Tall order for new housing

IT HAS been an year since the Housing Development Department (HDD) organised an exhibition which showcased plans to implement vertical housing for the masses at The Mall in Gadong. Held to commemorate World Habitat Day, the Habitat Exhibition (Habitex) was themed "Future Home for the Nation".

The exhibition received a lot of visitors who were curious about what it would be like to live in an apartment complex with many exploring the full scale model of a unit set up at The Mall. From our reports, it seems that there exists a generation gap in terms of perception, with many young people willing to give it a go while the older generation are concerned about how it will affect family relations, culture and traditions.

A year later, HDD launches another Habitex themed "Cities and Climate Change" at the Housing Development/Department of Electrical Services on Jalan Airport Lama in Berakas. At the event, Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman, said a total of 16,500 houses will be needed by 2017 in the Sultanate. To achieve this aim, housing comprising landed property would require 775 hectares of land whereas vertical housing would only require 580 hectares, he added. However, the authorities aim to ensure that vertical housing projects adhere to environment-friendly principles.

Efficient building management is also vital to the success of a vertical housing project. Waste management and social activities must be monitored as some vertical housing projects in other locations around the world have been left to deteriorate becoming ghettoes, thus lowering its property value.

While land optimisation is the main factor in guiding the government's housing principles, quality of life should not be compromised, including space for recreation and the promotion of good neighbourliness.