PERPETUATING GEYLANG : PROTRACTING HETEROTOPIA

Abstract

With conservation of the shophouses along Geylang Road, growing construction and redevelopment of areas in and around Geylang as well as mounting pressure from local residences for a 'clean-up', the thesis postulates a change in the future of this unique landscape, notorious for prostitution and illegal activities. The client, Hotel 81, owns numerous love hotels in the area. Their intents are purely commercial. Like the rest of Singapore, they are intent on 'up-grading' themselves. Aware of these impending changes, they hope to broaden their clientele. Turning the tables on Singapore Tourism Board's numerous engineered plans to construct stories of Singapore. Hotel 81 hopes to tell a story of their own. A series of interventions are placed on some of the limited and remaining spaces which begin to tell the story of Geylang and also act as facilities to attract more tourists. These buildings establish relationships with the site in such a way, that through their use, the tourist beings to immerse himself in the structure and the stories of Geylang.