RESTORING OLD WORLD CHARM: CASE STUDY OF JOO CHIATSOCIAL LINKAGES

Abstract

As part of a step to sustain development, especially the older estates that face 'extinction fate, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore has launched an Identity Plan in July 2002 to address the degeneration of old estates through the revival of nostalgic charms. This dissertation has chosen to conduct a social study of Joo Chiat, an estate which will be enhanced and revitalised through planning, details of which will be fully unveiled in the coming Master Plan 2003. The colourful heritage of Joo Chiat has been explored by tracing some of the key events that once took place in the estate. Along with that, existing planning guidelines and conditions are also highlighted for a better understanding of the area. To gauge the level of social sustainability, field surveys have been conducted to investigate the level of neighbourly interactions, community involvement, sense of belonging, and kinship ties in Joo Chiat. The survey results show that residents are affable, generally satisfied with their living environment, and enjoy good family ties. The findings, however, also reveal the neighbourhood's low level of community participation and reluctant attitudes to organise such activities. In addition, the survey also incorporates an openquestion to capture residents' perceptions of Joo Chiat. The responses comprise mainly indistinct answers, indicating that the mental mapping of the place is not acute despite the fact that most of the residents have lived there for more than ten years. This empirical finding therefore suggests that the present Joo Chiat lacks an identity which its residents can readily associate themselves with.