After being largely muddle-headed the past 2 years with ppty sector jargon (but still managing to smoke way through), finally saw some light today (on one tiny aspect) after attending some seminar at URA on development control guidelines. Stuff is technically not directly related to what I do at work, but I was really keen to learn more about all these devt guidelines... Else everyone always use terms like DC, GFA blah blah and my understanding always half-baked. Well, not that I have turned expert overnight, but i mean, quite interesting to learn about existence of various guidelines. And listening to architects complain about why this this guideline must be like that :P

Most intriguing part of lecture today for me was intro on specific guidelines for landed housing/ strata and cluster housing... The setback requirements, defn of basement, attic and what-not was just very interesting to me... I suppose having lived in a HDB flat practically all my life has unwittingly given me a rather I-cannot-do-anything-funny-to-my-house mentality... When all these ppl living in bungalows and what-not seem to be able to make all kinds of modifications to their houses, "subject to approval":P . Oh well, I suppose when you're richer you also have the means to do so. Somehow after becoming more aware of resi devt guidelines in sg I feel like it will totally change how I look at houses next time! Though I also wonder if we are so strict, prim&proper (VS other countries) that overly creative proposals by owners always kena shot down...

Another morning of lecture tmr! Hopefully would not feel sleepy twds lunch though, like I did today... :P