Thinking out of the box

Source : Sunday Times – 1 Nov 2009

The HDB has whittled down the number of blocks that are ineligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme from about 1,000 eight years ago to 200.

Here are some new and cheaper solutions it introduced:

1 BUBBLE LIFTS

These have transparent glass panels for walls.

Compared with conventional lifts that have an enclosed lift shaft, these ’shaftless’ lifts are 25 per cent cheaper and construction time is cut by a few months.

They may not be suitable for places with little shade, as the sun’s glare may be too strong during the day.

2 SMALLER LIFTS

These ‘home lifts’ carry just four people, compared with the standard larger lifts that take 10 to 12.

Their smaller size makes them suitable for low-rise blocks with fewer units and less passenger traffic. But they are still big enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

3 RECONFIGURED LIFT ACCESS

A new lift shaft is built, with lift landings accessible by new doors within residents’ homes.

This design is applicable to about 180 blocks that have ‘half-landings’ where residents have to climb a flight of steps to get to the lift.