The first flats of Hougang, or commonly pronounced as ow gang, were established at around 1980. Many 3-room and 4-room flats were built for the re-location of the farmers and fishermen living in the kampong at Kangkar.
Kangkar used to be located near the present-day Punggol Park and Serangoon Secondary School, along Sungei Serangoon. It was also where the long Upper Serangoon Road ended, before it was extended to Sengkang New Town after the mid-nineties.
By 1985, with the acquisition of the land at Kangkar by the government, the villagers gradually moved into the newly completed flats nearby.
The early designs of the flats were almost identical. One particular flat, Blk 316 of Hougang Ave 7, stands out among the rest as it was painted with a huge spectacular rainbow that easily catches the eyes of the passersby. The cheerful looking rainbow usually brings a smile to anyone walking or driving past the block.
The cluster of flats at Hougang Ave 7 are mostly painted with certain vibrant colours, but the symbolic gigantic rainbow can be found only on the block of 316.
Rainbows seem to be a favourite theme to be painted on HDB flats in the east of Singapore. Block 609 of Bedok Reservoir Road also has three beautiful rainbows painted on it.
The early Social Studies textbook figured a photo of the Hougang Rainbow Flat when it was first built. Notice that the rainbow was different from the current one.
Published: 02 November 2010
Updated: 05 November 2012
OMG. Near my house, I miss the old time!
I think the slopping roof flats in Potong Pasir is more unique.
Is the rainbow block at Tampines still existing? If it is, then where is it?
Not around anymore
The Tampines picture. Could the block on the left be Blk 247, and the one on the right (Rainbow flat) by Blk 158? Picture taken from roughly where McDonald’s Tampines Mall is right now, and looking southwards?
I’m not too sure, having moved to Tampines only in 1984.
I used to live around there.
yea i remember this rainbow flat from the time when i was a child and visiting my godmum who lives there. i think i seen it only once or twice, yet it was this distinctive that i think i’ll remember it forever.
i lived in blk 309 now….its a very good place to live in:D with food stalls and a few mama shops down there.do visit them
The last picture is actually in Hougang…
the Last picture is same block as the 1st picture in Hougang.
I was there when the flat is open for reviewing & lived there for years.
Goodness, you are right!
Which means this is an error in the Social Studies textbook (where I got the photo from)
It also means that the big rainbow was repainted… anyone knows when?
the rainbow was repainted many times since blk 316 was built. every few years, the whole estate would be repainted to give a fresh coat of paint. i stayed in ave 5 since 1983, i lost count how many time it was repainted.
Used to go to Pri school in Hougang… Remember the rainbow flat as the haunted flat in Hougang! Many ghost stories there
i really miss my 80′ . good food, good ppl. good country……now……all gone……forever….