Singapore's First Eco-Town Provides a Fresh Perspective on Housing Development Board Living

Wunderman Thompson Singapore has produced a film ‘Neighbours’, showcasing Singapore’s first eco-town Punggol. The film features panoramic landscapes while capturing slice-of-life moments in heartland spaces that are familiar to HDB (housing development board) residents, as seen from the point of view of a unique feathered resident, a black-naped oriole. 

Through her journey, she shares her observations on life in an HDB town and why it makes for an ideal home as she journeys past the heartlands, across the fields, and the iconic Punggol waterway.

“We wanted to bring to life not just the nostalgia for those who are living or have lived in an HDB home, but also how the quality of our lives has evolved, and to take a moment to appreciate everything within and beyond the four walls that makes a home,” says Nimesh Desai, chief executive officer, Wunderman Thompson Singapore.

The 90-second film also exemplifies the progress made in HDB’s design, sustainability and community-building efforts over the last six decades.

“Keeping nature at the heart of self-sufficient, modern estates is an integral part of HDB’s planning. That’s why this film is observed through the eyes of a friendly neighbour: a black-naped oriole. And through its chirpy and cheeky observations, we see how HDB enhances the lives of people from all walks of life,” says Farrokh Jal Madon, chief creative officer, Wunderman Thompson Singapore.