Void deck

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A void deck under a HDB apartment block in Singapore.
Enlarge
A void deck under a HDB apartment block in Singapore.

A void deck is a spacious area under a Housing and Development Board apartment block in Singapore. The void deck occupies the ground level, while apartments are usually on the second floor onwards. Sometimes, events like Malay weddings, Chinese weddings or even funeral wakes are held in such places. Rentals of void decks typically cost only around S$10 per day, and are usually free for funeral wakes. However, electricity usage incurs separate charges.

Small grocers, medical and dental clinics, bakeries and other shops are often located in void decks, especially in older HDB blocks. Most void decks also feature bicycle racks, benches, and recreational tables for residents' use. It is common for void deck tables to have either a xiangqi or checkers board carved on them.

Another important function of void decks is that they allow people to walk through HDB blocks rather than having to go around them. This saves a lot of time when making one's way through the very dense public housing estates typical of space-starved Singapore.