RETHINKING THE ROLE OF A HOUSE: COMPACT LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Singapore, a nation with one of the highest population densities in the world, also faces a situation of land scarcity. With an increasing population coupled with forces of the property market in Singapore, compact living could become more prevalent in the future. This could pose a problem to society and may adversely affect the quality of spaces and social interaction. It is therefore worthy and relevant to study this phenomenon of compact living in Singapore and its impact on the notion of home.

For a house to function as both a quality living space and a home, it must not only encompass basic aspects of a dwelling, but it must also fulfill the psychological needs of its occupants too. It is hypothesized in this paper that with shrinking living spaces for public housing in Singapore, the notion of homeliness is threatened and compromised due to affordability and quality concerns.

This dissertation hopes to provide some insight to the evolution of apartment housing in Singapore from her early years to the current times. Furthermore, it will also explore the notion and differentiation between a home and a house.

This dissertation also hopes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the position and roles of housing architecture in the creation of quality living space and bonding of family in Singapore through critical analysis based on researched materials of housing experiments such as Frankfurt’s post-war housing program and current housing layouts and issues in Singapore.