CORRIDORS TO HARMONY : INTER-AND INTRA-ETHNIC INTERACTION IN A HDB HOUSING ESTATE

Abstract

Public housing and race relations are two central themes that are unavoidable and intertwined in their social implications, especially in Singapore, a nation-state with cultural diversity as well as desegregated housing The objective of this study is to assess the effects of different types of corridor design and other related physical structures, socio-economic status and other factors such as race, length of residence, presence or absence of children in the household and working status of the respondent on social (inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic) interaction, measured in terms of extensity and intensity. The data show that physical design do not have so much of an influence on interaction, but interestingly, most respondents prefer common and partially segmented corridors to highly segmented ones. On the other hand, the three indices of socio-economic status, mainly education, employment and income proved to be statistically significant in influencing extensity of interaction. The findings also reveal that housewives tend to know more neighbours than wives who work, and having children do not necessarily result in more interaction among the mothers. Likewise, longer length of stay did not facilitate more interaction as often mentioned in other studies. Among the three ethnic groups, the Chinese have the lowest extensity and intensity in interaction. Hence, race is still a significant factor in influencing intensive interaction. On the whole, neighbourly interaction is fairly superficial and is largely confined to casual greetings and conversation.