PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF SKY HIGH LIVING

Abstract

Singapore, an island city-state with a land area of 690 kilometres and a population of 4.19 million in 2003, has one of the world's highest population densities of over 6,086 persons per square kilometre. Although land reclamation efforts by the government have helped to increase the supply of land, Singapore still faces a severe land constraint. Thus, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) has proposed in the Concept Plan 2001, to construct higher buildings to accommodate more residents, particularly in the city area. The construction of the Duxton Plain public housing blocks in Tanjong Pagar is likely to set a new benchmark for the housing market in Singapore. This study aims to investigate the HDB residents' perception towards living in Pinnacle at Duxton. It will also examined their concerns as potential homebuyers about living in a 50th storey housing and the factors that attract and defer them from living in such dwellings. Lastly, this study also aims to find out the present living experience and the degree of happiness of living in the current housing unit. In general, the results show that 54.3% of the respondents would like to live in a 50th storey-housing block. 71.6% of the respondents preferred floor level is between 16th to 33rd storey and they are most attracted to the view that super high-rise housing have to offer. At the same time, 83.2% of the respondents are very happy with the present unit and floor level that they are current residing.