RESILIENT TO OBSOLESCENCE - NEW CONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES FOR SINGAPORE'S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

A distinct pattern can be observed. Every time Singapore’s education system undergoes a revision, school infrastructure change. If the education system constantly alters its pedagogical approaches to remain relevant, and school infrastructure continue to be constructed based on the premise of permanence, many school buildings will eventually be demolished prematurely before the end of its useful life. It is imperative to react to this pattern and ensure that all schools remain resilient to obsolescence. This paper will study Singapore’s Primary Schools and look into three issues. The first maps the changing pattern of pedagogical approaches and school infrastructure from post war until now. The second investigates how current school infrastructure upgrades to keep up with pedagogical changes. Drawing information from the first two issues, the final issue question how sustainable is school infrastructure in relation to pedagogical approaches. By evaluating the above issues, this research paper serves to provide a pragmatic set of design strategies that will enable school infrastructure to be more sustainable. It anticipates a framework for architects and researchers to have a more comprehensive body of knowledge concerning local Primary schools and urge them to rethink about current construction approaches, so as to optimize the lifespan of future school buildings. However, due to the limitations this paper is bounded to, it is aware that as there is insufficient empirical data to measure the applicability and feasibility of the suggested design strategies. Therefore, the proposed strategies are purely theoretical.