About This Project

This archive documents the block number markings found on Singapore's public housing blocks — the large-format numerals that identify each HDB building across the island. These numbers, often rendered in bold painted or metal letterforms, form a distinctive visual language of Singapore's urban landscape.

HDB in Singapore

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) was established in 1960 to address Singapore's acute housing shortage. Today, over 80% of Singapore's resident population lives in HDB flats across 26 towns and 3 estates. Each block is assigned a unique number within its town, creating a systematic addressing system that spans the entire island.

The Numbers

Block numbers in Singapore range from single digits to four-digit numbers, often with alphabetical suffixes (e.g. 506B, 658D). The visual treatment of these numbers varies significantly across estates and eras — from painted concrete to cast metal plaques, from minimalist sans-serif to ornate letterforms — reflecting the architectural history of each neighbourhood.

Archive Statistics

Data Sources

Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses. Block number data derived from Singapore's Housing and Development Board official records via data.gov.sg. This is an independent archival project and is not affiliated with HDB.