The people's heritage : local community and identity of a modern built heritage in Singapore, the case of People's Park Complex

Abstract

In 2001, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and DOCOMOMO launched a joint programme to identify, document and promote built heritage from the 19th and 20th centuries with the aim of establishing framework to discuss the significance of this burgeoning heritage, how to conserve the important values of this heritage and facilitate its management. With poor legal framework and low appreciation among the public, only twelve out of 730 properties related to modern heritage in a 2002 survey compiled by the World Heritage List and in 2004 another World Heritage List concluded under representation of modern heritage in Asia. Unlike those in Western countries, modern architecture in Asia is not as clearly defined. Indeed, when qualifying Asian representation, it is then important to determine how “Western” is interpreted, as Western histories have been transplanted into Asia through colonisation which may have displaced the indigenous cultures. Though each colonised nation developed its own long history and was never truly isolated from each other, trading via shipping routes created by the Chinese, Indian and Muslims established settlements in various continents resulting in the early-modern South-East Asian architecture that develop with largely Chinese, Indian and European architectural influences. This amalgamation of diverse native and foreign elements resulted in hybrid styles, yet Modern Architecture holds strong associations to Western architecture both within and outside of Asia, possibly explaining the under-representation from Asian nations. At present, there are few resources on how Asia defines modern heritage, UNESCO’s World Heritage Papers on the Identification and Documentation of Modern Heritage dissect the complicated relationship between modern heritage and the economic and social dimensions that contribute to the assessment of modern heritage buildings. Journal articles produced by organisations like DOCOMOMO and the modern Asian Architecture Network (mAAN) shed light on the emergence of modern architecture and DOCOMOMO’s journal on Modernism in Singapore gives greater understanding to the development of the built environment in Singapore. Presently no framework for conservation of modern heritage in Singapore exists and there is no clear definition of what constitutes modern heritage, or the framework associated with conserving it. Additionally, as a former British colony with a multi-layered history, examples of modern heritage may not be as recognisable when compared with Western modern heritage typologies as the approach to timelines don’t chronologically coincide. In this respect, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore is proactive in the ideas of conservation and released a Master Plan in 2014 which outline the key planning strategies for Housing, Transport, Economy, Recreation, Identity, and Public Spaces. While the URA has begun to protect modern architecture through over 7000 conserved buildings, it is not clearly defined how modern buildings are assessed nor has there been an inventoried list of modern heritage buildings in Singapore. Studying Singapore’s skyline today, it may be difficult to see that Singapore does in fact have a rich cultural landscape that is diverse and highly interesting. As People’s Park Complex sits within the context of a city with various elements, the heritage site will be approached as a cultural landscape in order to understand the variables which contribute to its heritage – one which retains a functioning social role in modern society, yet is connected with traditional way of life and in which the landscape is still evolving.