STUDY OF THE EVOLVING ROLES OF OPEN SPACES IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD

Abstract

The living environment and social setting of a neighbourhood in Singapore have changed over time. This has caused the “Kampong spirit” among the neighbourhood communities to gradually diminish from our Singapore society. Besides this, the accumulation of social capital within a neighbourhood has slowed down in recent decades due to the pressures of time and money on families and generational change.

Social capital is generated when individuals learn to trust one another and make credible commitments. It is both a private and a public good, with benefits accruing to the wider community in the form of positive externalities. The aim of this dissertation is to examine the roles of public open spaces in enhancing social capital within a neighbourhood community. Two precincts in Toa Payoh are selected for this study: Toa Payoh Vista, and Central Horizon & Toa Payoh Towers. An In-depth structured interview was conducted with the residents of the precincts to gain insights about their perception of social capital.

Though social capital concerns interactions between different parties, a public open space can act as a “facilitator” in developing it in a neighbourhood community. The development of open spaces has resulted in a higher level of “bonding” among residents, while the creation of enclosed spaces has a greater level of “bridging.” This dissertation argues that built environments in public spaces do have implications on social capital in a neighbourhood community.