STREET BASED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN RECLAIMING PUBLIC (SOCIAL) SPACES

Abstract

This research hypothesizes that the commercial streets are integral in creating social cohesiveness for the local community. As such, this dissertation seeks to examine the “malling” trend of commercial spaces in Singapore heartlands and how such spaces contribute to the creation of public social spaces, taking emphasis on how they are crucial in brewing a local identity and character. Little India and China town are the few heritage streets identifiable in Singapore but little can be said to the streets elsewhere. This paper hopes to investigate the potential of the heart lands to develop their own identity and character through proper street planning and the integration of appropriate commercial spaces. The creation of streets also serves as purposeful public spaces for residents in their everyday life. Consumerism has expanded across the entire society in tandem with Singapore’s economic development. (Chua, p. 3) Singaporeans are spending more time and money due to the increase in tendency to buy ready-to-eat food from the stores. With more shopping malls developed within heartlands, shopping is also becoming part of the local’s daily routine. These increased influx of many major fashion names and fast food chains aid in providing a greater consumption choice and shopping experience. However, such phenomenon is commercialized without any uniqueness to Singapore context. It is believed that the urbanization of the local commercial landscape will continue and it is within the desires of this dissertation to examine the implications of this change in the creation of public social spaces within the heartlands. The paper argues that malls should form part of an integrated commercial network interweaving within the neighbourhood to serve the local residents instead of a stand- alone building and point of destination. This dissertation will also look into how localized street shops may help to inculcate a sense of local character and uniqueness to their surrounding spaces in face of times like urbanization in Singapore.