MUSEUM FOR THE PEOPLE : A HISTORY MUSEUM IN CHINATOWN

Abstract

In the course of my exploration of the relationship between history and our apprehension the past, present and future, I have arrived at the notion that history is known to us :n two forms. The first is a type of History-Institution. It is a scholarly history that is reconstructed to establish a kind of official or universal history that will remain fixed in a point of time in a past that has remained absolutely intact. It is the dominant form of history and appeals to us intellectually. The second is a type of History-Memory that never exist in an absolute form It always starts from the present to go back in time because it is preserved for reasons that are not neutral Its emphasis and nuances changes in response to the conditions of the society The manner in which it is transmitted (through narratives, ceremonies, rites and festivals) enables it to be reworked in response to the current and particular needs Hence, it is interpreted as a distinct reality or consciousness that is essential in strengthening the identity of a social group. It has a direct social function and appeals us emotionally and sensually The aim of this thesis is to allow for an architecture that supports memory and its processes of communication, involvement and ceremony Hence, it is about architecture as an open, interactive system that maintains points of contact with contemporary life and cannot be separated from its context. Context is taken to mean the location within the city, the programme and the consciousness of the participant. The architectural vehicle chosen is a Museum of History located in Singapore's Chinatown. A museum is chosen because it has an inherent social agenda but is constantly being criticized as an entity existing in a high degree of isolation from the society it means to serve.