Should HDB Retain The Dedicated Service Yard in BTO Flat Layouts?

Many strong opinions on this topic.

The service yard may not be the most exciting part of an HDB flat, but it's where homeowners do their laundry, dry their clothes, and keep the less glamorous necessities of everyday living out of sight.

So, when a video criticising the tiny kitchen of a Tengah BTO flat went viral, the absence of a dedicated service yard raised eyebrows and sparked a debate.

HDB has since clarified that the open-concept layout was designed to give homeowners greater flexibility in configuring their space. But it begs the question: is sacrificing a dedicated service yard really worth that extra flexibility?

The case for retaining service yards

For starters, having a dedicated service yard keeps laundry-related activities separate from the kitchen, with a designated spot for your washing machine, drying rack, and cleaning supplies.

It's especially useful for households that cook frequently. After all, nobody wants their freshly washed clothes picking up the smell of whatever's sizzling in the wok.

And beyond the practical benefits, there's also the matter of keeping things tidy. A separate service yard allows homeowners to keep their laundry and cleaning supplies tucked away, rather than having them constantly on display in an open-concept kitchen.

The case for doing away with service yards

On the flip side, there's also a case to be made for doing away with dedicated service yards, especially as homeowners increasingly favour open-concept layouts.

Without walls separating the kitchen from the service yard, homeowners have greater flexibility in how they use the available space. For instance, they could opt for a larger kitchen with more countertop space and storage, or incorporate a dry pantry or dining area.

And it's not as though homes without service yards are unheard of. Many smaller condominium units don't come with one, with residents making do by incorporating laundry appliances into their kitchens.

For smaller households that rarely cook or prefer using a dryer, a dedicated service yard may not be much of a priority anyway. In fact, many homeowners choose to maximise space by combining their service yard with the kitchen.

But does greater flexibility come at a cost?

While an open-concept layout gives homeowners more freedom to configure their space, there's a difference between having flexibility and having to work around practical limitations.

Without a dedicated service yard, homeowners may have to squeeze their washing machine into the kitchen, sacrificing valuable cabinet or countertop space. Those who prefer air-drying their laundry would also need to figure out where to install their drying racks without getting in the way of other activities.

Of course, homeowners with larger homes may not feel the pinch as much, since they have more room to accommodate these functions elsewhere. Case in point, some condominium layouts don’t come with a service yard/utility area but the balcony provides the space for a laundry area.

But for those living in smaller BTO flats, having to carve out space for laundry could mean making difficult compromises.

While these aren't problems that good interior design can't solve, such solutions may involve additional carpentry, space planning or renovation works. And these additional costs are ultimately borne by homeowners themselves.

That raises another question: should homeowners have to spend more on renovations just to accommodate everyday household necessities?

So, should service yards remain a standard feature in BTO flats?

Perhaps it's time to rethink what a service yard should look like, rather than whether we should do away with it altogether.

There's nothing inherently wrong with removing the walls separating the kitchen from the service yard, especially if it gives homeowners more flexibility in configuring their space. But that shouldn't mean leaving them to figure out where their washing machine and laundry racks should go.

So, while HDB may not need to retain the traditional service yard in every BTO flat, it should at least ensure that every layout comes with a properly planned, dedicated laundry area, whether that's a separate space or one seamlessly integrated into the kitchen.

Because ultimately, giving homeowners greater flexibility is a good thing, but it shouldn't come at the expense of basic functionality.