A sense of place in public housing: A case study of Pasir Ris, Singapore

Habitat International

Volumn 20, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 307-325

  Teo, Peggy ^a   Huang, Shirlena ^b  

^a NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE   (Singapore)

^b NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DEVELOPING COUNTRY; HIGH-RISE HOUSING; PERCEPTION; PUBLIC HOUSING; SENSE OF PLACE; URBAN ENVIORNMENT;

SINGAPORE, PASIR RIS;

EID: 0030446211     PISSN: 01973975     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/0197-3975(95)00065-8     Document Type: Article

References (80)

1. Housing and Development Board (HDB), Annual Report, 1991/92, p. 75.
2. For the history and performance of this programme, see S.H.K. Yen (ed.), Public Housing in Singapore: a Multi-disciplinary Study (Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1975); A. Wong and S.H.K. Yeh (eds), Housing a Nation: 25 Years of Public Housing in Singapore (Maruzen Asia, Singapore, 1985); and C. Pugh, "The Political Economy of Public Housing", in S. Sandhu and P. Wheatley (eds), Management of Success: the Moulding of Modern Singapore (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, 1989), pp. 833-859.
3. For the history and performance of this programme, see S.H.K. Yen (ed.), Public Housing in Singapore: a Multi-disciplinary Study (Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1975); A. Wong and S.H.K. Yeh (eds), Housing a Nation: 25 Years of Public Housing in Singapore (Maruzen Asia, Singapore, 1985); and C. Pugh, "The Political Economy of Public Housing", in S. Sandhu and P. Wheatley (eds), Management of Success: the Moulding of Modern Singapore (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, 1989), pp. 833-859.
4. For the history and performance of this programme, see S.H.K. Yen (ed.), Public Housing in Singapore: a Multi-disciplinary Study (Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1975); A. Wong and S.H.K. Yeh (eds), Housing a Nation: 25 Years of Public Housing in Singapore (Maruzen Asia, Singapore, 1985); and C. Pugh, "The Political Economy of Public Housing", in S. Sandhu and P. Wheatley (eds), Management of Success: the Moulding of Modern Singapore (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, 1989), pp. 833-859.
5. T.K. Liu, "Overview", in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, p. 13.
6. Public housing occupies 27% of the island's land surface (Housing and Development Board (HDB) Annual Report, 1988/89, p. 28).
7. W.S.W. Lim, "A Tale of the Unexpected: the Singapore Housing Experience". Habitat International 12, 2 (1988), pp. 27-34.
8. C.L. Khoo, "Conservation Moves into Top Gear", Mirror 25 (1989), p. 10.
9. P. Keys, "Conservation as an Integral Part of Urban Renewal", Planews 8 (1981), pp. 39-49; and Business Times (19 July 1986).
10. P. Keys, "Conservation as an Integral Part of Urban Renewal", Planews 8 (1981), pp. 39-49; and Business Times (19 July 1986).
11. Y.F. Tuan, "Geography. Phenomenology and the Study of Human Nature". Canadian Geographer 15 (1971), pp. 181-192.
12. E. Relph, Place and Placelessness (Pion, London, 1976).
13. D. Ley and M. Samuels (eds). Humanistic Geography: Prospects and Problems (Croom Helm, London, 1978).
14. C. Philo and G. Kearns (eds), Selling Places: the City as Cultural Capital, Past and Present (Pergamon Press, New York, 1993) and S.J. Squire, "Accounting for Cultural Meanings: the Interface between Geography and Tourism Studies Re-examined", Progress in Human Geography 18, 1, (1994), pp. 1-16.
15. C. Philo and G. Kearns (eds), Selling Places: the City as Cultural Capital, Past and Present (Pergamon Press, New York, 1993) and S.J. Squire, "Accounting for Cultural Meanings: the Interface between Geography and Tourism Studies Re-examined", Progress in Human Geography 18, 1, (1994), pp. 1-16.
16. D. Massey, "Questions of Locality", Geography 78, 2 (1993), pp. 142-149.
17. For example, see D. Harvey, The Urban Experience (Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1989).
18. J.A. Agnew, Place and Politics: the Geographical Mediation of State and Society (Allen & Unwin, Boston, 1987).
19. P. Jackson, Maps of Meaning: an Introduction to Cultural Geography (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989).
20. P. Jackson and J. Penrose (eds), Constructions of Race, Place and Nation (University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1993).
21. See, for example. J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Vintage Books, New York, 1961); Y.F. Tuan, "Space and Place: Humanistic Perspective". Progress in Geography 6 (1974), pp. 211-225; Relph (1976), see note 9; C. Jencks, The Language of Post-modern Architecture (Rizzoli, New York, 1981); and D. Ley, "Modernism, Post-modernism and the Struggle for Place", in J.A. Agnew and J.S. Duncan (eds), The Power of Place: Bringing Together Geographical and Sociological Imaginations (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989), pp. 44-65.
22. See, for example. J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Vintage Books, New York, 1961); Y.F. Tuan, "Space and Place: Humanistic Perspective". Progress in Geography 6 (1974), pp. 211-225; Relph (1976), see note 9; C. Jencks, The Language of Post-modern Architecture (Rizzoli, New York, 1981); and D. Ley, "Modernism, Post-modernism and the Struggle for Place", in J.A. Agnew and J.S. Duncan (eds), The Power of Place: Bringing Together Geographical and Sociological Imaginations (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989), pp. 44-65.
23. See, for example. J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Vintage Books, New York, 1961); Y.F. Tuan, "Space and Place: Humanistic Perspective". Progress in Geography 6 (1974), pp. 211-225; Relph (1976), see note 9; C. Jencks, The Language of Post-modern Architecture (Rizzoli, New York, 1981); and D. Ley, "Modernism, Post-modernism and the Struggle for Place", in J.A. Agnew and J.S. Duncan (eds), The Power of Place: Bringing Together Geographical and Sociological Imaginations (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989), pp. 44-65.
24. See, for example. J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Vintage Books, New York, 1961); Y.F. Tuan, "Space and Place: Humanistic Perspective". Progress in Geography 6 (1974), pp. 211-225; Relph (1976), see note 9; C. Jencks, The Language of Post-modern Architecture (Rizzoli, New York, 1981); and D. Ley, "Modernism, Post-modernism and the Struggle for Place", in J.A. Agnew and J.S. Duncan (eds), The Power of Place: Bringing Together Geographical and Sociological Imaginations (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989), pp. 44-65.
25. See, for example. J. Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Vintage Books, New York, 1961); Y.F. Tuan, "Space and Place: Humanistic Perspective". Progress in Geography 6 (1974), pp. 211-225; Relph (1976), see note 9; C. Jencks, The Language of Post-modern Architecture (Rizzoli, New York, 1981); and D. Ley, "Modernism, Post-modernism and the Struggle for Place", in J.A. Agnew and J.S. Duncan (eds), The Power of Place: Bringing Together Geographical and Sociological Imaginations (Unwin Hyman, Boston, 1989), pp. 44-65.
26. Jacobs (1961), see note 17.
27. R.E. Datei and D.J. Dingemans, "Environmental Perception, Historic Preservation and Sense of Place", in T.F. Saarinen, D. Seamon and J.L. Sell (eds). Environmental Perception and Behaviour: an Inventory and Prospect, Department of Geography Research Paper No. 209 (University of Chicago, Chicago, 1984), p. 135.
28. Cox (1968), as cited in Relph (1976) see note 9, p. 143.
29. Philo and Kearns (1993), see note 11, p. 22. For a Singapore context, see, for example, R.A. Smith, "The Role of Tourism in Urban Conservation: the Case of Singapore", Cities 5, 3, (1988), pp. 245-259;
30. Philo and Kearns (1993), see note 11, p. 22. For a Singapore context, see, for example, R.A. Smith, "The Role of Tourism in Urban Conservation: the Case of Singapore", Cities 5, 3, (1988), pp. 245-259;
31. E.S. Tay, "Heritage Conservation - Political and Social Implications: the Case of Singapore", Singapore Institute of Architects Journal (SIAJ) (March/April, 1991), pp. 37-41;
32. R. Powell, "Urban Renewal and Conservation in a Rapidly Developing Country", SIAJ (November/December 1992), pp. 40-47;
33. L. Kong and B.S.A. Yeoh, "Urban Conservation in Singapore: a Survey of State Policies and Popular Attitudes", Urban Studies 31, 2, (1994), pp. 247-265;
34. and P. Teo and S. Huang, "Tourism and Heritage Conservation in Singapore", Annals of Tourism Research 22, 3 (1995), pp. 589-615.
35. C. Norberg-Schulz, Existence, Space and Architecture (Praeger, New York, 1971), p. 19.
36. Relph (1976), see note 9, p. 141.
37. Tuan (1974), see note 17, pp. 236-245.
38. Relph (1976), see note 9, pp. 49-55.
39. Relph (1976), see note 9, pp. 118-119.
40. K. Lynch, A Theory of Good City Form (MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1981), p. 131.
41. As cited in Jackson (1989), see note 15, pp. 52-53.
42. Department of Statistics (DOS), Economic and Social Statistics of Singapore 1960-1982 (DOS, Singapore, 1983), p. 55; DOS, Yearbook of Statistics, 1992 (DOS, Singapore, 1992), pp. 2, 5, 21.
43. Department of Statistics (DOS), Economic and Social Statistics of Singapore 1960-1982 (DOS, Singapore, 1983), p. 55; DOS, Yearbook of Statistics, 1992 (DOS, Singapore, 1992), pp. 2, 5, 21.
44. L. Kong, "Ideological Hegemony and the Political Symbolism of Religious Buildings in Singapore", Environment and Planning D 11 (1993), pp. 23-45.
45. Kong and Yeoh (1994), see note 21, p. 263.
46. See, for example, A. Wong, G.L. Ooi and R.S. Ponniah, "Dimensions of Community" in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 455-495; T.K. Liu, "Appraisal", in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 496-526; T.T.W. Tan and K. Kwok, "An Update of Neighbourhood Planning and Design with Reference to Singapore Public Housing", Planews 11, 1 (1986), pp. 23-31.
47. See, for example, A. Wong, G.L. Ooi and R.S. Ponniah, "Dimensions of Community" in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 455-495; T.K. Liu, "Appraisal", in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 496-526; T.T.W. Tan and K. Kwok, "An Update of Neighbourhood Planning and Design with Reference to Singapore Public Housing", Planews 11, 1 (1986), pp. 23-31.
48. See, for example, A. Wong, G.L. Ooi and R.S. Ponniah, "Dimensions of Community" in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 455-495; T.K. Liu, "Appraisal", in Wong and Yeh (eds), (1985), see note 2, pp. 496-526; T.T.W. Tan and K. Kwok, "An Update of Neighbourhood Planning and Design with Reference to Singapore Public Housing", Planews 11, 1 (1986), pp. 23-31.
49. The percentage is a statistic for 1947 [taken from N. Warwick, "The Distribution of Population in the Post-war Period", in J.B. Ooi and H.D. Chiang (eds), Modern Singapore (University of Singapore, Singapore, 1969), p. 56]. Earlier statistics are not available, but the figure more or less reflects the situation in the city area.
50. C.W. Teh, "Public Housing in Singapore: an Overview", in S.H.K. Yeh (ed.), Public Housing in Singapore: a Multi-disciplinary Study (Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1975), p. 4.
51. Department of Statistics (DOS), Economic and Social Statistics of Singapore 1960-1982 (DOS, Singapore, 1983), p. 12.
52. Liu (1985), see note 3, pp. 10-11.
53. Liu (1985), see note 3, pp. 11-12.
54. HDB not only builds dwelling units, it also builds industrial estates so that jobs are available nearby, HDB estates are incorporated in Singapore's Master Concept Plan, together with other major land-uses like private housing estates, large industrial parks, commercial land-use, leisure and recreational areas and transportation land-uses.
55. Housing and Development Board (HDB) Annual Report, 1990/91, p. 59.
56. G.L. Ooi and T.T.W. Tan, "The Social Significance of Public Places in Public Housing Estates", in B.H. Chua and N. Edwards (eds), Public Space: Design, Use and Management (Centre for Advanced Studies/Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1992), p. 80.
57. DOS, Singapore Census of Population 1990 Statistical Release No. 1: Demographic Characteristics (DOS, Singapore, 1992), p. 5.
58. G.L. Ooi, "The Housing and Development Board's Ethnic Integration Policy", in G.L. Ooi, S. Siddique and K.C. Son (eds), The Management of Ethnic Relations in Public Housing Estates (Institute of Policy Studies and Times Academic Press, Singapore, 1993), p. 7.
59. Speech by S. Dhanabalan, then Minister of National Development, in Ooi (1993), see note 42, pp. 10-11.
60. Ooi (1993), see note 42, p. 11.
61. The Straits Times (6 February 1988); The Straits Times (27 December 1988); Houseword (February 1990), p. 5.
62. The Straits Times (6 February 1988); The Straits Times (27 December 1988); Houseword (February 1990), p. 5.
63. The Straits Times (6 February 1988); The Straits Times (27 December 1988); Houseword (February 1990), p. 5.
64. Housing and Development Board Animal Report, 1990/91, p. 14-15; Houseword (February 1990), p. 5.
65. Housing and Development Board Animal Report, 1990/91, p. 14-15; Houseword (February 1990), p. 5.
66. The Straits Times (4 June 1988).
67. The Straits Times (28 October 1985); The Straits Times (4 June 1988); The Straits Times (8 October 1988).
68. The Straits Times (28 October 1985); The Straits Times (4 June 1988); The Straits Times (8 October 1988).
69. The Straits Times (28 October 1985); The Straits Times (4 June 1988); The Straits Times (8 October 1988).
70. Houseword (February 1993), p. 7.
71. The Straits Times (6 December 1988).
72. The Straits Times (4 June 1988).
73. S. Shamai, "Sense of Place: an Empirical Measurement", Geoforum 22, 3 (1991), pp. 349-350.
74. Singapore is divided into electoral constituencies, most of which are represented by a single Member of Parliament (MP). There are, however, some constituencies which have at least three MPs and they are termed Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). Pasir Ris is under a GRC with four MPs.
75. Before the introduction of Town Councils, Singapore's public housing estates were managed by HDB. The management functions included the maintenance and repair of common areas such as car parks, lifts, water and electrical supplies and the removal of refuse. Since late 1988, many of these functions have been taken over by Town Councils of individual estates. Town Councils were introduced as a means by which residents may directly participate in the day-to-day running of their estates. MPs manage the Town councils with the help and support of constituency members, some of whom serve as Town Councillors on a voluntary basis. Such participation is expected to translate, in the long run, into a greater commitment to community and nation [G.L. Ooi, Town Councils in Singapore: Self-determination for Public Housing Estates, Institute of Policy Studies Occasional Paper No. 4 (Times Academic Press, Singapore, 1990)].
76. DOS, Singapore Census of Population 1990 Statistical Release No. 2: Households and Housing (DOS, Singapore, 1992), p. xiv.
77. C. Peach, "The Force of West Indian Island Identity in Britain", in C. Clarke, D. Ley and C. Peach (eds), Geography and Ethnic Pluralism (George Allen & Unwin, London, 1984), pp. 214-230.
78. S. Siddique, "Ethnic Relations and Grassroots Organizations", in G.L. Ooi, S. Siddique and K.C. Soh (eds), The Management of Ethnic Relations in Public Housing Estates (The Institute of Policy Studies/Times Academic Press, Singapore, 1993), pp. 50-51.
79. Agnew and Duncan (1989), see note 17, p. 7.
80. Liu (1985), see note 32, p. 526.