PERCEPTIONS OF SINGAPOREANS TOWARDS LIVING, WORKING AND SHOPPING UNDERGROUND

Abstract

This research aims to examine the perceptions of Singaporeans towards the working, shopping and living underground environments, to determine the level of support for the construction of underground cities in Singapore, and whether they would like to work, shop and live in underground cities. A survey was conducted, using a model from Durmisevic (2002) as the basis for the questionnaire. 83.5% of Singaporeans supported the construction of underground cities in Singapore in the future. Shopping is the most preferred activity to be carried out in the underground cities, followed by working and residing. On the overall, respondents were positive about shopping and working, underground and in underground cities. Thus, it would be possible to utilise more underground spaces for these 2 activities in the future. However, residing underground and in underground cities was a problem for most. In the analyses of the sample data, general perceptions of Singaporeans towards working, shopping and living underground were found to have no associations with all the demographic variables except for the age group, and the importance of the determinants and variables of public safety and comfort generally differed according to the activity contexts. Last but not least, the important determinants and variables of public safety and comfort and concerns that Singaporeans have, for each activity context in underground space/cities, should be incorporated in the respective design considerations of future underground spaces in Singapore; to enable them to be safer and more comfortable.