OUR HISTORY PROJECT by Sanjjeev Dylan Ganesan https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr Masterpiece by Sanjjeev and Benedict Chua en-us 2018-03-14 01:46:08 UTC 2025-10-04 07:14:41 UTC hello@padlet.com LIVING CONDITIONS IN SINGAPORE IN 1930-2000 sanjjeev23 https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241687550 2018-03-14 01:47:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241687550 WHAT IS CHANGE?? sanjjeev23 https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241687881 The past does not merely change in becoming the present; the present also operates retrospectively on the past. Each age has its own idea of the past. These new ideas too are not predictable in detail, but they tend to follow very standard lines of development. ]]> 2018-03-14 01:49:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241687881 WHY CHANGE IS NECESSARY sanjjeev23 https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241688868 The increasingly poor living conditions and severe housing shortage compelled the British authorities to set up the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) in 1927, a statutory board tasked to tackle town planning, slum clearance and subsequently provide low-cost housing. 
However, during postwar period, SIT was unable to catch up with the needs of the city. In 1947, the population was nearly 940,000 but SIT was only able to complete 20,907 units, enough to house 100,000 people – out of a population that had grown to 1.5 million from 1947 t o 1959.]]> 2018-03-14 01:55:27 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241688868 TYPES OF FLATS sanjjeev23 https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241689973 The main categories of public housing are: one-room flats, two-room flats, three-room flats, four-room flats, five-room flats, executive flats (including executive apartments and maisonettes), studio apartments (reserved for Singaporeans who are at least 55 years old) and HUDC flats. Over the years, more flat types have been introduced to cater to the different needs of people, such as elderly-friendly studio apartments, which were introduced in 1997. The emphasis of building programmes slowly shifted from meeting the population’s basic need for proper shelter to quality that extends beyond the design of the flats to the surrounding living environment. This is evidenced by efforts to improve the landscape architecture, enhance the visual identity of housing estates and provide better amenities for the residents. One of the important amenities is the Community Centre in every Town Estate.]]> 2018-03-14 02:03:01 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241689973 PAST: LIVING CONDITIONS BEFORE WORLD WAR II healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241853792 From 1930s, immigrants stayed in congested squatter settlements consisting of huts made of attap, old wooden boxes, rusty corrugated iron sheets and other salvage material. Almost a quarter of a million people lived in dilapidated living conditions, crammed five to six people in a room, poor ventilation, limited water supply and inadequate sanitation. 
Some ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians) stayed in kampongs with huts closely built near each other. The passageways were narrow and sanitation is also inadequate.

]]> 2018-03-14 13:19:20 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241853792 healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241866934 2018-03-14 13:38:44 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241866934 Lack of Sanitation Amenities healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241894701 From this photograph, it is evident that the whole village is facing a lack of clean water supply and adequate sanitation amenities.]]> 2018-03-14 14:20:58 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241894701 Five-Foot Way healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241901502 A well-known 'communal space' which immigrants could actively interact with one another. ]]> 2018-03-14 14:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241901502 SO WHAT'S NEXT? healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241918063 2018-03-14 14:54:29 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241918063 MIRACLES PRODUCED BY HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (HDB) healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241928841 Housing and Development Board (HDB) inherited a daunting situation but did a miraculous job! By 1962, just three years after it was established, HDB had built 21,232 units – compared to SIT’s 23,019 units over its 32 years of operation.  On Merdeka Day in 1964, a Straits Times article headlined “A Flat Every 45 Minutes” reflected that the housing problem had been resolved through provision of public housing.]]> 2018-03-14 15:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241928841 DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241931245 Public housing in Singapore generally comprises high-density, high-rise developments, mostly located in suburban areas. The majority of public housing estates are self-contained communities with not only the essential facilities to meet the residents’ basic needs but also various community amenities such as schools and recreational facilities (to promote community interaction).The larger estates are known as “new towns”. Singapore’s first new town, Queenstown, had been initiated by SIT in the 1950s but was completed by HDB. The second new town, Toa Payoh, was the first to be developed entirely by HDB. By late 1980s, many HDB towns are set up for residents to have an opportunity to own their flats.]]> 2018-03-14 15:14:07 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241931245 PROMOTE RACIAL HARMONY healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241936054 In contrast to the colonial era, where different ethnic groups were segregated from each other, the newly built HDB flats fostered a greater mix of ethnic groups. This helped to build a sense of community and social cohesion – critical to the harmony and stability of a diverse society that had seen ethnically-charged violence in the 1960s. In the late 1980s, there were warning signs that ethnic enclaves were starting to re-form in certain housing estates. As a pre-emptive step, the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) was introduced in 1989 to ensure a mix of ethnic groups in each town and even apartment block. Sales of new HDB flats and resale HDB flats were regulated based on pre-determined ethnic quotas.]]> 2018-03-14 15:21:45 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241936054 HOME OWNERSHIP healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241938170 The Home Ownership for the People Scheme was launched in 1964, but home ownership only took off after changes were made to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) in 1968 to allow Singaporeans to use their CPF accounts to pay their monthly mortgage. This scheme is introduced to maintain social stability and mobility.]]> 2018-03-14 15:24:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241938170 CONTINUITY: SUSTAINING OUR SINGAPORE HEARTBEAT healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241944169 From a city-state of disparate but segregated communities, our Singapore Heartbeat must continue to beat as one. We need to respect and preserve social bonds that had been built up over the years – communities were often resettled as a group so neighbours and families could continue to live near to each other in their new estates. Moreover, to ensure every Singaporeans has a roof above their heads, Singapore has to continue to create more unique high densities buildings in order to add vibrancy into the matured HDB towns.]]> 2018-03-14 15:34:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241944169 RACIAL & RELIGIOUS HARMONY - OUR SHARED VALUE healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241966917 The Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) is still an existing policy!
The EIP is implemented to promote racial integration and harmony. The policy aims to prevent the formation of racial enclaves by ensuring a balanced ethnic mix among the various ethnic communities living in public housing estates. In summary, there is still a quota for each ethnic group in each block and neighbourhood.

(Photo below: Neighbours of different races interacting along the corridor is a common pastime. This form of interaction forges close ties among neighbours)]]> 2018-03-14 16:10:45 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241966917 BRINGING BACK THE KAMPUNG DAYS - KAMPUNG ADMIRALTY healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241978934 Kampung Admiralty, is a modern interpretation of ‘kampung’ living, as one can dine, socialise, shop, and receive healthcare services, all under one roof. Located next to Admiralty MRT station, the development is envisaged to foster greater community bonding among its residents and reignite the ‘kampung’ spirit of yesteryear. Wide community spaces and generous green features also be incorporated to enhance the living environment.]]> 2018-03-14 16:32:12 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241978934 healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241984151 2018-03-14 16:40:48 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/241984151 LIFTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF HDB FLATS healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243509236 All blocks completed in 1993 have lifts stopping on every floor now and centralized refuse chutes, and multi-storey carparks.]]> 2018-03-19 14:10:53 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243509236 INTRODUCTION OF AIR CON LEDGES healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243514966 1998 – introduction of household shelters and A/C ledges placed opposite of kitchen window, that double as second support for drying on bamboo poles.]]> 2018-03-19 14:17:58 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243514966 MODERN FIVE FOOT WAY - HDB VOID DECK healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243529854 According to a report in The Straits Times, the oldest void deck in Singapore was built in 1963 at Block 26 in Jalan Klinik.
Void decks are known to be a shared common space for leisure, recreational and cultural activities, so as to create opportunities for residents to interact and bond. They are found under the HDB block on the ground level consisting of historical and heritage significance that holds many different types of memories, thoughts, and happenings for different Singaporeans.

]]> 2018-03-19 14:36:17 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243529854 VILLAGES IN THE SKY IN 1990s - MANY MODERN NEW TOWNS healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243534409 Due to land constraint, high density buildings are still the main solutions to address housing issues in Singapore. 

In the early 1990s extensive construction was done in Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, plus many small precints in other towns.

In the late 1990s three New Towns were started: Sembawang, Sengkang, Punggol. Construction suddenly stopped for Tampines and Pasir Ris but continued for Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong East, Jurong West (Pioneer neighborhood), Woodlands.

]]> 2018-03-19 14:42:22 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/243534409 healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244080625 2018-03-20 15:23:14 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244080625 healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244091555 2018-03-20 15:37:52 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244091555 healedbadger https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244093509 2018-03-20 15:40:11 UTC https://padlet.com/sanjjeev23/uz2rvgeba2wr/wish/244093509