The most Instagram-worthy HDB blocks in Singapore

As part of JalanJalan.me's #JalanHuat campaign, which runs until April 25, you can rediscover the old-school charm of Chong Pang while standing a chance to win attractive prizes. But regardless of that, the quaint neighbourhood near Yishun is still worth exploring – it's home to the famous mother-baby panda statue, the first neighbourhood centre Chong Pang City, and Chong Pang Food Centre where hawker fare runs a gamut. It's also home to the colourful Chong Pang Green HDB flats located at Yishun Avenue 5.

For a major throwback, make your way to the set of blocks opposite Tampines North Community Club, along Tampines St 41. This nostalgic piece of analogue art on Blk 417 reminds us of late-night TV when the programmes have ended. We won't be surprised if you start hearing faint sounds of the colour bar test tone while staring at the hypnotic façade. Fun fact: the colour scheme was decided by a resident vote – safe to say that Tampines-ians have good taste in HDB designs.

Nestled next to the contemporary stunner of Lasalle College of the Arts, Selegie House makes up the juxtaposition of architecture in this part of Rochor. It's a building complex that consists of one block of 20-storey flats and two blocks of 10-storey flats. Completed in 1963, the 60-metre-tall, 20-storey block was once considered the tallest mixed development building in Singapore. It was also HDB's first foray into building high-rise flats to house a large number of residents during the post-war period.

You won't find a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, but you'll definitely get that money shot for the 'gram. While there are plenty of colourful murals and brightly painted flats around Hougang, the rainbow-decked Blk 316 is the most vibrant one. It's also the remaining known HDB block with a rainbow splashed on its façade as Blk 609 at Bedok Reservoir Rd has recently been given a makeover.

The 'diamond blocks' at Yung Kuang Road are named as such because of how these four blocks in Taman Jurong are connected to form a diamond, with a courtyard in the middle. It used to be the focus of residential and commercial activity in the area but announcements have been made earlier this year that works are ongoing to refurbish the vacant flats to provide temporary housing for foreign workers, as part of Singapore's national fight against Covid-19.

Named after Queen Elizabeth II to mark her coronation, Queenstown is home to a couple of firsts in Singapore – think satellite town, public library, and housing estates. Some landmarks here include the pastel-coloured flats at Stirling Rd. Also known as 'the butterfly block', the nearby Blk 168A has the curve built that was popular in the 70s. It was also one of HDB's earliest efforts to erect more innovative housing estates.

Nothing's more welcoming than a 'Welcome to Potong Pasir' greeting plastered onto Blk 142. But you can spot the unique trademark sloped roofs of Potong Pasir's HDB superstars from a distance away. This stemmed from the early days where HDB wanted to create identities for different housing estates by building flats with prominent features. The estate was also a longtime ward of an opposition party and the community is less urbanised compared to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Believe it or not, but these distinctive HDB flats are the only circular ones in Singapore. It provides sweeping views of Bishan Park and Peirce Reservoir. Completed in 1981, it was initially an experiment by HDB to build seven unconventional public housing blocks to break the monotonous design in public housing architecture. These landmarks were built to provide a sense of identity in each of the respective towns. While some praised the efforts for its unique character, others criticised it for being impractical.

Sometimes a pop of colour is all you need to brighten a place up. The HDB flats at Teck Whye Ave ditched their old do – yellow to orange colour scheme with teal accents – for eye-catching designs inspired by the vibrant paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian in the 20s and 30s. Feast your eyes on the bright-hued grids plastered on the flats.

The eye-catching designs of Waterway Terraces I and II at Punggol pays homage to the cascading terraced rice fields across Asia. The shape and orientation of the complex, along with wide cascade terraces, not only provide shade but give the illusion of spaces flowing into each other. From an aerial POV, the complex forms a couple of hexagons.

Towering skyscrapers are aplenty in the city, but there's none quite like The Pinnacle@Duxton. After all, it's the first condominium-inspired public housing of its kind. Its main attractions are the two sky gardens that connect all seven towers on the 26th and 50th stories; the former has a jogging track and is exclusive to residents, while the latter is open to the public for a $5 entrance fee. As with Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers, only a limited number of outsiders a day are allowed to enter.