The design goals for HDB Woodlands were to provide a public housing development with a distinctive and easily identifiable precinct character. HDB's brief called for a minimum of 1,000 units, and the designers managed to provide 1,168, with an alternative plan containing 1,200 flats that exploited the maximum plot ration of 2.75.
The cluster blocks also have the effect of breaking the scheme down into a fractal-like hierarchy of form: each block plan incorporates three "sub-clusters" linked by a walkway to a central lift core. Each of these is in turn divided into four or five stacked modules each comprising 12 or 14 stacked units.
Each block is clearly identified by a double-height space in the entrance area: at first floor level, void decks are located to form an extension of the internal landscape space. The fractal-like nature of the block plan means that although the envelope is complicated, each of the five-module "sub-clusters" is effectively orthogonal, allowing the enclosure of meaningful and clearly-defined spaces at ground level.
These are landscaped to include playground, hard court and garden spaces. Major structures within these spaces are the two multi-storey car parks and an eating house and shop. The perimeter ring road is lined on one side with a jogging track with kilometre markings for exercise purposes.
