Open Concept Kitchen for HDB Flats: Rules, Pros and Cons in Singapore

An open concept kitchen is allowed in most HDB flats, but you cannot simply knock down any wall you like. Walls marked as structural or containing a Building and Construction Authority (BCA) approved reinforcement usually cannot be fully removed, and any wall removal that affects the structure needs a HDB permit and a Professional Engineer endorsement. The bigger question is whether open concept suits your cooking style, since heavy wok frying sends oil and smell straight into the living room.

In practice most Singapore homeowners go for a semi-open layout: they remove or shorten a non-structural partition and add a glass sliding door or half wall, keeping the option to close off the kitchen when they fry. This guide covers what HDB actually permits, the real pros and cons for local cooking, and how to plan the layout so you do not regret it later.

Is an open concept kitchen allowed in HDB flats?

Yes, but it depends on the wall. HDB flats have a mix of structural walls (usually reinforced concrete or specially marked) and non-structural partition walls. You may hack a non-structural wall, but structural walls and any wall thicker than a set limit generally cannot be removed, and full or partial removal needs an approved permit.

Every renovation that touches walls must be carried out by a HDB Registered Renovation Contractor, and hacking work needs a HDB permit before it starts. If the wall is load bearing or you want to enlarge an opening, a Professional Engineer must assess and endorse the works. Skipping the permit can lead to enforcement action and having to reinstate the wall at your own cost.

Non-structural partition wall: usually removable with a HDB permit
Structural or reinforced wall: cannot be fully removed, PE assessment required for any opening
All hacking must use a HDB Registered Renovation Contractor
Newer BTO flats often have fewer walls to begin with, making open layouts easier

What are the pros of an open concept kitchen?

The main draw is space and light. Removing a wall makes a compact HDB feel noticeably larger, lets natural light travel deeper into the flat, and creates a social flow where whoever is cooking can still talk to family or guests. It also opens up options for an island or a breakfast counter that doubles as extra prep and dining space.

For smaller flats and for households that cook lightly, the openness is often worth it. Resale appeal can improve too, since bright and airy layouts photograph well and feel modern to many buyers.

Makes a small flat feel bigger and brighter
Better sightlines and a more social cooking space
Room for an island or breakfast counter
Modern look that can help with resale appeal

What are the cons for Singapore-style cooking?

The honest downside is grease and smell. Local cooking leans on high-heat wok frying, sambal, curries and deep frying, all of which throw oil particles and strong aromas into the air. In a fully open kitchen that residue settles on your sofa, curtains and TV, and the smell lingers in soft furnishings much longer than in an enclosed layout.

Noise and mess are the other trade-offs. A blender, extractor fan or a sink full of dishes is fully visible and audible from the living area, so clutter is harder to hide. This is why many families who cook heavily either keep an enclosed kitchen or choose a semi-open design with a door they can shut.

Oil and smell spread to the living room and furniture
Cooking noise and mess are always on show
A standard hood extracts less effectively without walls to contain steam
Harder to hide clutter when guests visit

Open, semi-open or closed: which layout suits you?

The right answer depends mostly on how you cook. Think about a typical week rather than the ideal magazine kitchen, then match the layout to that reality.

A semi-open layout is the popular middle ground in Singapore because it keeps the open feel while giving you a barrier for the frequent frying days.

Fully open: best for light cooks, small flats, or those who mainly reheat, steam and air fry
Semi-open with glass sliding door: open most days, closed when you fry, good balance for most homes
Enclosed with a pass-through window: keeps smell fully contained while still feeling less boxed in
Fully closed: best for daily heavy wok cooking and large family meals

How do you control heat, smell and safety?

If you go open or semi-open, invest in extraction. A powerful cooker hood, ideally ducted out where the flat allows rather than only recirculating, does most of the heavy lifting against grease and steam. Pair it with easy-to-clean surfaces and finishes that resist oil staining.

Do not overlook gas safety. If your flat uses piped town gas or LPG cylinders, any relocation of the gas point must be done by a licensed gas service worker and comply with clearance rules, and an open layout can change the ventilation around the hob. When in doubt, keep the cooking zone well ventilated and consider switching to an induction hob, which produces no open flame and far less airborne grease.

Choose a high-extraction cooker hood, ducted if your flat permits
Consider induction over gas for less grease and no open flame
Keep any gas point relocation to a licensed gas service worker
Use wipe-clean surfaces near the hob to manage oil residue

How should you plan and budget the renovation?

Start by confirming which walls can be touched. Before committing to a design, have a HDB Registered Renovation Contractor check the wall type and confirm whether a permit or a Professional Engineer endorsement is needed. This one check prevents the most common and expensive mistake: designing around a wall that legally cannot come down.

Costs vary widely with the scope, so treat any single figure with caution. Simple partition removal is far cheaper than hacking near structure, adding an island, or relocating plumbing and electrical points for a new layout. If you want the wall assessment, hacking permit, and the electrical and plumbing changes handled correctly under one team, our renovation service can scope the work, arrange the permit, and coordinate the trades so the open kitchen is done safely and to HDB requirements.

First step: get the wall type and permit needs confirmed
Budget separately for hacking, an island, and moving power or water points
Factor in a good cooker hood and durable, wipe-clean finishes
Use one accountable contractor to handle permits and coordinate trades

Frequently asked questions

Do I need HDB approval to open up my kitchen? Yes if you are removing or altering a wall. Hacking work requires a HDB permit and must be done by a HDB Registered Renovation Contractor, and any work affecting structure needs a Professional Engineer to assess and endorse it.

Can I remove a structural wall to make it fully open? No, structural or load bearing walls generally cannot be fully removed. In some cases a limited opening may be possible with a Professional Engineer design and HDB approval, but this is more complex and costly, so most homeowners work with non-structural walls instead.

Is an open kitchen a bad idea if I cook Singapore food daily? Not necessarily, but a fully open layout will spread oil and smell to your living area. If you wok fry often, a semi-open design with a glass sliding door and a strong cooker hood is usually the smarter choice.

Will an open concept kitchen affect resale value? It can help, since bright and airy layouts appeal to many buyers, but taste varies. Keeping the layout flexible, for example with a door you can close, tends to appeal to the widest range of future buyers.