However, he realised that other homeowners had expressed their opinions regarding how creepy the block looked. His wife and child also echoed similar sentiments and said that 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 surnamed 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 take a look at the block to see how red it actually 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.
The video showed various sights within the block, such as the lift landings and mailboxes.
Besides the interior of the block, the TikTok user also showed how the block looked extremely red from the outside as well.
I mean, it’s literally radiating redness. Spooky.
In the comments section, many netizens called HDB out for the odd and creepy colour theme, while others jokingly said that 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 at all.
Several residents also said that they would be terrified to go home after the sun sets due to the spooky vibe of the block.
And it seems like the powers of TikTok have 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…”
To that, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng responded by saying 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.
According to Zaobao reporters, painters were sent to the block yesterday (28 February) and painted the ceiling of the lift lobby at the fifth storey white.
Residents who were interviewed afterwards were all in favour of the change in ceiling colour and said that 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 as well.