REVISISTING THE SOCIAL VALUE OF VOID DECKS: ISSUESANDCHALLENGES
LIN YIHUA
B.Sc.(HeritageManagement,Hons)
ADissertationsubmittedinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsfortheDegreeof Master of Arts in Architectural Conservation
Department of Architecture
National University of Singapore
2024
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Iwanttoexpressmydeepappreciationfortheunwaveringsupportofmybeloved familythroughoutmystudiesandcareer.Withoutthem,Iwouldnotbeabletostand ontheshouldersofgiantstoseetheworldnow.
IamextremelygratefultoProf.HoPuay-Pengforbeingmydissertationsupervisor andfortheinvaluablecomments,anddiscussionsduringthisprocess.Iamthrilledto havegaineddifferentinsightsfromthisfieldwithhim,fromthecontextIamfamiliar withtothenewcasesthatprovidedmewithnewtakeaways.
To extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Nikhil Joshi. I am grateful for his different opinionsonmydissertation,whichinspiredmetocompletethispaper.Thediscussions with him have always been unexpected but prompt, providing me more possible directions.ManythanksalsotoDr.WongYunnChiiandProf.JohannesWidodofortheir preciouscommentsonmydissertationproposal.
I’mforevergratefultoallthepeopleIhavemetalongmyjourney. EspeciallyDr. Maxime Decaudin and Dr. Chen Yu in my master’s study and research journey. Each interactionhasbeenapricelessexperienceandavaluablelessonforme.Itisbecause ofeitherthegoodorbadpeopleIhaveencounteredthatIhavebecomewhoIamtoday. AsIwritethis,IamcurrentlyinMalacca,andIthankmyselfforcontinuingtotalkwith differentcommunitiesandexplorethisfieldafteralltheseyears.
ABSTRACT
ThisresearchfocusesonthedesignofvoiddecksinHousingDevelopmentBoard(HDB) flatsinSingapore,whichaccommodatemorethan80%ofthepopulation.Voiddecks, situated on the ground floor at HDB flats, serve as both access points and communal spaces,intendedtocultivateasenseofcommunityandidentity.Despiteongoingefforts to preserve estates with heritage significance and social value, persistent challenges and the origins of this narrative raise important issues. To explore residents' perspectivesonvoiddecksandaddresstheassociatedissuesandchallengesregarding theirsocialvalue,thisstudyemploysqualitativenetnography.Thefindingscontribute recommendationstoenhancethesocialsignificanceofvoiddeckswithinthe broader frameworkofsocialvalueandcommunityconnectionsinSingapore.Additionally,this studyshedslightonthehegemonicframeworkprevalentinpublicspaceplanningand underscores the necessity of comprehending void decks for future development endeavors.
KEYWORDS:Voiddecks;HDB;Publicspace;Socialvalue
WordsCount:9116words
Chapter 1 Introduction
100percenthomeownership,whetheritisHDBflat,condominium,terracehouseor landedproperty.1
Above isaquote from Mr. LeeKuan Yew,showing hisambition for realizing the 100percenthousingforSingaporecitizens.Thepublichousing(thereafter,HDBflats) builtbytheHousing&DevelopmentBoard(thereaftertheHDB)isthemostimportant residential house types in Singapore that there was already about 81 percent of Singapore’ s population reside in HDB flats in 1986, after 25 years of public housing developmentsince1961.2
Beforethewide-builtofHDBflats,theattapkampunghouseswerebelievedtobe the vernacular architecture in Singapore.3 The introduction of modernist housing paradigms on a large scale was initiated by the British colonial government and employedinthe1950sand1960swiththeSingaporeImprovementTrust(SIT).This ambitious urban endeavor was unprecedented in Singapore and involved extensive experimentation. Notably, the implementation of these new modern paradigms of publichousingresultedinadisruptionofthetraditionalurbanpublicspaces.Therewas no consideration given to preserving the vernacular housing environments or the utilizationofoutdoorspaces.Theabruptnessofthistransitionwassignificantasitled tothedisplacementandrelocationofasubstantialportionofthepopulationincolonial
1 WarrenFernandez, Our Homes: 50 Years of Housing a Nation (Singapore:StraitsTimesPress,2011).
2 Fernandez.
3 Beng‐HuatChua,“ModernismandtheVernacular:TransformationofPublicSpacesandSocialLifein Singapore,”in Understanding Singapore Society,ed.JinHuiOng,CheeKiongTong,andErnSerTan (Singapore:TimesAcademicPress,1997),423–42.
Singapore,makingwayfortheredevelopmentofcitycenters.4 In1950sto1960s,the focuswasonedemolishingandclearingthecitytotransformitintoaneconomichub of the emerging city-state, while the planners were also striving to revive and rejuvenatedynamicspacewithinthecity.Landbecameanimportantsourceasthecity startedtodevelop,withinlimitedland,therenewedemphasisplacedonpublicspaces onceagainhighlightsthesignificanceofcitiesasplaceswherepeoplegather,cultivate a sense of community, and shape their civic identity.5 Additionally, cities are seen as symbolic representations of citizenship, playing a vital role in promoting and expressingtheevolvingcentralityofurbanlife. Inthiscity-stateSingapore,HDBflats hadhousedover80%ofthepopulationandoccupiedalargeareaodlandinthiscitysate.TheyhavebecomeasymbolandidentityforSingapore.WithintheHDBflatsand newtown,therearealotofpublicspacetoconsolidatethecivicidentityandsocialize, suchasthecommunitycenter,children’splaygrounds,andthevoiddecks.
Void decks refer to open areas on the ground floor of HDB flats in Singapore. In architecturalterms,voiddecksexhibitcertaindistinctivefeaturessuchasload-bearing structuralcolumnsthatsupporttheresidentialunitsabove,unadornedwallsenclosing theelevatorandstairwellcore,aflatsurfacecomposedofconcreteortilesforthefloor, and indentations, edges, and drainage systems designed to channel rainwater away fromtheadjacentlandscapeorparkingspaces 6 However,voiddecksarenotvoidatall. Firstly,theyserveasthelinkwayforaccessingtotheelevatorsandtoresidents’flats. In addition, they serve the community as a kindergarten, senior citizens club, etc. Moreover, they also serve non-specific and temporary communal events, such as the funeralceremony,andweddingceremony.Voiddecksareconsideredasa“slackspace ”
4 LiminHee,“IntroductiontoStudy,”inConstructingSingaporePublicSpace,ed.LiminHee(Singapore: Springer,2017),1–22,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2387-3_1.
5 Hee.
6 StephenCairnsetal.,“Singapore’sVoidDecks,”in Public Space in Urban Asia,byWilliamSwLim (WorldScientific,2014),80–89,https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814578332_0005.
withinthesettingoftheNewTowns,whichwereportrayedas “undifferentiatedspace” bysomescholars.7
ThevoiddecksdesignwasanexpressionoftheHDB’ sattempttocreatetheeasily accessiblecommunalspaceforresidents.8 Itaimedtobuildasenseofcommunityand identitybyprovidingacommunalpublicspace.Thismadethevoiddeckauniqueand significantelementwithinSingapore'sbroaderplanningframeworkandtheNewTown planning initiative. However, as an undifferentiated public space, the narrative has promoted this non-space into everyone’ s space. Thus, the void decks design is also a riskyundertaking,whichisalsooneoftheresearchaimsofthispaperinunderstanding andassessingthesocialvalueofvoiddecks.
However,themajorityHDBflatsnowarewithvoiddecks,whicharenottheearly HDB style Some earliest SIT flats have already disappeared into the economic development.Someofthem,suchastheTiongBahru,TanglinHalt,andDakotaCrescent havebeenreceivedalotofbottom-upattentionandconversationontheirconservation. EspeciallyforDakotaCrescent,peoplewhoconcernedfortheestatehaveprepareda conservation report illustrating the heritage significance and proposing possible solutionsfortheredevelopmentoftheestatein2016.Inthisreport,residents’ memory andstorieswereconsideredashighsocialvalue Moreover,thecreationofvoiddecks wasproposedforsocialgatherings.9 SomeformerresidentsofDakotaCrescentraised theirvoicesforconservationspontaneously,withaclaimofsocialvalue.Voiddecksare notincludedintheearliestSITflats,oneofthepossiblesolutionsweretocreateone.It
7 Cairnsetal.
8 Cairnsetal.
9 “DakotaCrescentConservationReport,”2016, https://issuu.com/jonpoh2406/docs/conservation_report_final-lowres.
shows the important social function of void decks. And this further verifies HDB’ s attemptstocreatevoiddecksascommunalspaceforresidentsintheestate.Inaddition, the HDB’ s vision and mission is to build towns into a close-knit community.10 It will discussmorelaterinChapter2thatitseemslikethewholesocietyisbuildingHDBflats anarrativewithhighsocialvalueandcloseconnectionsamongresidents However,it isimportanttocarryoutthediscussionofwhatisbehindthesocialvalue,includingthe issuesandchallengesinthisbuiltnarrative.
1.1The Research Purpose
TheconstructionofHDBflatsstartedfromtheSITperiods,anduntilnowtheHDB oversees public housing affairs. And there are still new flats and new towns in construction now. Under the narrative of a high level of social value, the hidden meaningsbehindarevitalandyettobeunderstood.Thus,thispaperaimstorevisitthe socialvalueofHDBflats,investigatingtheissuesandchallengesundersocialvalueto uncoverthehiddenmeaningsorsacrificeofsocialvalue.Thus,theresearchquestions ofthispaperare:
1.Whataretheunderlyingimplicationsbehindthenarrativethatvoiddeckshold socialvalue?
2.Whatarethecurrentissuesandchallengesthatvoiddecksarefacing?
10 Housing&DevelopmentBoard,“VisionandMission,”accessedNovember29,2023, https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/vision-mission-and-values/vision-and-mission.
1.2Scope of Research
The aims of this paper is to revisit the void decks as public space, for further reconfigurationofsocialvalue.ThispaperhaschosenSingaporeastheresearchcontext, revisitingthevoiddecksasapublichousingmythintheregionanddiscussingthesocial valueofvoiddecksfromaconservationperspective.
1.3Literature Review
To have a comprehensive understanding of the context and background, more preciseliteraturereviewwillbeaddressedinChapter2.Thissectionisgoingtodivide into3sections.Firstly,publicspaceasheritagewillbediscussedtoprovideageneral connection between void deck and heritage. Public space is usually a place where people can gather together, which might also contain a lot of collective memory Secondly,itwilldiscussthegeneralhistoryandevolutionofpublicspaceinSingapore. ThissectionisgoingtointroducetheimportanceofopenpublicspaceinSingapore,and how it ultimately developed into void deck. Thirdly, it will look into the general narrativeofHDBflatsandvoiddecks.Whatpreviousscholarshaveaddressedandwhat ismissinginthenarrativebuilt forthevoiddecks,whichiscommonlyconsideredas highsocialvalue.
1.4 Methodology
Thispaperisgoingtolookintopreviousscholarlyliterature,compareandanalyze whatismissinginthecurrentnarrative.Thepaperisgoingtousethenetnographyas
aqualitativemethodforanalysis.Thispaperisgoingtocollectpeople’sopinionsofvoid decksfromthecommentsofonlineblogwith“voiddecks”asthesearchingwords After that, the author is going to use the coding as the first step to analyze the collected comments, later grouped together for theme analysis, which will be discussed in Chapter4indetail.
1.5Limitations
Firstofall,theprofilesofthecollectedcommentauthorsremainunknown,which cannotguaranteethediversityofthedata.Thismightcreatebiasamonginternetusers and non-internet users,as well as residentsliving in different typesof HDB flats and towns.Furthermore,duetotimeconstraints,thispaperonlyhasaccesstonetnography for collecting primary data online. However, people tend to provide more genuine answerswhensharingtheirthoughtsonline,whichmeansthatthispapermighthave captureddatathatanin-personinterviewcannotgather.Atthesametime,thecollected data might only be specific enough to address a single issue based on similar cases. Lastly,theaccesstosocialmediaisnotextensiveenoughtogatherabroaderrangeof opinions.
2.1 The Heritage Significance of Public Space
2.1.1
Scope of Heritage
To begin with, Athens Charter considered the restoration of monuments as a historic and artistic endeavor.11 During the 1930s, heritage was primarily associated withindividualhistoricmonuments.TheAthensCharterlaidthegroundworkforthe subsequent creation of the Venice Charter, which introduced the concept of authenticity based on historical evidence. Venice Charter has further expanded the notionofhistoricmonumentsbeyondsingularstructuresofaestheticandarchitectural significance, living testaments to the traditions of past generations based on Athens Charter,itissharedamongpeopleandcanbetransmittedcollectivelywithallauthentic richness.12 AnothersignificantmilestoneistheBurraCharter,whichevolvedfromthe principles of the Venice Charter but drew in the Asia-Pacific region. Burra Charter emphasizesthat:
Placemeanssite,area,land,landscape,buildingorotherwork,groupofbuildingsor otherworks,andmayincludecomponents,contents,spacesandviews.13
Instead of focusing solely on individual monuments or built heritage, the Burra Charter expanded its scope to include multiple buildings, areas, and landscapes.This universal conservation charter introduced the concept of preserving open spaces. Similarly,WashingtonCharteremphasizedtheimportanceofurbanareasandhistoric
11 FirstInternationalCongressofArchitectsandTechniciansofHistoricMonuments, The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments,1931.
12 TheSecondInternationalCongressofArchitectsandTechniciansofHistoricalMonuments, International Charter for The Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (The Venice Charter 1964),1964.
13 AustraliaICOMOS, The Burra Charter (Burwood,Victoria:AustraliaICOMOS,1999).
towns,aswellashighlightingthesignificanceofgreenandopenspaces.14 TheValletta Principles further emphasized the “Spirit of Place”, acknowledging that a place possesses not only physical heritage but also a distinct “spirit” . 15 Moreover, Xi'an Declaration placed emphasis on the setting and immediate surroundings of heritage structures,recognizingthebroaderenvironment.16 Thisoverviewofpastinternational chartersrevealsthattheconceptofheritagecontinuestoexpand,encompassinggroups ofbuildings,places,andevenpublicspaces.
2.1.2 Heritage Significance of Public Space
Withintherealmofcontemporaryarchitecturaltheory,theconceptofgeniusloci holdssignificantsignificanceinthecreationofmeaningfulplaces,anditfallsunderthe philosophical realm of phenomenology. This area of architectural discourse is particularlyexaminedbyChristianNorberg-Schulz Hedividedthespatialorganization into space and characteristics. He considered that concentration, directionality, and rhythmaretheprimaryqualitiesinherentinspecificspaces;“characteristics”isamore generalyetspecificconceptthanspace.17 Ononehand,characteristicsimplyageneral comprehensiveatmosphere,whileontheotherhand,theyrefertospecificformsand theessenceofelementsthatdefinespace.Whenpeoplesettle,theyfindthemselvesnot
14 ICOMOS, Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas (Washington Charter) (Washington,1987).
15 ICOMOSCIVVIH,“TheVallettaPrinciplesfortheSafeguardingandManagementofHistoricCities, TownsandUrbanAreas,”2011,https://civvih.icomos.org/valletta-principles-english-french/.
16 ICOMOS, Xi’An Declaration on The Conservation of the Setting of Heritage Structures, Sites and Areas (Xi’an,China,2005).
17 ChristianNorberg-Schulz, Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture (NewYork:Rizzoli, 1980).
only immersed in space but also exposed to certain environmental characteristics. These two related aspects can be referred to as a “sense of identity” and “sense of direction”. In other words, the experience of a place embodies a satisfying overall quality. Norberg-Schulz believed that the characteristics of man-made places are largely determined by the degree of “ openness ” . 18 The degree of solidity and transparencyinboundariesdetermineswhetheraspaceisisolatedorinterconnected with a larger context. However, man-made places are more than just spaces with various openings. The characteristics of a place mostly depend on how standing and soaringareconcretelymanifested.Dependsontheopennessofaplaceandhowpeople perceive, every space has its own characteristics. The author’s interpretation of this “spirit” or“characteristics”isthesignificanceofculturalheritage.Culturalsignificance refers to social value, scientific value, spiritual value, aesthetic value, and historical value.19 It important to find out the value on built heritage with corresponding characters-defineelements.However,insituationswhereaestheticsandarchitectural value are slightly weaker, the heritage perspective within public spaces needs to be provenfromanotherperspectiveemphasizedinotheraspects.
The heritage significance of public space is a topic that has gained attention in various contexts. The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program highlights the
18 Norberg-Schulz.
19 AustraliaICOMOS, The Burra Charter
importance of preserving heritage in significant estuarine areas. 20 This program emphasizesthecharacterofopenplacesininfluencingpeople’sidentityandimproving the well-being, as seen in the Wuchang’s Heritage District Assessment of Public Spaces.21 These two studies have presented the important functions of public spaces that promote the social value of heritage. Moreover, thesignificance of designing the publicspaceinshapingtheperceptionofhistoricalareashighlightsthelinkbetween heritage sites and public spaces. It implies that a lively public life contributes to a recognition of the space as a valuable heritage.22 Furthermore, the value of modern public space has been previously investigated as well. The result showed that the possibleeffectsofsocialvalueondecisionspertainingtotheutilization,maintenance, orpotentialenhancementsofpublicspaces.23 Thisindicatedthatsocialvalueisequally importanttobediscussinthemodernpublicspace,andastimegoesby,thesocialvalue mightexceedthatoftheaestheticvalue.24 Thisprovidesanopportunitytodiscussthe designedmodernpublicspaceknownasthevoiddeck,whichholdssocialvalue.
20 ConnecticutDepartmentofEnergy&EnvironmentalProtection,“TheRecreationandNatural HeritageTrustProgram,”Connecticut’sOfficialStateWebsite,2022,https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/OpenSpace/The-Recreation-and-Natural-Heritage-Trust-Program.
21 WuhanLandUseandUrbanSpatialPlanningResearchCenter,“AssessmentofPublicSpacesina HeritageDistrict,Wuchang,Wuhan,China,”2018,https://unhabitat.org/assessment-of-public-spacesin-a-heritage-district-wuchang-wuhan-china.
22 EmelBirerandPınarÇalışırAdem,“RoleofPublicSpaceDesignonthePerceptionofHistorical Environment:APilotStudyinAmasya,” Frontiers of Architectural Research 11,no.1(February1,2022): 13–30,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2021.09.003.
23 ClaudineDéomandNicoleValois,“WhoseHeritage?DeterminingValuesofModernPublicSpacesin Canada,” Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 10,no.2(January1, 2020):189–206,https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-11-2018-0083.
24 DéomandValois.
2.2 The History of Singapore’s Public Space
2.2.1
The Evolution of Singapore’ s Public Space
ThehistoryofSingapore'sbuiltenvironmenthighlightsthreesignificantareasthat shape the evolution of public space in Singapore; Firstly, the contestation of space throughtheinteractionsbetweenmunicipalauthoritiesandlocalcommunitiesduring the colonial, and the post-colonial periods; Secondly, the process of reclaiming and redefining space in a phase that can be considered as post-post-colonial, where alternativepublicspacesemergetofostersocialcohesion;Thirdly,thetransformation ofpublicspaceintoprivateentitiesandtheinterplaybetweencorporateentitiesand civil society in the formation and utilization of these areas. 25 This classification recognized the general evolution of the public space from chronological order and urban development perspective. In addition, the discussion on the public space was believed to predominantly centered around in examining the social composition of publicspace,theconflictsforcontrolandownershipthathaveunfoldedoverthepast 180-yearsofcontestationandlandreclamation,alongwiththegradualtransformation of the public domain into private or corporate entities. This section will give a brief reviewofthefirstandsecondtopics.
The public space in Singapore might first started to be amusement parks that consideredasasemi-publicspace.ThegrowthofSingapore’ samusementparksincan
25 JasonPomeroy,“DefiningSingaporePublicSpace:FromSanitizationtoCorporatization,” Journal of Urban Design 16,no.03(August1,2011):381–96,https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2011.571164.
be attributed to the prospects presented by a rapidly expanding city population. Additionally,incolonialperiodofSingaporefromthe1920sto1930s,thisimpactwas intensifiedbycities’formsofamusementandmassconsumerculturesthatoriginated from western countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries 26 Singapore was gradually exposed to a boarder range of commercialized spectacles, which held a significantroleintheevolutionofurbanamusementparks.27 TheNewWorldwasthus emerged during that time. It was conceived as a space where people from all social classescouldcometogetherandsocializeinonelocation.Bythemid-1960s,thedecline oftheNewWorldamusementparkcoincidedwiththeincreasingsegregationofleisure spaces according to social class, which mirrored the social stratification of the established post-independence society.28 The New World played a substantial role in shapingthepublicenvironmentsduringtheinter-warmoderneraincolonialSingapore.
The depiction of Singapore's early public spaces heavily relies on anecdotal accountsprovidedbyearlyEuropeantouristsandcoloniallaborersinSingapore.These accounts specifically emphasize the sensory encounters they had with traditional
26 YunnChiiWongandTanKarLin,“EmergenceofACosmopolitanSpaceforCultureandConsumption: TheNewWorldAmusementPark‐Singapore(1923–70)intheInter‐WarYears,” Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 5,no.2(August1,2004):279–304,https://doi.org/10.1080/1464937042000236757.
27 WongandLin.
28 WongandLin.
streets and shophouses.29 Certain traditional shophouses' 5-foot way attempted to reconcile the model commercial entrepôt created by the British Empire with the predominantlylocalcommunitiesfocusedoncommerce.The5-footwaybecamespaces wheretheinfluenceoftheselocalcommunitiesintersected,andnegotiationsofpower took place within this space involving the public.30 However, these kinds of public spaces as well as some cultural heritage were all demolished in the post-colonial periods and during the time that this newly autonomous nation dealt with urban redevelopment.31 Thisledtotheestablishmentofexplicitlyplannedvoiddeckwithin repetitive HDB blocks. Due to the belief held by the state that economic prosperity depended on modernization and societal stability, it was deemed necessary for the state’ seconomicsustainabilityandsuccess.
32
Thereweredifferenttensionsamongdifferentgroupsduringthetimeofconflict in acquiring the landor in public space using. Public space in Singapore wasevolved from amusements,early shophouses to modern HDB flats. As mentioned above, HDB flats and void deck is with modernity, a result of the developing new independent country.
29 VictorSavage,“StreetCultureinColonialSingapore,”in Public Space: Design, Use, and Management, ed.BengHuatChuaandNormanEdwards(Singapore:SingaporeUniversityPress,NationalUniversity ofSingapore,1992).
30 BrendaS.A.Yeoh, Contesting Space in Colonial Singapore: Power Relations and The Urban Environment,SingaporeStudiesinSocietyandHistory(Singapore:SingaporeUniversityPress,2003).
31 GioklingOoi, Future of Space: Planning, Space, and the City,GeographyandEnvironmentalResearch (Singapore:EasternUniversitiesPress,2004).
32 Ooi.
2.2.2
The Changing Public Space in residential areas
The public space in residential areas can be dated back to the vernacular environmentwiththeattaphousesinthekampungandthepublichousingflatsinthe modernistenvironment.Inthevernacularenvironmentofkampungs,thepublicspaces aremainlyspacesinthehouse,aroundthehouseandoutsidethehousebutwithinthe kampung 33 Whilethespacesinkampungareusuallyinformalbecausemajorityofthem are not bydesigned and are formed naturally in dailyoperationsof life. Even for the spaces in Malay house with different specifications such as separating the men with women ’ s space enter from the back of the house with certain hierarchy, it happened instead of by intention.34 For instance, the veranda (or Serambi in Malay) before the house (Figure 1 & Figure 2). During the 1950s, there was a shift in the architectural styleofMalayhouses,wheretheytransitionedfrombeingraisedonstiltstobeingbuilt directlyontheground.Asaresultofthischange,thecommunalareasassociatedwith thesehouseswerediminished,andonlythespacelocatedinfrontofthehouse,beneath itsthatchedroof,remainedasaconnectedlanewayaspublicspace.Moreover,thereare alsopublicspacesaroundthehousebutwithinthekampung,wherehavemettheneeds of the men. For example, the coffee-shop, which is exclusively dominated by male. Coffee-shopshavebecomeagoodplaceforthemtogatherandsocialize.
33 Chua,“ModernismandtheVernacular:TransformationofPublicSpacesandSocialLifeinSingapore.” 34 Chua.
In the kampong, public spaces for social activity emerged spontaneously and irregularly,whereasthecommunityspacesin theHDBflatsaredeliberatelyplanned. Enter the modernist environment, the public housing was first started with SIT. The TiongBahruhousingestatewasthefirstpublichousinginSingaporestartedfrom1936. The Tiong Bahru housing estate has been established as a prototype for subsequent publichousingdevelopments.Inthisestate,allunitswithinablockfaceonedirection, with the front doors and back doors face the opposite direction. This arrangement resultsinapatternwherethetwofrontdoorsfaceeachother,andthebackdoorsface withthebackoftheadjacentflats.37 Asaresult,thisarrangementcreatesasequenceof alternating “main roads” and “back alleys” along the pedestrian pathways that run paralleltothelengthoftheflats.
36 Chua.
37 PeiYuGeraldineHo,“FromKampongSpacesToGatedCondominiums-TheEvolutionOfCommunity Spaces”(Singapore,NationalUniversityofSingapore,2012).
The"mainroads"maintainaformalappearanceandgenerallyremainunchanged by the residents. In contrast, the "back alleys" (Figure 3) have undergone significant customization, with the inclusion of furniture and extensive gardening around the ground-level entrances to the housing units.38 Through a self-organized process, the residentshaveestablishedtheirownsystemofsocialorder.Additionally,thesesmall publicspacesbearresemblancetotheimmediatesurroundingsoftraditionalChinese houses or the sheltered areas beneath the Malay houses, where people especially womenandchildrengathertorelaxandcasualtalk.Althoughthefacilitationofsocial activityinthesespaceswasnotintentionallyplanned,theyhaveeffectivelyadoptedthe characteristics of spontaneous gathering spots reminiscent of the kampong era, addressingthecurrentcommunalneedsoftheresidents.
38 Ho.
Inabookdocumentedthevanishingpublichousingestate,SITflatssimilartothe Tiong Barhu housing Estate, and some HDB flats that can be seen today were also documented.39 Thedesignandspaceareever-changingintheHDBflats.Oneofthemost commonly-seenstructurenowadaysisthevoiddeck.Thefirstblockwithvoiddeckwas believedtodesigninJalanKlinikBlock26in1963;However,itwasonlyuntilthat1973
39 KimChayKohandEugeneOng, Singapore’s Vanished Public Housing Estates (Singapore,2017).
thatthevoiddecksbecameanormtobeincludedasthegroundfloor.40 TheNational HeritageBoard(NHB)publishedanE-bookinhonoringthevoiddeckin2013,which furtherhighlightingtheimportanceofvoiddeckstothesocietyfromaheritagepointof view:
Theobjectivesforintroducingvoiddecksweretocreateopportunitiesforresidents tomeet,interactandbondthroughtheregularuseofsharedcommonspacesandto provideresidentswithspacetoholdsocialfunctions,celebrationsandfuneralrites.It wasalsopartofHDB’seffortstoprovide“asenseofrelief”inthedenselybuiltcity.41
Toconclude,thissectionhasreviewedintothegeneralevolutionofpublicspace fromamacroperspective,thenspecificallyzoomedintothepublichousing.Voiddecks areconsideredasaresultofmodernityofanewyoungcountry,anditwasconsidered asimportantinthedailysocialinteractionofHDBflatsresidentsbyNHB.Morereview aboutvoiddeckswillbeaddressedinthecomingsection.
2.3 The Social Value: Narrative of Void Decks
There are three aims of the public housing in Singapore: 1) Ensuring that affordablehousingandasatisfactorylivingenvironmentareaccessibletothemajority of the population; 2) Promoting the development of a sustainable and unified urban
40 Cairnsetal.,“Singapore’sVoidDecks.”
41 NationalHeritageBoard, Community Heritage Series III: Void Deck,Book3ofNationalHeritage Board’sE-BooksCollection,2013, https://www.nhb.gov.sg/~/media/nhb/files/resources/publications/ebooks/nhb_ebook_void_decks.p df.
community; and 3) Striving to achieve a high level of resident satisfaction.42 By the conclusionofMarch1985,approximately81%(2.09million)ofthetotalpopulationof 2.54millionresidedinHDBflats.43 TheevolvingSingaporecitizenthroughstate-driven socialengineering,arealsoshiftingthemselves AccordingtoChang,thestateviewed traditional shop house streets, which promoted spontaneous and unstructured interactions, as unfavorable because they prioritized effectiveness, orderliness, and advancement.Theadventofeconomicprogressandathrivingretailbusinessledtothe demise of the traditional street, relocating crowds to controlled and sanitized environments such as internalized streets, shopping malls, or thoroughfares. These privatelyownedspaces,asChangargued,contributetosocietalsegregation,promoting aperceptionofsafetyanddesirabilitybycateringtospecificsocialgroupsandtenants. They enforce particular behaviors through explicit governance, employing measures likesecurityguardsorCCTVsurveillance.44 TheHDBhasbeenanactiveurbandesigner Inordertokeeptheintegrityandclarityofvisualstructure,giverespecttothepleasant and people-oriented public housing environment, a public housing design handbook had published in 1995 in providing standards for the HDB flats design in a written form.45 Thevoiddeckfirstappearedin1963,anditonlybecameanormin1973.While
42 KoonPohLimetal.,“HDBAndItsResidents,”in Housing a Nation: 25 Years of Public Housing in Singapore,ed.AlineK.WongandStephenH.K.Yeh(Singapore:PublishedbyMaruzenAsiaforHousing &DevelopmentBoard,1985).
43 Limetal.
44 J.H.Chang,“(De)Formingthe‘Streets’:LandReclamationsandThe(Re)ProductionofUrbanSpaces inSingapore,”in 2nd Great Asian Streets Symposium “Public Space,” 2002,25.
45 SiewLengFun,ed., Public Housing Design Handbook (Singapore:ArchitecturalDept.,Housing& DevelopmentBoard,1995).
intheHDBdesignhandbookthevoiddeckshavebeenconsideredaspartofthemicro designwithintheblock:
Thevoiddeckofablockisthemajorconnectorbetweentheexteriorandtheliftlobby or staircase. Entry to the block and the flat is from the void deck and hence, it is desirabletoprovideeasyaccessibilityfromtheexteriortothisspace.46
Thedesignhandbookhashighlightedtheimportanceofvoiddecksasaconnector in the HDB flats structure. Indeed, another important function of void decks are ventilation. Moreover, the void decks are also recognized by its connector in socialization.
2.3.1 The social Value of Void Decks
TheHDBhaspublishedseveral surveysonresidents’well-beingandsatisfaction livinginHDBflats.Forinstant,inthesurveytoResidents’Profile,HousingSatisfaction and Preferences of Public Housing in Singapore, it discovered that void decks hold a highpotentialtobecomeabondingspaceforresidentstomeetandinteractwith.47 In thesamesurveythatbeingdonein2018,itshowedanincreaseofhouseholdinsuing voiddeckasprecinctfacilities.Moreover,the2018surveyhighlightedthevoiddecks alongwithprecinctpavilionsasplacesforinformalgatherings,andsocialfunctionsfor
46 Fun,70.
47 Housing&DevelopmentBoard,“PublicHousinginSingapore:Residents’Profile,HousingSatisfaction andPreferences-HDBSampleHouseholdSurvey2014”(Housing&DevelopmentBoard,2014).
HDBresidents.48 IntheHDBSampleHouseholdSurveyin2018,theSocialWell-Being ofHDBCommunitiesandWell-BeingoftheElderly,voiddecksareconsideredasfacility thatcontributingtothewell-beingoftheresidents.49 IntheE-bookpublishedbyNHB, itintroducedthevariousfunctionsofvoiddecks,suchasbeingusedbyChinesefuneral, Malay Wedding, neighborhood police, fire posts, mama shops, bird singing corners, etc.50 Void decks are not only public space that holding collective memory of the surroundingresidents,butalsospacewithpracticalfunctionsinincreasingresidents’ well-being.However,inHDB’snarrative,itonlyconsidersvoiddeckasafacilityinstead ofarecognizedpublicspace.Moreover,inthesomenewHDBflats,thegroundofeven thefirstfloorisnolongerwithvoiddeck(Figure4).Thus,scholars’critiquethatvoid decksdesignisactuallyagamblewithuncertainty.51
48 Housing&DevelopmentBoard,“PublicHousinginSingapore:Residents’Profile,HousingSatisfaction andPreferences-HDBSampleHouseholdSurvey2018”(Housing&DevelopmentBoard,2021).
49 Housing&DevelopmentBoard,“PublicHousinginSingapore:SocialWell-BeingofHDBCommunities andWell-BeingoftheElderly-HDBSampleHouseholdSurvey2018”(Housing&DevelopmentBoard, 2021).
50 NationalHeritageBoard, Community Heritage Series III: Void Deck
51 Cairnsetal.,“Singapore’sVoidDecks.”
Furthermore,Ooiconductedastudyonthesubjectofcontestedpublicspaces of post-colonial period. Ooi investigated how the colonial power transfer to this newly independent state, which leading to the urban rejuvenation program that gradually eradicatedhistoricalheritageandpublicspaces.Instead,purposefullyvoiddeckswere introducedwithinuniformpublichousingblocks,asthestatebelievedthateconomic success required modernity and social order.52 Ooi justified that these high-rise and standardizedvoiddecksbecamearenasofconflictbetweenthemunicipalauthorities andresidents.Themunicipality'sstrictgovernanceandlimitedcomprehensionoftheir socialsignificanceclashedwiththeresidents'yearningforsocialinteraction,especially astheytransitionedfromdiverseshophousestreetstohigh-densityand homogeneous complexes.
52 Ooi, Future of Space.
TheconflictsaroseduringtheinitialtransitionofresidentstoHDBflats,aswellas withthegradualdisappearanceofvoiddecksinthenewHDBflatdesigns.Thisraises the question of whether the social value attributed to the void deck is truly of such significancethatiteliminatesanyconflicts,issues,orchallenges.
Chapter 3 Methodology
Thispaperhasappliedqualitativenetnographyasthemainresearchmethodology. Netnography refers to a qualitative approach adapting ethnography to study "net", which constitutes practices, online groups, and cultures formed via internet-based communications.53 Withintherealmofsocialscienceresearch,netnographyhasgained widespread recognition as a valuable research method. It has been employed to investigate a diverse range of subjects, encompassing identity, culture, social relationships,andcivicempowerment.54 NetnographywasfirststudiedbyKozinetsin 2010. Compared with traditional ethnography, he considered that netnography is unobtrusiveanditcanstudythetrendbothovertimeandinrealtime.55
Thenatureofthispaperislikeacritiqueofthesocialvaluecontainedinvoiddecks. It is wise to be unobtrusive so that to investigate a more real answer then physical ethnographicalapproach.Moreover,byapplyingnetnography,theauthorcanaccessto a wide range of people, instead of only focusing on single field. According to Addeo, thereare6phasesfordesigninganetnographyresearch(Figure5).
53 FeliceAddeoetal.,“DoingSocialResearchonOnlineCommunities:TheBenefitsofNetnography,” Athens Journal Of Social Sciences 7,no.1(December5,2019):9–38,https://doi.org/10.30958/ajss.7-11.
54 Addeoetal.;GaryBowler,“Netnography:AMethodSpecificallyDesignedtoStudyCulturesand CommunitiesOnline,” The Qualitative Report,December8,2014,https://doi.org/10.46743/21603715/2010.1341.
55 Addeoetal.,“DoingSocialResearchonOnlineCommunities.”
5. 6 Phases of Netnography Design56
Theresearchquestionsinthispaperare:1)Whataretheunderlyingimplications behind the narrative that void decks hold social value? And, 2) What are the current issuesandchallengesthatvoiddecksarefacing?Aftercompletingtheliteraturereview, thisstudyhasdecidedtofocusonthe issue that sparkedpublicdiscussionregarding the closure of the Bedok North street soccer court in November of last year as the researchfield(Figure6).
56 Addeoetal.
Through a comprehensive search, it was discovered that several online newspapers and media outlets expressed different perspectives on this issue in DecemberoflastyearandJanuaryofthisyear.Additionally,theauthoractivelyengaged in three lively discussions on Reddit withinthe onlinecommunity. Consequently, the authorcollectedandanalyzedthecommentsfromReddit’scommentaryofthesethree articles. Ultimately, a total of 54 useful and relevant comments were gathered, as detailedinAppendixA.Themaincriteriaforcollectionincludedreadabilityandstrong relevance to the content of the article, as well as their opinions towards void decks. Subsequently, the author coded the collected data, identified relevant keywords, and
57 RuthYeo,“#Trending:TemporaryClosureofBedokNorthStreetSoccerCourtOverNoiseComplaints SparksDebateOnline,”TODAY,accessedApril16,2024, https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/futsal-court-bedok-kampong-chai-chee-2332216.
conducted a thematic study. This process resulted in the formation of three main themesforfurtherdiscussioninChapter4
Chapter 4 Analysis and Discussion
Inthispaper,theauthorhasobservedandexaminedthecommentaryfromthree selectedonlinearticlesdiscussingtheclosureoftheBedokNorthstreetcornersoccer courtinNovember2023.Basicbackgroundinformationoftheselectedarticlescanbe foundinTable1below.
Table 1. Summary of Selected Articles (edited by the author)
A1 CNA
Commentary:Voiddecksshould notbevoidofpeople58 25Jan2024 William Wan A2 Today
TheBigRead:AreHDBvoid decksstillthecommunityspaces weknowthemtobe?59 12Jan,2024 RENALD LOH A3 TheStrait Times
Whatabarricadedvoiddeck saysaboutSingaporeansand playintheheartland60 24Dec,2023
58 WilliamWan,“Commentary:VoidDecksShouldNotBeVoidofPeople,”CNA,2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/void-deck-football-court-closure-use-communityspace-children-seniors-4070606.
59 RenaldLoh,“TheBigRead:AreHDBVoidDecksStilltheCommunitySpacesWeKnowThemToBe?,” TODAY,2024,https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-are-hdb-void-decks-still-communityspaces-we-know-them-be-2341151.
60 GabrielleChan,“WhataBarricadedVoidDeckSaysAboutSingaporeansAndPlayInTheHeartland,” TheStraitsTimes,2024,https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/what-a-barricaded-void-deck-saysabout-singaporeans-and-play-in-the-heartland.
TheprimaryargumentputforthinArticleA1isthatvoiddeckshavebeensubject tocomplaintsduetoissuessuchasnoise,andemphasizingtheneedforindividualsto seek common ground among diverse groups and foster mutual understanding and respect. The article highlights that respect plays a pivotal role under this context of issues.
The main argument presented in Article A2 asserts that void decks serve as architecturalstructuresthatprovideshade,protectionfromrain,andventilation,while alsoservingastypicalpublicspacewithintheNeighborhood.Thearticlebrieflyreviews the evolution of void decks in Singapore, noting that some modern HDB flats have eliminated the void decks design, and the ground floor was designed in a maze-like manner, making it difficult to move from one block to another as easily as before. Instead, the current maze-like ground-level design may require the use of signs to navigatetowardsadesireddestination.Furthermore,thearticlesuggeststhatactivities andgatheringswithinvoiddecksarespontaneousandinteractive.Withtheclosureof void decks, not only does the noise decrease, but also the level of interaction among individualsdiminishes.
ArticleA3arguesthatvoiddecksplayasignificantroleinfosteringsocialcohesion. The article highlights that in high-density environments like Singapore, void decks provide a certain level of order and allow for more efficient utilization of space. It further mentions that if these spaces were transformed into reservation-based
entertainment facilities, where people have to vacate on times, it would decrease conviviality, warmth, and friendliness among individuals. The article's conclusion highlights that while void decks still serve as venues for community gatherings like weddingsandfunerals,thefrequencyofyoungpeopleandchildrenutilizingthemhas decreasedcomparedtothepast.
Overall, these three articles, examined different aspects of void decks and their significance in Singapore's urban context. These three articles have highlighted the socialsignificanceofvoiddecksforsocialgatherings Meanwhile,someconcernsofthe diminishingtrendofusingvoiddecksandthedisappearanceofvoiddecksinnewHDB designtriggerstheauthor’sinterest,whichiscontrastingwiththenewestHDBSample HouseholdSurvey2018onSocialWell-BeingofHDBCommunitiesandWell-Beingof theElderlyindicatinganincreasepercentageinusingthevoiddecks.61 Thisshowsboth potentialissuesandchallengesinHDBflats.
Based onthe thematicstudy analyzingthe comments underthese three articles, theresultsrevealvaluableinsightsintotheperceptionsandexperiencesofindividuals regarding void decks and their social value. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted implications associated with void decks, including theneedformutualrespect,thearchitecturalaspectsoftheirdesign,andtheirrolein
61 Housing&DevelopmentBoard,“PublicHousinginSingapore:SocialWell-BeingofHDBCommunities andWell-BeingoftheElderly-HDBSampleHouseholdSurvey2018.”
fostering social cohesion. This prompts us to delve deeper into the nuances of these themesandexploretheirimplicationsforurbanplanningandcommunitydevelopment. After analysis with the three articles, as well as the corresponding comments on the articlesandvoiddecks,theauthorhasidentifiedthreethemesforfurtherdiscussion:
4.1TheConflictsofNeedsinthePracticalVoidDecks,4.2Challenges:TheDisappearing ofVoidDecks,and4.3HegemonicNarrativeofVoidDecks.Aconceptframeworkwas developedforthisstudy:
7 Concept Framework of This Paper (Edited by the author)
4.1 The Conflicts of Needs in the Practical Void Decks
Basedontheanalyzedresults,themajorityofrespondentsagreethatvoiddecks hold significant social significance and consider them an essential structure within public housing spaces.However, some of them mention various issues such as noise. For instance, A1.19, a resident living on a low floor, disagrees with the viewpoint presentedinArticleA1andbelievesthatvoiddecksshouldnotbeclosedbutpreserved. She shares her experience during the lockdown, where she notices the absence of childrenandtheelderlyinvoiddecksandadmitstomissingthenoisethattheyusedto create.Ontheotherhand,thosewhoagreewithArticleA1acknowledgethatvoiddecks giverisetoissues,suchasnoiseproblemsforresidentsonlowerfloors,safetyconcerns
forpassersbycausedbychildrenplaying,andpollutionduringcertainreligiousrituals involving burning offerings. These reasons contribute to their support for the points madeinthearticle.Theseresponsesindicatethatvoiddeckspossesspracticalityand functionality.However,somehiddenissuesrelatedtovoiddeckshavenotbeenwidely addressedinmainstreamnarratives.Instead,thefocustendstobeontheirsocialvalue. Indeed,voiddecksareanidealplaceforgatherings.
Simultaneously, many commentators have expressed concerns regarding the decreasinguseanddisappearanceofvoiddecks.Forinstance,A2.7highlightshowoldstyle HDB flats' void decks provided tables and chairs for people to gather, whereas
A2.7 shares his experience in their new-style HDB flat, where the absence of seating discouragespeoplefromcongregating.Additionally,A2.8discussesthedifferencesin socialinteractionsbetweenresidentsofoldandnew-styleHDBflats Heperceivesthat in the old-style HDB flats, there was a significant amount of interactions between individuals, and even if someone did not wish to engage, they could directly communicatetheirpreference.Suchmodesofinteractionwereconsideredacceptable. However, in contemporary times, interpersonal relationships have become less dynamic,leadingtoamoreroboticinteractionbetweenindividuals.
A2.10 also highlights the multifaceted functionalities of void decks, expressing personalenjoymentinengaginginactivitieswithinvoiddecks.However,heobservesa decline in community spirit, where people no longer know each other, and race
relationsaredeteriorating.Thisunderscoresthesignificantrolethatvoiddecksplayin individuals' material lives, serving as a means to connect community residents. The developmentofpublicspacesinvolvesacomplexnegotiationthatencompassesvarious aspectssuchasphysicalspaceutilization,culturalidentity,communityformation,and politicalinterests.62 However,theconsistentlyhighsocialvalueattributedtovoiddecks hasresultedintheoverlookingofseveralissuesandtheneedtoaddresstheproblems they generate. It is crucial to consider potential solutions and contemplate ways to encouragemoreindividualstoreturntothispublicspacetosustainitshighsocialvalue. Simultaneously, some comments suggest that the issues surrounding void decks primarily stem from conflicting needs among the growing population, making it challengingtosimultaneouslysatisfythediverserequirementsofdifferentgroups.
4.2 Challenges: The Disappearing of Void Decks
Firstly, one of the primary challenges faced by void decks is how to address the knownconflictingissuestheyencounter.Someoftheissuesmentioned,suchasnoise problems and environmental pollution during religious rituals, are significantly correlated with the floor levels at which residents reside. Lower-floor residents are more susceptible to these issues, resulting in different experiences for residents on differentfloors.Singapore'sconceptofsocialequityhasevolvedovertheyears,initially focusingonprovidingbasicandhighlytargetedpublicassistancemeasuresintheearly
62 LiminHeeandGioklingOoi,“ThePoliticsofPublicSpacePlanninginSingapore,” Planning Perspectives 18,no.1(January1,2003):79–103,https://doi.org/10.1080/0266543032000047413.
decades after independence, to recent policy emphasis on ensuring a minimum standardoflivingandpromotingsocialfairness,suchasprovidingaffordableeducation andpublichousingservices.63 PublichousinginSingaporeisamanifestationofsocial equity. However, when discussing the issues pertaining to void decks, it becomes a reflection of partial unfairness for some individuals. Addressing the impact of these issuesondifferentindividualsandreducingtheireffectsbecomesoneofthechallenges.
The second, and more immediate challenge lies in the gradual disappearance of voiddecks.Voiddecks,asarchitecturallysignificantstructures,haveaddressedseveral issuesinland-scarceSingapore.Despitebeingreferredtoas"voids,"thesespaceshave becomeversatileandinclusive,accommodatingvariousactivities.However,voiddecks have never been officially recognized as public spaces, which poses a risk. In contemporary HDBdesigns,thepresenceofvoiddecksisbecomingscarce. Fromthe traditional5-foot-wayofshophousestotheverandainfrontoftraditionalMalayhouses, peoplehaveconductednumerousinteractionsinthesesmallspaces.Inthecontextof modernHDBhousing,corridorsandvoiddecksserveasconnectors,carryingoutthe samemission.
63 MathewMathewsandLeonardLim,“SocialEquityinSingapore,”in Social Equity in the Asia-Pacific Region: Conceptualizations and Realities,ed.MorgenJohansen(Cham:SpringerInternational Publishing,2019),215–33,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15919-1_12.
However, in some newer designs such as SKYTERRACE@DAWSON, we can only seeasmallsinglesquareinfrontofthebuilding(Figure8),andthebaseisoccupiedby a2to3-storyparkinglot(Figure9).Insteadofvoiddecks,thereareelevatedgardens asshowninFigure4andnumeroushigh-risegardens,asdepictedinFigure9below. Perhaps with the advancement of design and the increasing material needs of the people, the traditional HDB flats may no longer meet the current landscape requirements. Additionally, a large portion of the population in Singapore has established a connection with void decks and recognizes their importance. However, thegradualdisappearanceofvoiddecksposesachallengetotheirsocialsignificance. Furthermore,theopenspacesthatreplacethemmaynotnecessarilyfulfilltheroleof fostering social cohesion that void decks have played throughout history. Void decks alsoholdthememoriesofHDBflatresidents,servingaswitnessestotheirjourneyfrom childhoodtomarriageandevenpassingaway,thusbearinghistoricsignificance.
4.3 Hegemonic
Narrative of Void Decks
Last but not least, the author highlights that the current discourse surrounding voiddecksreflectsaformofhegemonism.Interestingly,commentsmadeinarticlesA1 and A3 also touch upon critical viewpoints related to political figures. Firstly, A1.7 suggests that one possible solution to repurpose void decks, other than preventing peoplefromentering,istotransformthemintoforinstance,nightmarkets.Thisidea wouldbewelcomedbyministersasitcouldgeneraterentalincome.Furthermore,A3.7 pointsoutthatinthecaseoftheBedokNorthstreetcornersoccercourtclosure,when
political leaders make decisions to close within the HDB environment without ever havinglivedinanHDBflat,theiractionsoftenaimtoreduceworkloadoravoidtrouble rather than making decisions that genuinely improve the quality of life for HDB residents. Therefore, the narrativesurrounding void decks, which possess significant socialsignificance,is,infact,highlyinfluencedbyatop-downapproach.
Inthe1980s,80%ofthepopulationresidedinHDBflats,markinganoticeableshift fromthefreeandunstructuredkampungpublicspacestotheorganizedenvironment ofHDBflats.Itisworthnotingthattheremaining20%ofthepopulationcontributedto theconstructionanddisseminationofthisnarrative.Similarly,asafixedarchitectural featurethatemergedinthe1970s,voiddecksarealsopartofthistop-downnarrative. Hence, the narrative surrounding void decks, which holds significant social value, is fundamentallyconstructedinatop-downmanner.Thisisevidentthroughthegradual fulfillmentofgovernment'sintendedpurposeforpublicspacesasurbandesigntools, aligningwiththeinitialobjectivessetbygovernmentplanningauthorities.Singapore’s historicaldevelopmentofpublicspacesinSingaporehadpredominantlycharacterized bytheplannedspacespredominantlywithinahegemonicframework.64
Despitethepresenceofahegemonicframework,voiddecksserveadualpurpose by endeavoring to forge a cohesive and unified identity for the nation. The design of
64 HeeandOoi,“ThePoliticsofPublicSpacePlanninginSingapore.”
HDB flats not only embodies principles of modernization but also strives for social fairnessandequality.ItisworthnotingthatinWesterncontexts,publichousingisoften stigmatizedandviewedasamanifestationofsocietalfailure.However,thevoiddecks constructed within this hegemonic framework not only possess substantial social significance but also challenge and subvert the prevailing Western connotations associatedwithpublichousing.
Void decks, as integral components of HDB flats, transcend their physical and functionalattributes.Theyplayavitalroleinfosteringasenseofcommunityandsocial cohesionamongresidents.InamulticulturalanddiversesocietylikeSingapore,these spacesserveasmeetingpointswhereindividualsfromvariousbackgroundsconverge, interact,andengageinsocialactivities.Byprovidingaplatformforsocialinteractions, void decks facilitate the formation of social bonds, fostering a shared identity and collective consciousness among residents. Moreover, void decks symbolize the visionary approach of the government in addressing housing needs and promoting socialintegration.TheyrepresentadeparturefromthetraditionalWesternperspective thatperceivespublichousingasasymbolofurbandecayandsegregation.Instead,void decks reflect a different paradigm, where public housing is viewed as a means to achieveinclusiveurbanenvironmentsandequitablesocialdevelopment.
Thesocialsignificanceofvoiddeckscanbefurtherunderstoodbyexaminingthe underlying power dynamics and symbolic meanings associated with these spaces.
Whilethehegemonicframeworkmayimposecertainnormsandvalues,voiddecksalso serve as sites of negotiation, resistance, and reinterpretation. They become spaces where residents can express their agency and reshape the narratives surrounding public housing. In this regard, void decks contribute to the construction of a unique Singaporean identity by providing a physical and symbolic landscape where diverse communities coexist and interact. They embody the nation's aspiration for social harmony, inclusivity, and unity. Through the convergence of different cultures, traditions, and languages within these spaces, void decks become vibrant arenas for culturalexchange,fosteringmutualunderstanding,andpromotingsocialintegration.
In conclusion, although void decks bear traces of a hegemonic framework, they simultaneously strive to cultivate a shared identity and sense of belonging among residents.Thesignificance ofvoiddecksextendsbeyondtheirphysicalstructures, as they embody the government's commitment to modernization and social equity. By challenging prevailing Western connotations associated with public housing, void decks foster social interactions, facilitate community building, and contribute to the formationofauniqueSingaporeanidentity.
Chapter 5 Conclusion
This paper explores the social value embedded within void decks, employing a netnographyapproach.Theprimaryfocusofthisstudyrevolvesaroundtworesearch questions:1)Whataretheunderlyingimplicationsbehindthenarrativethatvoiddecks hold social value? 2) What are the current issues and challenges that void decks are facing?Theaimistoanalyzetheexistingsocialsignificanceandinvestigatetheaspects of void decks beyond their role as spaces fostering social cohesion, including the identification of issues and the examination of the challenges involved in addressing them. The research findings indicate that within the evolving cityscape, the changing designofvoiddecksposesasignificantchallenge,asitisperceivedbymanyasalossof boththeirmemoriesandamissingopportunityforutilizingpublicspace.
This paper initiates with review of the concept of heritage to demonstrate that publicspacecanalsobeconsideredaspartofheritage,focusingontheprimaryheritage value of social value associated with public space. The second section provides literaturereviewthatexaminestheevolutionofpublicspacesofSingaporeandtraces theevolutionofvoiddecksfromcertainpublicspaceswithinkampungs.Additionally, it discusses the significance of void decks as public spaces, drawing on reports publishedbytheHDBandthetimingoftheiremergence.However,it alsopresentsa critique of their social value. In the methodological section, this study employs a netnography approach to collect unobtrusive and authentic voices through online platforms,aimingtoreachawideraudience.Atotalof54commentsweregathered,and
qualitativecodingandthematicanalysiswereconducted.Thefindingsrevealthatvoid decks fail to simultaneously cater to the needs of multiple user groups, resulting in unequal effects within the context of HDB flats, which strive for fairness. Therefore, addressingtheissueswithinHDBflatsbecomestheprimarychallenge.Moreover,void decks are gradually disappearing in newer HDB flats, being replaced by open spaces withamplegreenery.Whetherthesespacescanreplacevoiddecksandmaintaintheir socialsignificance,whichholdsaspecialplaceinthememoriesofmanySingaporeans, remainsuncertain.Meanwhile,thedisappearanceofvoiddecksraisesquestionsabout whether their social value was merely an expendable structure within Singapore's hegemonicpublicplanningframework.
Therefore,toaddresstheresearchquestion,voiddecksindeedembodyacollective memory for many Singaporeans, witnessing the journey of nearby residents from childhoodtoadulthoodandeventheirreturntonature.WhilepromotingtheHDBflats structure contributes to racial harmony and identity building, it is crucial to acknowledgecertainissuesthatarise.Additionally,itisnecessarytoexplorehowthese issuescanbeminimizedtomakevoiddecksgenuinelypride-inducing,useful,unique, andirreplaceablestructuresthatresidentsdeeplyvalue.Furthermore,voiddecksare part of the public space planning hegemonic framework, which was the initial standpointfromwhichthisarticlebegan,highlightingitasapredeterminednarrative. Whendiscussingchallenges,itisessentialtoconsiderhowtostrikeabalancebetween minimizingissuesandthedisappearanceofvoiddecks,whileensuringtherearestill
spaces around HDB flats where people can socialize and gather, fostering stronger communitybonds.Thisbalanceshouldaimtoenhancethesignificanceofpublicspaces withinHDBflatswithoutdiminishingtheirsocialvalue.
5.1 Recommendation
Based on the research findings and challenges identified, the author provides severalsuggestions.Firstly,tomitigateadverseimpactssuchasnoise,environmental pollution,anddisruptivereligiousrituals,relevantcommunityauthoritiescanestablish regulations regarding the usage hours of facilities and enhance mutual supervision among residents. Any uncivilized activities should be discouraged or reported to the appropriateauthorities.Thoughinterpersonalconflictsareinevitable,voiddecksand HDBflatsundeniablyserveascatalystsforpromotingracialharmonyandfosteringa Singaporean identity. Furthermore, in situations similar to the Bedok North Street SoccerCourtincident,politicalleadersshouldseekmoreinputfromresidents,ensuring thatdecisionsalignwiththemajority'sinterestswithoutbeingoverlybiased.Secondly, inflatswherevoiddecksnolongerexist,relevantneighborhoodcentersorcommunity residentsshouldmakebetteruseofalternativespacestosustainsocialsignificanceand establish or strengthena long-standing, sustainable identity. Lastly,while void decks may be a product of the hegemonic public planning framework, they remain integral facilities and structures utilized by residents in their daily lives. Returning decisionmaking power and discourse to the residents themselves may help address many challengesandissues.Justasinheritageconservation,thecommunityalwaysservesas themostimportantandimpactfulstakeholderdeservingofrespect.
5.2 Future Research
Asdepictedintheconceptframeworkofthispaper(Figure7),itishasbeentested in this paper that void decks, as a public space, are indeed a product within the hegemonicpublicspaceplanningframework.However,itisundeniablethatvoiddecks hold a certain degree of social significance. Nevertheless, under the backdrop of contemporaryHDBflatsdesign,thequestionofwhetherthenewopengreenspacescan continue the mission of void decks as public spaces remains an unknown challenge. Additionally,whethersocialsignificancecanbemanifestedonceagainwithinthepure opengreenspacesofthenewHDBflatsdesignisuncertain.
Therefore,forfutureresearch,amixedmethodsapproachcould beemployedto study both the official narrative and opinions regarding void decks, as well as the residents' perceived feelings and opinions towards void decks, in order to compare their alignment. Moreover, to better explore the heritage significance of void decks, futureresearchcoulddelveintocollectivememory,narratives,andqualitativedesign approachestodelineatetheheritagevalueofvoiddecksbeyondmeresocialvalue.
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CapturedcommentsfromReddit65
Appendix A
No. CommentsfromRedditcommentingon Commentary: Void Decks Should Not Be Void of People66
A1.1
Kidsthesedaycantplayfootball,badminton,tabletennisatthevoiddeck Theycantevenplayblockcatchingifnotpeoplecomplain Whilebackinthedayswewasliterallyrunning,playingandshouting everydayaskids
A1.2 Thekidswhowasrunning,playingandshoutingatvoiddeckwhilebackin thedaysgrewup,andwantaquietvoiddeck.../s
A1.3
WhenIam80IwillbeathomehookinguptomyVRdivingmachinetrying tochatup90yearoldauntieswhopretendtheyare18hokay
TheonlytimeIwillbesocialisingunderthevoiddeckiswhentheyputme thereformywake
A1.4 Moreseniors,peoplewhoWFH,mentalhealthissues...etcetcetc.So,TC needtocomeupwithmorefacilitiesforyoungpeopletoplayat.
A1.5 Elitescan’thearthiscommentaryfromtheirluxurycondos/B&Whouses/ GCBs
Idea:
pasarmalam
kidsplayingfootball
A1.6
A1.7
domesticworkerspicnicarea
moviescreening
blooddonationcamp
Onlythepasarmalamonewillbeconsideredbyourdearminstarscoz mayberental20k/day
A1.8 Indeed,theprovidingofspacesforspontaneousplayisamatterofutmost importance.Childhooddevelopmentthrivesonexploringoutdooractivities, fosteringphysicalfitness,socialskills,andasenseofcommunity.Wemust findsafespacesforspontaneousandunstructuredplay.
A1.9 ????Wehavethem?DoyouknowhowmanyplaygroundsHDBestates have?Thereare3or4within3minutesofmyoldHDB.It'sfuckinggreatfor kidstoburnofftheirenergy. Therearealsoafewopenairbadmintoncourts(whichiskindofstupid becauseopenairbadmintondoesn'treallyworkbutitprovidesspacefor otheractivities),thoselittlegazaebos,walkingpaths,etcetc. Allthethingsthisdudeaskedfor-they'realreadythere.
65 https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/19euvw2/commentary_void_decks_should_not_be_v oid_of_people/
66 Wan, “Commentary.”
A1.10
Heshouldtrylivingonthe2ndor3rdfloorofHDBforafewyearsandcome andwritethispieceagain.IdidandI'mabsolutelygladthattheactivity areashavebeenmovedaway.Mindyou,movedaway,noteliminated.
THENEEDFORBALANCE
Theterm“voiddeck”isuniquelySingaporean.TomanySingaporeans,itisa placewhereresidentscangatherandmeetfriendsandwherechildrencan runaroundandplay.Theyalsoserveasaplaceforsombregatheringsafter thepassingofalovedone,celebrativeMalayweddings,whichwasa commonsightinthe80sand90s,andprovisionshopstocatertotheneeds oftheresidentsforeverydaysundryitems.
Aswenavigatethisdelicatebalancebetweenplayandcommunitypeace,a thoughtfuldiscussioniscrucialifwearetosucceedinmaintainingharmony andinclusivityinoursociety.
Ourstartingpointistorecognisethatthechildrenandyoungpeoplewho enjoyplayingfootballisagoodthing.Inbuildingacohesiveandinclusive society,communityandcamaraderiearethebedrockofcohesion.Ihave personalknowledgeofthisbecauseItooplayedfootballinmyteens,where webuiltinclusiveteamsandmadegreatfriendswhenweplayedagainst eachother.
Indeed,theprovidingofspacesforspontaneousplayisamatterofutmost importance.Childhooddevelopmentthrivesonexploringoutdooractivities, fosteringphysicalfitness,socialskills,andasenseofcommunity.Wemust findsafespacesforspontaneousandunstructuredplay. Wemustalsorecognisethatseniorsneedtogetoutoftheirhomesand interactwithothersinsafety.IamnowaseniorandIknowhowimportant itisforustobeconnectedandengagedwithothersinaconducive environment.Psychologistsaretellingusthatthegreatestchallengefor seniorsisloneliness.
Wecanco-createattractiveplacesforthemtocongregate.Itisincreasingly urgentthatwedothisbecauseSingaporeisarapidlyageingsocietyin whichseniorswillmakeupnearlyoneinfourofthepopulationby2030. Residentshavevalidreasonsfordesiringtranquillityoutsidetheirhomes. Whethernewbornsneedinguninterruptednapsoremployeesconducting work-from-homemeetings,thedemandforpeaceislegitimate.Inadensely populatedcountrylikeSingaporewherelivingspacesoftenoverlap,the needforbalancebecomesevenmorepronounced.
AmImisreadingsomethinghereoristhisarticleactuallyencouraging childrentoplayfootballinthevoiddecks?
A111
Footballisnotasportthatonecansimplyplayquietly.Theballwillram againsttheceilingorwalls.Whenkickedhardenough,thosestayingonthe 2ndfloorwillnotonlyhearthethudsbutalsofeelthevibrations. Ifthishappensafteryoufinallygetyourinfanttosleepfortheirafternoon nap,yourwholeafternoonisnowruined.
A1.12
Ihavenothingagainstchildenplayingfootballbutithastobedoneinan openairfieldandnotatthevoiddecks.Myneighbourhoodhasafutsal courtwhichservesthispurpose.
Iheardthenewerhdbunitslackthisnowadaysduetospaceconstraints whichisaseparateissuetoaddressonitsown.
Itsa‘feature’thatvoiddecksaremadewithalotoflowwalls,zigzaggedand otherantihumanfeaturestopreventpeopleusingthem.Unfortunatelyit willbethefuturesogoodluckifyoulivenexttoa‘park’orwhatever sanctioned‘playspace’oftheneighbourhood
A113 IdoubtDrWilliamWanstaysanywherenearthatcouldbeimpactedby activitiesatvoiddeck
A1.14 Voiddecksaremeantforcoolingpurposes.
A1.15 Alotofpeoplearetalkingaboutkidsbutoldunclescan'tevenchitchatand playtheirboardgamesanymore;-;
A116 It’scalledthevoiddeckforaveryspecificreason
A117 Putsometableandpplcansiton.Formeaslongasnotreligionevent.Iam ok.Causereligioneventwillendupwithopenburningandsimply annoying.
A118 But…..newBTOprojectsdon’tevenseemtohaveanactualvoiddeck anymore.
A1.19
Ilikekidsplayingatbyblocksvoiddeck(Ilivelowfloorbtw).It'stheone thingIneverthoughtI'dmissbutduringlockdownitwassoquietIhatedit. ThenwhentheystartedplayingagainIrealizedthatwaswhatwasmissing.
A1.20 Thisisdefinitelynotthecaseinmyelderlyneighbourhood.Thereareoften alotofdeadpeopleatthevoiddecksbeingvisitedbytheliving(er,canI use"undead"instead;isthattheoppositeof"dead"?)withthemany funeralstakingplaceeverymonth.Someofthesefuneralsareso inconsideratelyfuckingloudthatIsometimeswonderifthedeadperson mightcomebacktolifetotellthemtoshutthefuckupandnotdisturbthe undead,er,thelivingamongstus.....
A1.21 It'snotavoiddeckifit'snotvoidofanything..lol../s
A1.22
FromthewayIsee,voiddecksarebettersuitedforeventsrunandheldby adultsbecausethat'stheonlywayfromadultscomplainingtotowncouncil orauthorities.Peopletolerateeventsbetterasitsa"onetimething".People istoostressedfromworkorboredoutoftheirlivestohavekidshavingfun ormakingnoiseintheirsmallshelter.
A1.23 renameittopeople'sdeckandtherewillbemorepeople..��
A1.24
Nahvoiddecksshouldjusthavemorebicycleracksandsomemaybeamini exercisecornerbuiltin. Voiddecksareoverrated Usedtobewannabegangstersandinconsideratepeoplewouldhogvoid decktoactasiftheirterritoryorlitteringafterhangingoutpastmidnight beingacommonsight.Denasiaolangmovedinnearby,andtheareais emptynow,soikindaenjoydecksdevoidofpeople.
Kidshaveplentyofplaygroundstogotoanywaythatsiftheyevenwanna gooutside.Theygotcoolipadsandvideogamestoplay.Ifnot,govhave beenbuildingsharedspaceHubareaslikepunggoloneandtamphubinthe heartlandanywayswhichiseemanykidsusingforsportsortostudy.
CapturedcommentsfromReddit67
No. CommentsfromRedditcommentingon The Big Read: Are HDB Void Decks Still The Community Spaces We Know Them To Be?68
A21 ThenewerHDBsareafuckingmaze,toomanywallseverywhere
A2.2 Ithinktheonlyfunctionnobodycomplainsaboutiswhenfamiliesusethem forwakes
A2.3 Haha.SomepeoplerecentlycomplainedabouttheLEDwreaths.Sonot quitecorrect.
Therearebencheswithbolted-onarmreststhatdon'tlooktobepartofthe originaldesign.
A24
A25
Itdoesn'thavetobeblatantlyspecifiedashostileoranti-loitering architecture.Forexample,theycansimplyspecifybenchestorequire armrestdivisionsbetweenseatings. We(thegeneralpublic)aren'teventhefirsttousethisterm.Architecture blogsandacademiahavealsousedthetermoncertainHDBvoiddeck features.
Exceptforweddings,funeralsandcollectingmail.Idon‘tthinkmostofthe residentsinablockwouldconsideritascommunalspace.Focuswason providinghomeswhichisfIne.Somehadsmallmamashops,kindergarten etcwhichservedthethenearbyblocks. Thenwehavegrassrootsstuff.
A26 It’smorelikeamaze.Maybeagoodshootingspotforjackneoversionof mazerunner.
A27 Youneedtobuildtableandchairsforpeopletogather.Myhdbdoesn’thave tableandchairsliketheolderhdbs,sonobodygathers.
A2.8
Inoldestatesyes.Myfamilystillsitandtalktopplewalkingtheirdogs, auntieuncles"havingarestpushingtheirgroceriesback",etcetc... Nothingbigofadeal.Ifucan'ttalkwithpple,juzletthemknow.Sometimes alongknownauntiewillcallmewhensheseeme,Ijuztellherback"I'min arush,cannottalk".
It'sgoodinfact"inaway"...Muchbetterthannewestates...Wenttomy cussieplaceatpunggol...Everyoneseems"robotic"...
A2.9 It'stheunofficialparkinglotformotorbikesnow.Mostpeopleotherwise loiteringaroundarereallyjuststrangers.Hardlya'community'space.
67 https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/195fiok/are_hdb_void_decks_still_the_community_s paces_we/
68 Loh,“TheBigRead.”
A210
Duringkindergarten+primaryschooldaysI(lowSES+now18M)enjoy playingfootballwithotherchildrenatvoiddeck+sayangingcommunity cats.Thishelpsbuildbondswithneighboursfromallraces.Onefootball kakiisstillmyclosefriend+I'mgivingtuitiontoanotherneighbour. Complainsaboutplayingfootball+Chineseburning+noisy weddings/funerals+deliveryriders+dogwalkingreflectourcommunity spiritisdyingout(evenmoreduetopandemic/inflation/liberalism).Can seetheimpactonyoungSingaporeansespeciallythosefromdisadvantaged background(someseenofutureexceptcrime).Increaseinvaping+race relationsworsening.
A2.11
Themostvibrantcitiesintheworldhavemixeduseresidentialbuildings withgroundfloorretail-thinkgrocerystores,delis,restaurants,coffee shops,bars.WhilesomeHDBblockshaveshopsonthegroundfloor,we havemostlyvoiddecks-it’sinthename,voidforempty. Thismakesforprettyboring,suburbanresidentialareasthatdon’tfeel interestingtowalkthrough.
A2.12 VoiddecksarebeingphasedoutasmostcanseewithnewHDBflats
A2.13 Foroneyouactuallyneedtablesandchairs,beentosomenewerHDBsand there'slikenotablesaround,plentyofbenchestho. Communityspacesformemeans,Uncle/Auntieeatingandchattingonthose spacesduringtheday,andAhNesdrinkingatnight.
A2.14 Nofunallowed
A215 Theyarecalledvoiddecksforareason.
A2.16 ThisstatementassumesHDBvoiddeckswerecommunityspacestobegin with
A2.17 Thereisnothingvoidinthenewvoidspaces
A218 Voiddecksshouldbedesignedsuchaseveryonecantakenapscomfortably insteadofjustlyingontheground
A2.19
Voiddecksarenolongercommunityspacesbecausetherearededicated spacesdesignedwithinHDBforresidentstohangoutwhicholderestates don’thave.olderestatesonlyhavededicatedspacesforrubbishcollection pointslolwhatawasteofspace
CapturedcommentsfromReddit69
No. CommentsfromRedditcommentingon What a barricaded void deck Says About Singaporeans And Play In The Heartland70
A3.1
"ExpertsthatSTspoketosaidthatcommunityspaceslikevoiddecks remainvitalforfosteringsocialcohesion"
THANKYOUUU!!!thenewvoiddecksaredark,musty,andeasytogetlost in.theresnoindicationofwhichdirectionyouaregoingandwherethe
69
https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/18picn4/what_a_barricaded_void_deck_says_about/
70 Chan,“WhataBarricadedVoidDeckSaysAboutSingaporeansAndPlayInTheHeartland.”
A3.2
otherblocksareinrelationtotheoneyouarein.Idlovetoseethe architectswhodesignedthesevoiddecksactlynavigatethem.
Onaslightlydifferentnote,whyonearthisitsodifficulttofindbenchesand tablesnowadays,mallsusedtohavebenchesforpeopletositon,voiddecks hadbuiltintablesandstools.AllthenewMRTstationshavesuperwideand longcorridorsandnoseatsinbetween.Theonlyplaceyoucanhangoutin forfreeisathome.Wetalkaboutdesigningoursocietytobefriendlierfor seniorsbutdonthavethesebasicammenities.
Wedonthavepropercommunityspacesanymore,everythingneedstobe pre-bookedorpaidfor.Theabsoluteironyofhavingconferencerooms"for peopletoworkin"insomanybuildingsandtheyarealwaysempty.
Itmeansthatwearesopackedasapopulationthattherearetoomany conflictingneeds.Kidsneedspacetoplayandshoutanddosportsandhang outwtheirpeergroupsinasafesetting.Ordowejustwantthemathome scrollingtikTokandbeingexposedtoovertlysexualcontent?Butthenwe havetonsofoldpeoplewhoneedspaceontheirPMAandmovingaround withcrutches.Theyneedasafespace.Andtheworkingadultswhowork frommorningtonight.Theyneedaquietresttorecoverfromstress.All livingtogetherinasupertightspaceinaslabofHDBthatnowspans30 stories.Oneshoutinggroupofkidsandall30floorscanhear.
In2000,wewere4M.Nowcloseto6M.
It’snotaboutgivingwaytoeachgroupofpeople.Therearetoomany conflictingneeds.
Iexpectthemtoplayoutdoorsresponsiblyandtheirparentstoreinforce considerationforothers.Haveyouseenhowhardtheycanrembataball?It hitsthewallandthewholevoiddeckreverberates,alongwithyourears ringing.
Imagineiftheballhitsyourgranddadintheballs,yourmotherintheface, orcavesthebodyofyourtoddlerin.Youwon’tbesosnarkythen.
A3.3
A3.4
Idon’tmindthemdancinginvoiddecksthewaypeopledancewithalittle musicinthetownarea.Oriftheysitonthefloortoplayboardorcard games.Oriftheyplaycatchingthere.Oriftheygohikingoutdoors.
Idon’tmindifkidsplaybasketballinthebasketballcourt.Orsoccerinthe streetsoccercourt.
Theissueisn’tkidsplayinginthevoiddeck.It’saboutthedangeritposesto unsuspectingpeoplewalkinginthosecommonareasgettingasurprisehard balltosomewhereontheirbody.
Iwisheveryonewhomakesthecommentheretostatethataretheythe owneroftheHDBflatandwhichfloortheyarestaying.Icaneasilysaidlet thekidsenjoyingthefootballorotheractivities,theyneedthespaceandis normalforthemtobenoisyetcifIamstayingthetopfloor.Ok,Idon’tstay inHDBbutIknowhowthelowerfloorresidentfeelsespeciallywho’s workinginnightshiftorpatientrequireagoodrestingindaytime.
A3.5 Allaboutcrazyexcessivepopulationdensity.Ifthereisamplespacefor everyone,thiswon’tbesuchanissue.It’snotaboutgivingwayanymore.
A3.6
Whentherearetoomanypeopletherearetoomanyconflictingneeds. 2000,wewereat4m.Nowatnearly6M.Can’twaitto10Mtoseehow thingswillbe.
It'sbecausepeopleliketositatthevoiddeckintotheweehoursofthenight totalkloudly,drinkbeer,andsmoke.Peoplethatdon'tliveonlowfloors won'tknowthepainofinhaling2ndhandsmokeandnotbeingabletogoto sleepatnightcauseofnoisedisturbances.Nottomentionallthese inconsideratepeoplethatleavetheirbeercansandcigarettesaround.
A37
A38
Thisiswhathappenswhenyouhavepoliticalleaderswhoneverlivedaday inHDBenvironment,makingdecisionsaboutHDBenvironment.The actionstheytakearejustforreducinganyworkortroublesomeproblems forthemselves,notforimprovingthequalityoflifeofthepeoplelivingat theHDBarea.
Towncouncilsareliterallyuselesstosayanythingtootherthantelling lightsarenotworkingproperlythingsgotstolen.Theydon’thaveany authoritytomakedecisionsonanything.Theywillalwayskicktheballto thePAandoverthereisanothertangleballofbureaucracy.Iwantedto proposeapublicartinstallationforCNYandtheyjustkickedtheballover totheNAC,andthentheproposalgotstuckinbureaucracy.There’salways thisverystrangeattitudethat“I’mgoodinmyfield,don’texpectmetostick afingeroutforyou”mentality.It’sinfuriating.
A3.9
Theimportanceofvoiddecksasvitalspacesforfosteringsocialcohesion andfosteringasenseofcommunity.Igrewupplayingvoiddeckfootball withfriends.Ifeelsadthatwearerestrictingplacesforkidstoplayoutside. Nearmyplacegot1giantbannerattheMPC,thataskkidsnottoplayinit.
A3.10
A3.11
Thereisasayinginstrategyandpolicymaking:"ifyoucrushthecaterpillars, don'taskwhytherearenomorebutterflies."Ifyoucurtailoroverly regulatecommunityspacesjusttoplacateafewKarens,don'taskwhy Singaporehasnomorekampungspirit.
I'manintrovertmyselfsoIamnotafanofnoise.ButevenIwill acknowledgetheneedforthesecommunityspacesandbearwiththe occasionalnoise.
It'sjustthatinthepast,itisnotsoeasytocomplaintotowncouncilandget themtotakeaction.Nowadaysthechannelforfeedbackismoreopen,and towncouncilhavetomeettheexpectationstotakeactionmore,sothey starttodothis.
Evenifmaybe30%ofpeoplestayingintheblockarethekindthat complain,thisisalreadysignificantenoughtomaketowncouncilhaveto takeaction.