PLACE IDENTITY IN URBAN PLANNING IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The role of place identity has been increasing in importance within the urban planning context in Singapore. Place identity in Singapore not only serves to make the city’s landscape more distinct, it also instils and increases the sense of belonging and rootedness in the people. To understand the role of place identity in Singapore’s urban planning, this research explored URA’s various land-use policies and conservation programme. It was found that land-use policies had been increasingly directed towards preserving and retaining places of meaning to Singapore. At the local level, the conservation areas of Balestier and Joo Chiat were investigated to understand the extent of benefits the conservation status had imparted. The sense of place identity was also investigated to see if there was a difference in the level of place identity between the insiders and outsiders – those who live in and around Balestier and Joo Chiat and for those who do not. In addition, the satisfaction level of the people towards URA’s conservation programme was evaluated. It was noted that the conservation programme at these areas had also increased the insiders’ level of place identity as the area they live in have special and more distinctive and unique. Outsiders were found to be less likely to have higher sense of place identity. The majority of the respondents were largely satisfied with the URA’s conservation programme.