IN SEARCH OF IDENTITY IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

In the age of globalisation, where life is characterised by transience and the ease of forgetting one's identity, the author is concerned about the search for identity in the local urban environment. In particular, in Singapore, which is a capitalist driven nationstate, the intangible aspect of identity development is not accorded with equal priority and adequate attention, with most efforts being geared towards the attainment of economic goals over the decades of post-independence. It is thus necessary for Singapore to address the pressing issue of identity beyond the achievement of material goals. One's sense of identity is a crucial facet of the self, which manifests itself in different ways to different people. In reality, the planners' view that place identity is mainly ascribed to its physical elements such as landmarks, may not necessarily coincide with the perception of identity of the average man on the streets, but may involve other intangible qualities such as personalised responses and experiences. Therefore, preservation of identity should not be confined to the physical landscape. Social and cultural dimensions which involve psychological attachment that hold special meanings to people, is also crucial in safeguarding one's sense of identity and belonging in the urban environment. As places evolve with time, their identity evolves as well. The identity of places should be allowed to evolve naturally. The on-going challenge for Singapore thus lies in vigilant planning with higher degree of public participation to enhance the identity of the urban landscape and eventually the overall quality of life of Singaporeans.