WHY CONSERVE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“Culture and the social networks of a neighbourhood are the critical space in a liveable city. And we got to create this together with citizens. It is not something that can be imposed top down. It has to bottom up.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Tharman Shamugaratnam, at the World City Summit 2016, Singapore.

Dakota Crescent SIT estate is an old neighbourhood comprising 17 low-rise, brick-clad housing blocks. Under the URA Masterplan 2015, the estate is scheduled for redevelopment and residents are slated to relocate by the end of 2016. However, there are increasing calls to look into the possibility to preserve the estate. An informal committee comprising of architects, Mountbatten grassroots leaders and residents as well as heritage enthusiasts was formed in October 2015 to study this issue. This proposal presents the findings of the committee and covers the following areas:

What is at Stake- Significance of Dakota Crescent Estate. The Dakota Crescent SIT estate is significant in terms of its history, architecture and social memories. It has historical links to Singapore’s civil aviation and public housing development, and exemplifies our national building journey. The estate’s layout and modernist architectural design reflects the post-war British town planning concepts. Such unique streetscape can no longer be found in Singapore or in other former British colonies in Asia. Home to a group of lower-income Singaporeans, the estate is a visual representation of the working class’s daily living, challenges and aspirations. Moreover, the neighbourhood is an everyday landscape, etched into the collective and individual memories of ordinary Singaporeans – a reminder of a bygone era.

Why Conserve- A Case for Conservation. The conservation of the Dakota Crescent SIT estate is related to its historical value. It is a classic example of Singapore’s early public housing - the last estate built by the SIT. Its conservation would add another attraction to Singapore’s list of cultural heritage for locals and foreigners to appreciate. This conserved space could serve as a catalyst to spur public debates about how the needs of built heritage conservation could be assessed and balanced against the competing claims of the contemporary urban agenda. Today, the Dakota Crescent SIT estate may appear to be a shabby neighbourhood. However, given time and opportunity, it might become a UNESCO heritage site in future. Therefore, it is important to conserve this space for future generations of Singaporeans to determine its meaning, value, purpose and design.

What we considered- Redevelopment versus Conservation Options. Four options were considered which range from full retention of all blocks and partial conservation, as illustrated below. The Dakota Crescent SIT estate conservation supports urban redevelopment by introducing new purposes, users, events and activities and thus rejuvenating the estate. This proposal supports the retention of the courtyard and riverfront blocks for the following reasons: (1) all four block typologies, dove-shaped playground and courtyard spaces are conserved, and thus retains the estate’s character and spatial integrity; (2) the commercial development provides infrastructural support to the conserved area; and (3) it allows pedestrian access from Old Airport Road to the conserved area.

How can we do it- Recommendation for Dakota Crescent Conservation. The conservation of the courtyard and riverfront blocks supports the area’s economic and social development, as illustrated in the following diagrams. The introduction of commercial developments, social care services and lifestyle business could promote the area’s economic vibrancy. Moreover, instead of constructing new rental flats and tourists accommodation, these SIT blocks could be converted into residences such as interim public housing for families awaiting their flats or heritage hotel/hostels. This mix-use concept would attract residents and workers, locals and expatriates, to use the space in new ways and thus create new social memories and community attachments to the place.

What Next- Future Opportunities. In other countries, conserved residential buildings serve a variety of purposes including creative spaces, hostels and upscale residences. In the same vein, the Dakota Crescent SIT estate could be put to similar uses. If we demolish the Dakota Crescent SIT estate, it would be lost forever from our urban landscape. By conserving it, we not only add diversity to our urban landscape but also allow future generations of Singaporeans to plan the type of urban city they aspire to live in.

This ground-up human-centric proposal to conserve Dakota Crescent fulfils the aspiration of creating a liveable Singapore, through the preservation of Dakota Crescent’s unique local culture, social networks and iconic landmarks. We hope that the ideas presented here will influence the redevelopment decision for the Dakota Crescent SIT estate.