PROPOSAL OF AN AGRICULTURE-RESEARCH INSTITUTE: REGENERATION OF A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION & ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

Located north-east of the mainland Singapore, Pulau Ubin, a 10.2sqkm island, once had over 2,000 inhabitants, is now home to only 38 remaining residents, according to the last official report1. The drastic change is not only in the decline of population but also in its role, from being an industrial island supplying granite, to becoming a place of recreational getaway where city dwellers visit to enjoy outdoor activities and explore its biodiversity. Since Pulau Ubin has been cherished by many people for its rustic charm and refreshing natural environment, it has become a challenging task in any kind of proposals with a development scheme to safeguard this identity as a priority. The thesis proposes a masterplan for Pulau Ubin village accommodating both visitors and residents by creating a collective community through agriculture, education and architecture. The masterplan emphasizes on establishing the importance and necessity of conserving the current Ubin village as the last remaining ‘kampong’ in Singapore through sensitive rezoning to provide an authentic yet better Ubin experiences in the future. The masterplan also includes a proposal of an agricultural-research institute with outdoor learning spaces to foster interaction between researchers, community and visitors through sharing and exchanging knowledge of crop cultivation which reflects Ubin’s past culture, while at the same time, encouraging a sustainable and viable economy on Pulau Ubin that would benefit in preserving its natural characteristics.