Choosing to Forget: A Discussion on Singapore's National Identity with respect to Demolished Buildings

Abstract

Buildings are not only physical structures, but they also store memories that allow for intergenerational storytelling. The Old National Library, the Old Kallang Stadium, and Dakota Crescent are more than popular destinations for Singaporeans. Each of these places contains many unrecorded tales of the families and individuals who have come and gone, and these stories weave together to form a collective narrative beyond the British-Japanese-Malaysian-Singapore textbook storyline.

A study of the demolished national buildings in Singapore would outline parts of our shared heritage and question the justification of placing an oversized and oversimplified importance on economic factors. In this case study, we adopt the approach of a panel discussion between three learned individuals to consider some of the perspectives around the issue of building preservation and how that shapes national identity. Through the study of three notable examples, the “panellists” will illustrate the various viewpoints and demonstrate the multi-faceted and highly political nature of heritage, to show that it is not always a simple decision with regard to whether a place is demolished, conserved or preserved. This case study will examine the roles that different stakeholders, namely government organisations and civil society, play in the decision-making process.