VALUING HERITAGE IN SINGAPORE : A STUDY OF URBAN CONSERVATION IN KAMPONG GLAM

Abstract

This dissertation attempts to examine the notion and evolving values of urban heritage in Singapore in terms of the various conservation philosophies and approaches employed, and the shifting emphases on heritage and development in Singapore. Heritage is the subject of much discussion and has become a pressing concern in contemporary society today. The urban landscape of Singapore is no doubt constantly reinvented. Yet sadly, our heritage is often taken for granted; almost everything that was built in the past was destroyed. Our heritage is more than a monumental heritage; neither is a museum nor a reiteration of the past, but a living architectural tradition. Conserving our urban heritage has become a challenge throughout the world especially so in Singapore where the forces of development usually overwhelm the sentiments of its people. Hence, unless we conserve some of what is left of the meaningful and significant old urban fabric, how are the future young generations to sense the continuity in the rhythm of life, of our historic landscape so that they will not feel isolated from the past? In pursuit of this interest, the concept that “our heritage is not static, but a continuous process” that requires re-interpretation and re-creation on our part will be adopted in exploring and discussing the Kampong Glam Historic District. This dissertation proposes to consider and look at heritage conservation from the point of view of the district as a whole rather than on the individual architectural merits, albeit on a larger scale. Methodologically, this was achieved through observations and site visits for insights on the present lifestyle and heritage that remains. By looking at conservation from the inside out, analyzing the key elements of the urban environment – street grids, public areas, building styles, land uses and their implications on for people, I hope to prove my hypothesis that heritage conservation does not always entail a falsification of the past; that historic districts can be revitalized and conserved without losing their character, essence, and historic flavour despite the forces of tourism economics pressures.