Uploaded on 2015-06-02 by katsibox

[1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14332789454682692.jpeg The photo was taken at the centre of Singapore, in the area of Tanjong Pagar. What captures the eye is the massive building at the background, a residential condominium, a mega-structure which resembles a “vertical village”. Its scale is enormous, a typical example of Singapore’s public housing programme, the so called “HDB flats”. 85% of Singapore’s population lives in shoebox apartments in huge building complexes that stretch along highways or stand in groups all around the city-state. The public housing scheme has been developed and managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) during the last 50 years. This specific example is a building of newer typology, where an effort has been made to improve the architecture of the large condominium (probably with little success). The norm however is even worse, faceless blocks of flats constructed by prefabricated members, whose aim is to house as many people as possible, without any aesthetic parameter whatsoever. At the foreground we can see a group of older buildings, at a smaller, more humane scale. They have been restored and nowadays used as restaurants, shops, studios, art spaces, or offices, giving life to this old part of the town. Having escaped demolition this old neighbourhood comprises a a vibrant part of the city both at day- and night-time. The two invisible pieces of information I would like to point out are, firstly, the housing need in Singapore and, secondly, the heritage factor. Due to the continuous increase of population (influx of new residents) there is a large need for housing while the land is scarce. This scarcity results to high land/property values, mostly regulated by the state, which has an effect in the size and the quality of the dwellings. It results in inhumanely small flats, with no sense of privacy and an accumulation of people, leading to congestion. On the other hand old parts of the town can contribute significantly to the quality of life locally, if restored and refurbished properly in parallel with compatible uses. The heritage factor can play a significant role to the local community and, ultimately, improve the quality of urban environment. Apart from its humane scale, heritage architecture gives an “identity" to the area and the residents, creates a sense of belonging and provides a continuity with the local history and their past. The preservation/restoration of old buildings and their fabric is an element that needs to be taken into consideration in the design of future cities.