COMMEMORATING INDEPENDENCE: TRACING THE EVOLUTION OF SPATIAL CONFIGURATION IN VENUES FOR CONDUCTING NATIONAL OCCASIONS
AZIZUL IZWAN BIN ROSLAN
AZIZUL IZWAN BIN ROSLAN
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Abstract
Every year on 9th August, Singaporeans celebrate Independence Day also known as National Day. The National Day celebrations in Singapore is unlike that in many other nations young and old. In fact the exact historical event that caused this annual celebration 50 years ago was not exactly a celebratory one but instead a devastating one. Hence why do Singaporeans celebrate National Day if it was ‘a moment of anguish’ as quoted by her founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew?
The active planning and execution National Day Parade has a political agenda and hidden message(s) that are intended to be brought across to the different audience(s). This dissertation hypothesizes at how the nature of this event morphs according to the historical and political context, mostly from one that involves formal military parades to one that consists of sheer celebration, pomp and pageantry. Consequently architecture has a role to play in adapting to the changing needs of the ‘celebration’ and so does the urban context and infrastructure.
The course of research develops by addressing the following questions. What are the objectives set by the state in hosting such events of a national scale? How has the changing economic status, regional and global political contexts made a difference in the nature of these celebrations? How does architecture play a role in adapting and hosting such events? What urban planning strategies have been put in place in order to stage such theatrical pomp and pageantry?
By identifying and studying on four case studies which are frequent designated venues for such events, we get to understand in greater detail the architectural requirements for conducting such events to feed and support the national agenda.
Keywords
Architecture, Design Track, DT, Master (Architecture), Imran Bin Tajudeen, 2015/2016 Aki DT, Civic Space, National Day Parade, National Identity, SG50, Singapore, Urban Planning
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2015-12-11
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Dissertation