URBAN CONSERVATION AND HERITAGE TOURISM : A CASE STUDY OF CLARKE QUAY

Abstract

Conservation has progressed a long way since the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Conservation Plan of 1986, with the gazetting of historic buildings and districts almost completed. Likewise, the tourism development projects of the 1986 Tourist Product Development Plan for Singapore are also almost completed. Currently, the focus of conservation and adaptive re-use is on the Singapore River. This study examines the degree of convergence and divergence in the perception of the state policies vis-a-vis the public with regard to conservation and heritage tourism in Singapore, and the redevelopment of Clarke Quay, a former warehousing district along the Singapore River. Clarke Quay represents the second phase of the state's Singapore River Developmental Guide Plan to revitalise this historic area. It opened in November 1993 and cost a total of $186 million to redevelop. This project is of significance because it is the largest conservation project to elate in Singapore and its redevelopment has been co-ordinated by a single developer. The study is largely based on a questionnaire survey of Singaporeans and tourists, as well as interviews with representatives of the URA, the tenants as well as the management of Clarke Quay. Findings from the survey show a widespread convergence in the conservation ideals of the public and state policies. These include the state's objectives of preservation of heritage, the creation of a national identity, the use of conservation as a "social glue" and the conservation of the vernacular landscape on as large a scale as possible. However, disparity between the state and the public occurs in the practice and implementation of conservation projects. State efforts at conservation are perceived by the public to be motivated by profits because of the over-commercialisation of conservation projects. However, the public themselves are also torn between these conflicting goals of authentic conservation and allowing commercial adaptive re-use to occur. Finally, there is a growing demand from the public that they be given a say in conservation matters and decision making. The findings suggests that conservation operates on the two levels of ideals and practical plans. Often the ideals do not get translated well into plans, resulting in the over-commercialisation of conservation. The landscape is often imbued with multiple meanings attributed by the people, and such meanings differ between places. Therefore, adaptive re-use in conservation needs to be sensitive towards these feelings and their sense of place. The findings suggest that although there are similarities in ideals, divergence between the state and the public, and among the public themselves, occurs with regard to the practical implementation of conservation projects. With a growing state-public partnership in conservation, future efforts need to focus not only on maintaining architectural authenticity, but also the 'spirit' of the area.