Documentation - Jalan Besar, Singapore
1. Ang Kai Jun S10205138A
2. Dimitri Tan Zheqi S10202798H
3. Enzo Tan Guan Rong S10188585C
4. Julian Neo Kai Seong S10188600E
5. Kendria Ng ShiQi S10208606F
6. Xavier Jude Ong Ze Kai S10203354E
● Located in the Eastern Central Region of Singapore within Kallang.
● First gazetted by the Singapore Land Authority on October 1991
● Parcel 3 stretches along Jalan Besar and Foch Road, Tyrwhitt Road, along Cavan Road and Hamilton Road, Lavender Street, Kitchener Road, Maude Road and King George’s Avenue.
● Includes part of Rocher River, Kallang River, North bridge Road, Syed Alwi Road, Crawford Street and Victoria Street.
● Jalan Besar is rich historical area consisting of a wide and diverse range of building typologies. From various clan associations, coffee shops, engineering workshops, places of worship, hostels, offices, and nightclubs, it almost feels like a mini town of its own.
● Despite the many changes that the area has went through, it still manages to give off a feeling of being frozen in time, with many traditional aspects of its roots still present up till today. It has been gazetted as a conservation area to preserve and enhance its heritage and character.
● The name Jalan Besar refers to Big Road originally a small road through a betel nut and fruit orchard opened in the 1830s by brothers Richard Owen Norris and George Norris, sons of an East India Company army officer.
● During the 1880s, the Municipality built a proper road through the plantation over the original track, and named it Jalan Besar. After World War 1, the Jalan Besar area underwent rapid urbanisation, with shophouses replacing agricultural plantations.
● Today, the roads of Jalan besar are largely lined with two-storey shophouses and a handful of modern four-storey shops and flats. The Late, Transitional, and Art Deco architecture styles of these shophouses reflect the wide variety of architectural styles that were prevalent in Singapore then.
1890s
● The area is officially established as Jalan Besar, with the original track widened to accommodate carriages and bullock carts.
● Remaining unused land is sold by the Municipality as building lots.
1923
● New World Amusement Park opens, providing a wide variety of entertainment options for people in the area.
● Although it was Singapore’s oldest amusement park when it closed down in 1987, it is still regarded as one of the key attractions in Jalan Besar’s history up till today.
1830s
● Jalan Besar was originally a large swampland, hosting several vegetable farms and fruit orchards.
● Its name was derived from the track which the Norris Brothers, sons of an East India Company Officer, opened in the 1830s in a betel nut and fruit orchard.
● It eventually branched out to Lavender Street, named ironically in 1858 after the odour of human excretion used as fertiliser for the plantations.
1920s
● The area undergoes urbanisation after the end of World War I, in the form of new shophouses, rubber and pineapple factories, and engineering workshops.
● These were built along new roads such as Kitchener Road and Jellicoe Road, named after prominent figures and battle sites in the war.
1927
● Kam Leng Hotel opens, becoming one of Singapore’s most popular hotels.
● Around this time, pineapple cannery and rubber plantations also rose, credited to Mr Lee Kong Chian, a well-known philanthropist and successful rubber and pineapple businessman.
● The former Victoria School building opens, housing the all-boys Victoria School from 1933 to 1984. It later housed Christ Church Secondary School from 1985 to 2001.
● In 2004, the People’s Association announced that it was moving its headquarters to the building, eventually moving in during 2009.
● The area is first gazetted as a conservation area. The conservation area was gradually expanded up till 2018, including the many shophouses in the area, along with the former Victoria School building, International Hotel, and the Lee Clan Association.
● Jalan Besar MRT opens as part of the Downtown Line, offering commuters direct access to the area. It cost $171.46 million to be constructed.
1932
● Jalan Besar Stadium opens. Considered the birthplace of Singapore’s football legacy, it hosted the Malaya and Malaysia Cups from 1932-1973, until it was moved to the National Stadium.
1953
● The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall was built following a visit by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawarharlal Nehru, in 1950s.
● It was meant to be a tribute to the leader of India’s Independence Movement, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
● City Square Mall opens, serving as one of the key retail and commercial buildings in the area. It had the original gate to the former New World Amusement Park reconstructed at the entrance to the public park.
2021
● A 5-year rejuvenation master plan for 2021 to 2025 was announced by the Jalan Besar Town Council. It aims to introduce new communal facilities and spaces for everyone to enjoy.
● New features include enhanced accessibility, fitness corners, playgrounds, and plazas, as well as improved landscaping with the addition and integration of more green spaces to the area.
Population
● 9,690 in 2020
Gender Distribution
● 5,070 males vs 4,610 females (52.4% vs 47.6%) in 2020
Age Distribution
● 0-14 years: 1,180 (12.2%)
● 15-64 years: 6,590 (68%)
● 65+ years: 1,920 (19.8%)
Ethnic Distribution
● Chinese: 6,740 (69.6%)
● Malay: 840 (8.7%)
● Indian: 1,760 (18.2%)
● Others: 340 (3.5%)
Gender Distribution
Females: 4,610 (47.6%)
Males: 5,070 (52.4%)
Age Distribution
0-14 years: 1,180 (12.2%)
15-64 years: 6,590 (68%)
65+ years: 1,920 (19.8%)
Ethnic Distribution
Chinese: 6,740 (69.6%)
Malay: 840 (8.7%)
Indian: 1,760 (18.2%)
Others: 340 (3.5%)
Population
● 8,380 in 2020
Gender Distribution
● 4,630 males vs 3,750 females (55.3% vs 44.7%) in 2020
Age Distribution
● 0-14 years: 660 (7.9%)
● 15-64 years: 5,110 (61%)
● 65+ years: 2,620 (31.1%)
Ethnic Distribution
● Chinese: 5,670 (67.6%)
● Malay: 1,600 (19.1%)
● Indian: 900 (10.7%)
● Others: 220 (2.6%)
Gender Distribution
Females: 3,750 (44.7%)
Males: 4,630 (55.3%)
Age Distribution
0-14 years: 660 (7.9%)
15-64 years: 5,110 (61%)
65+ years: 2,620 (31.1%)
Ethnic Distribution
Chinese: 5,670 (67.6%)
Malay: 1,600 (19.1%)
Indian: 900 (10.7%)
Others: 220 (2.6%)
● Co-created with the residents of Jalan Besar, the regional master plan was shaped around the provision of communal facilities and spaces for everyone to enjoy amongst its 4 divisions. Kampong Glam, Kreta-Ayer-Kim Seng, Kolam Ayer and the Whampoa sub-area.
The proposed master plan focuses on 4 sub-themes of Multigenerational Living, Accessibility, Active Aging and Nature.
● Multigenerational
The creation of spaces which everyone would be able to enjoy together, along with facilities to cater to different various age groups.
● Accessibility
Catering to its residents with special mobility needs, the barrier free accessibility and the provision of ramps and improved connectivity to transport nodes.
● Active Aging
The building of fitness corners and plazas for more active living amongst seniors and residents, as well as spaces for communal exercise classes.
● Nature
Proposition for the improvement of landscapes and greenspaces, planned spaces for relaxation as well as bonding.
Initiated by Jalan Besar Town Council
Waterloo
● Children's playground @ Block 270 Queen Street
Selegie
● Heritage garden @ Block 8 Selegie Road
Crawford
● Crawford creeks @ Block 465 Crawford Lane
Kentville
● Kentville Sports Promenade @ Block 51 Kent Road
● Covered walkway @ Blocks 53 & 54 Kent Road
Beach Road
● Serenity Square @ Block 7 & 8 North Bridge Road
● Leisure Lawn: Butterfly garden and children’s playground @ Block 6 Beach Road
Bras Basah
● Rooftop Plaza @ Block 231 Bain Street
● Wellness Verandah @ Block 261 Waterloo Street
King George’s Avenue
● Wellness Waterway @ Block 811 French Road
● King George’s Boulevard @ Block 803 King George’s Avenue
Kentville Sports Promenade (left) and new covered walkways (right) at Kentville Serenity Square (left) and Leisure Lawn (right) proposed at Beach Road● Identified as one of the Urban Transformation projects, Kampong Bugis is e nvisioned to be a people-centric waterfront residential precinct that will be car-lite, community-centric and sustainable. It will become an open and inclusive neighbourhood with new community facilities to foster more interaction among residents.
● Various electric vehicle charging stations will be implemented in the Jalan Besar district, replacing current parking lots and petrol stations. This is part of Singapore’s vision for all vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2020.
● The government recently unveiled redevelopment plans for Farrer Park Field, which will see around 1,600 new HDB flats in the housing estate integrated with comprehensive sports and recreational facilities.
● The new Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor will allow Singaporeans to immerse themselves in greenery and provide more opportunities to explore the island and its green spaces. Plans are being drafted to extend the Green Corridor from Rifle Range Road, through Jalan Besar, to Kallang Riverside Park.
Visualisation of the redevelopment in the Kampong Bugis district
Concept renders of the new housing estate in Farrer Park
Within the Jalan Besar region, there are several developments and changes to the area taking place. Some of these developments are related to technological progression, such as the implementation of electric car
However, most are initiated by the Jalan Besar Town Council and are focused on improving and rejuvenating the neighbourhood, through upgraded amenities and new
These new developments should improve the quality of life for residents living there and help Jalan Besar keep up with the modernisation of the rest of Singapore, but may dilute
Outside of the Jalan Besar region, it can be seen that urbanisation of Singapore is taking place rapidly, through projects such as the redevelopments of Kampong Bugis
Despite this, there are also efforts in preserving the limited amount of green spaces in Singapore, through initiatives such as the extension of the Green Corridor.
We can learn from this by translating it into our own projects as well. Our own projects may be aimed at redeveloping the chosen site, but we can also explore ways to conserve the green spaces that are currently on the site.
● Sun Path stays generally the same through the year and does not have any season variations.
● 2 Monsoon seasons result in 2 different prevalent winds throughout the year.
○ Northerly to North Easterly winds occur between December and early March.
○ Southerly to South Easterly winds occur between June and September.
Shadows cast at 9am
Shadows cast at 3pm
Shadows cast at 12pm
Shadows cast at 6pm
● Follows the general climate of Singapore.
● Has a tropical climate, due to being located near the equator.
○ Abundant rainfall, high and uniform temperatures, and high humidity throughout the entire year.
● Relative humidity shows a fairly uniform pattern throughout the year and does not vary much from month to month
● High humidity contributes to much of the heat from sunlight being felt throughout the area.
Microclimate conditions such as amount of sunlight, wind received vary throughout the site parcel depending on its
Amount of shade varies throughout out the area and changes depending on the time of day.
Areas surrounding the rows of shop houses and the main road generally lack shade
Areas nearer to the high rise buildings such as the condominiums and HDB are generally more shaded Thus, additional shading should be provided to compensate for the inconsistent amount of shading. Amount of wind varies throughout the area depending on the surrounding infrastructure
Areas surrounded by pre-existing buildings received little to no wind throughout the day.
Areas, which were unobstructed and open, received a substantial amount of wind throughout the day. Thus, designing air wells could improve air flow as well Generally, humidity and rainfall levels are similar
Thus, a similar approach to combat rainfall could be employed on both potential sites.
● The Jalan Besar district in study reveals a relatively denser distribution of buildings within the upper half of the site. With prominent typologies ranging from Shophouses to HDBS. With the lower half of the site being more relatively voided in nature.
● The upper most half of the site, reveals the arrangement of the shophouse typology which features an orderly continuation of buildings separated by intertwining main roads and alleys
● The middle section of the site reveals the arrangement of the HDB typology, which features a cluster of HDB Buildings, and interweaving access roads as well as community plazas which primarily makes up the void spaces within its region
● The bottom section of the site features a slight row of commercialised HDBs, but primarily is defined by its distinct natural features, like the intersecting Rochor RIver and grasslands by Kampong Bugis.
● The Jalan Besar district in study, poses varing frequencies of Mono and Hybrid styled buildings throughout the region. With a majority of Hybrid styled buildings being centralised amidst the middle section of the site, and the Mono styled buildings surrounding it.
● The prominent Mono buildings surrounding the site are mainly commercial and recreational buildings, such as the various shophouses or Aperia Mall and Jalan besar Sports complex respectively.
● The prominent Hybrid buildings surrounding the site are mainly mixed development HDBs and shophouses, which are represented by Block 803 as well as the shophouses lined up King George’s Avenue.
Mono Building Block 815 Mono Building Aperia Mall Mono Building JB Sports Complex Hybrid Building King George’s Building Hybrid Building Block 803● The Jalan Besar District in study appears to be a mainly a mixture of residential and commercial spaces in nature, incorporating a huge land mass in the central portion of the site.
● Flanking the perimeter of the site, are rows of commercial and business listed areas
Legends
Civic & Community Institution
Places of Worship
Residential with Commercial at 1st storey
Water Body
● The Jalan Besar district in study consists of a cityscape with varying levels of buildings heights, this is partly constituted by the various typologies of buildings available, ranging from low rise developments like shophouses to high rise developments like the regional mixed development HDBs. Ranging from 2-30 levels
● Building typologies with 2-6 stories are commonly shophouses, those of 6-25 are mainly recreational centers or offices, whilst those of 25-30 are mainly the mixed development HDBS scattered throughout the area.
● The Jalan Besar strict in study currently has 2 undeveloped space being based at the intersection of King George’s avenue and Kitchener Road and a spot along Lavender street, together with 2 spaces in development, seen Next to the ICA Building and to the west of Kampong Bugis.
Undeveloped Spaces
There are multiple instances of mural throughout our Jalan Besar district in study. This represents the residents collaborative desire to inscribe their identity together as a community
The prominent building typology is revered within Jalan Besar, for it has not only stood the test of time, but received rejuvenation, and serves as an inspiration for many other building typology and commerce styles
There are plagues and busts of communal projects representing historical and artistic personalities. This also suggest strong communal involvement.
● The Jalan Besar district in study seems to embody greenery in varying quantities within selected areas.
● Being mainly residential and commerce in nature, most of the green spaces seem to be seen within the estates of certain HDBs, recreational facilities like playgrounds or fitness corners, and green barriers alongside the roads.
● Additionally outside of the prominent areas,there are instances of greenery within car parks as well as an instance of a neighbourhood Garden @ Block 803
Legends
Viewpoints
Immediate Site
● The Jalan Besar district in study possess multiple recreational facilities ranging from large extravagant communal facilities to smaller intimate spaces, like the Jalan Besar Stadium and playgrounds/Multipurpose halls respectively.
● Parcel 3 have several main roads which are Lavender Street, Crawford Street, Jalan Besar Road, Syed Alwi Road and Kallang Road surrounding it at the edge of the site.
● With Kallang Road and Jalan Besar Road directly connected to pan-island expressway from sim avenue and bendemeer road respectively.
● Crawford Road leading to east-coast park expressway via republic avenue.
● It also includes many secondary roads like Tyrwhitt Road, King George's Avenue, Kitchener Road and Horne Road.
● The numerous secondary roads within the parcel provide accessibility to the different smaller areas in the parcel.
● Secondary roads provide direct and easy access to both of the chosen sites from the main roads
● Secondary roads also provide car and delivery vehicles to park at the side of the road.
● The Jalan Besar district in study has a few most prominent noise spots throughout the region. Them mainly being in the streets and intersections as well as the commercial and recreational spaces throughout the area
● Incidentally there are some area which falls outside of common spaces for noise. That would mainly be car parks or some of the neighbourhood streets
HDB - Blk 806 @ King George’s Avenue | Blk 468 @ North Bridge Rd
Legends
Thekchen Choling Temple @ Beatty Ln
Holy Trinity Church @ Hamilton Rd
The Jalan Besar District in Study is an area strong in its history, building an impression as a melting pot of ethnicities, and a commercial hub, evident in its primarily residential and commercial spatial layout The district also presents a variety of places for worship, which depicts the area as a racially and ethnically diverse
Being a main building typology of the area, the shophouses of the area, both has inspired regional buildings and attracts visitors from all over to visit. The district has limited spaces tailored for recreation and socialization, given the noticeably dense streetscape
Road
● Vehicular access within the parcel is usually small street roads to access different parts of the parcel
● A total of 13 bus stops can identified within Parcel 3 spreading across the perimeters
Rail
● Lavender MRT is located within the Parcel itself, situated on the East West Line of Singapore.
○ A 5-minute walk to the Rocher River Site
○ A 5-minute walk to the King George’s Avenue Site
● Another nearby MRT is the Bendemeer MRT which is further up north-west, just outside of site parcel 3.
○ A 5-Minute walk and a 10-minutes bus trip to Rocher River Site
○ A 7-minute walk to the King George’s Avenue Site
PCN (Rocher River)
● Rocher River stretches along the bottom of Parcel 3
○ Rocher River has footpaths leading to the Kallang Riverside Park and the Central Urban Loop PCN further west as well as Marina Bay Sands
○ Rocher River also have footpaths connecting all the way to Ophir Road further east
Carparks (Open/Multi-storey)
● Total of 14 Car Parks can be found within the Parcel
Morning
● Traffic on the main roads and secondary roads are generally not congested yet in the early morning because most of the residential there are of the older generations. However, some of the secondary roads have increased in traffic as there are industrial buildings where people are coming in for work.
Afternoon
● Traffics in main roads and secondary roads within the parcel are quite heavy overall. With the nearby offices and industrial areas coming into the site for lunch as well as roadside shophouses are receiving deliveries from trucks/vans parked along the streets.
Night
● Traffics on the Major Roads are mildly congested as people are returning back home along Kallang Road and Bendemeer Road. Within the site, traffic is very heavy due to the Nightlife happening around the parcel.
Conclusion
● In general, on a weekday, traffic is always mildly heavy due to human circulation coming into the site for work,deliveries and meals. Only at night will have a heavier traffic due to Nightlife.
Morning
● Traffic flow along main roads and secondary roads are quite packed with traffic with some being extremely congested. This is due to the modern cafes and wide range of activities that Jalan Besar provides. Spending their weekend and free time in the parcel itself.
Afternoon
● With the main roads being more clear, the secondary roads remain the same of high traffic. However, some secondary roads have increased in congestion mainly due to events or workshops happening around the area.
Night
● While the main road continues to be clear of traffic, secondary roads traffic continues to increase in traffic flow. With it being a weekend and the place being popular for nightlife, it attracted many to come to the parcel to spend their night schedule in the area.
Conclusion
● Compare to weekday, weekend generally have a higher traffic flow with people coming in from morning to night to spend their free time on cafes, shopping and other recreational activities in Jalan Besar as well as an increased in nightlife.
● At the bottom of the site are more developed buildings like hotels, ICA buildings and malls
● Further into the site, users finds more of Temples, Churches, Associations and olden day shophouses
● In Parcel 3, there are a total of 207 Shophouses being conserved within the Jalan Besar District.
● Jalan Besar are being classified under Secondary Settlements.
● Secondary Settlements are Areas where there are many new developments with the intention of retaining the streetscape
● Respect the characteristics of the current street, such as provision covered walkways and the continuity of the streetscape
● Overall scale and character of the area
● Building form and massing of the main building fronting the road, in terms of the springing line, roof ridge or top of the roof parapet where applicable, is to match that of the adjacent conserved buildings.
● If the adjacent conserved buildings have different heights, the higher building forms the basis of the height control.
● Building form and massing of the main building fronting the road is to be compatible with the adjacent conserved buildings.
● Height should not exceed the roof ridge of the adjacent conserved buildings.
● If the adjacent conserved buildings have different heights, the higher building forms the basis of the height control.
Movie Nights, 2019
● Planned movie for people around the Neighbourhood as well as invite other people from other neighbourhoods. Events like this brings people from different communities together creating interactions within Jalan Besar.
Weekend Farmer’s Market, 2019
● Assisting to spread local businesses produce to the communities to get known.Visitors get to find out different local home grown brands that are producing example, avocados or local snacks.
Oyster Night, 2021
● Another event similar to movie nights to bring communities together through special events that entices people to come together in CSHH.
Chooby at the Courtyard, 2022
● This is an event about getting hands on with pizzas where their collaborators come in and teach people in the communities how to make pizza. This helps to spark interactions from nearby neighbourhood communities and people from different area of singapore, curating new interaction circles at an conserved district.
Chooby at the Courtyard, 2022
Movie Nights, 2019
Oyster Night, 2021
Farmer’s Market, 2019
Making of Vinyl Record Storage Crate, 2019
● Learning to create a modern stackable vinyl storage that also acts as a double stool. Combing the olden days of using vinyl with being modern and functional with the storage.
Maker’s Market, 2019
● Celebrating the local community of makers with market shopping, talks and workshops. Hosting 4 different kinds of workshop for boosting individual and family interactions.
Design Pasar, 2019
● Design Pasar is about bringing design, craft & arts to the community and to the neighbourhood. Inspired by Pasar malams and using creativity as a common ground, It hopes to elevate the neighbourhood experience. Allowing the public to have greater access to affordable design and locally made goods and offerings.
● Celebrate Christmas with friends and family at Roger&Sons. Make your own miniature foldable Christmas tree with your close ones. Celebrating festivals with the neighbourhood and the general public.
Making of Vinyl Record Crate, 2019
Maker’s Market, 2019
Design Pasar, 2019
● Coming together to promote community giving and assist families in need. Local initiative to complement national efforts to support families in need. To also encourage the spirit of giving and volunteerism.
● Tree Planting day is a yearly tradition in Singapore. In Jalan Besar, it is a important key part of their plan to enhance the quality of the living environment for all the residents there.
● Promoting neighbourhood interactions with Chingay 50’s unique programme ‘in the dark’. Together with neighbours and general public, they can experience cultural elements together through the show.
● Promoting neighbourhood togetherness through displaying SEA Games in the CC for residents to watch live. Forging relationships and interactions with neighbours as well as visitors of Jalan Besar.
CC Watch Together Event, 2022
‘In the Dark’ Chingay 50, 2022
Street Art & Murals
● Street Murals can be seen on multiple buildings and shophouse alleyways. Depicting the past to the present as well as iconic places/events. Some shows the vibes of the place
Slow-Paced
● Overall for the residents there, they are mostly retired, some of them can be seen at void decks playing chess or helping out at nearby shops to kill off time
Mix of Different Activities
● The whole site parcel 3 consists of modern cafes to old hardware shops as well as being filled with unique programmes like Tea brewing, Pottery, vintage book shops and vintage fashion stores.
Active & Learning Lifestyle
● Jalan Besar Stadium and People’s Association are located at the centre of the site. Jalan Besar Stadium provides facilities like swimming pool and running track. People Association provides learning courses for the residents there to spent their free time gaining knowledge.
Mix of Different Activities
Street Art & Murals
Slow-Paced Lifestyle
Antea Social
● A tea-centric shop focuses on artisanal teas, custom tea brewing and modern tea experiences. They host workshops to discover more about tea,herbs and flowers.
Cheng Seng Huat Hardware
● A stalwal on the local cafe scene, where cafe-hoppers and night owls goes to. During the daytime, it's a great place to enjoy and experience their specialty in coffee brewing. While at night, it is turned to beer garden after 5pm with curated selection of crafts,beers and bites.
Kok Kee Wanton Noodles
● Famous wanton stall with typically long queues everyday. It's been founded since 1985, popular for office workers nearby as well as visitors to visit.
North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre
● Popular and affordable food centre in Parcel 3, popular for it's Lor mee, Prawn Noodles, Curry Rice and Special Yong Tau Foo .
Dynasty Fried Porridge (Bistro 8)
● Popular for it's fried porridge and has been around since 2015, the stall has attracted many daily customers as well as excited visitors.
Kok Kee Wanton Noodles @ 30 Foch Road Cheng Seng Huat Hardware @ 150 Tyrwhitt Road North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre @ 861 North Bridge RoadReligion - Informal
Holy Trinity Church
● Catechist meets up twice a week for breaking the word and discussion for weekend sessions to catechise the children/youths.
Thekchen Choling Temple
● People comes to the temple to pray. Temple also host volunteer works as well as does blessing events for the community and general public.
Malabar Mosque
● Mosque is always used during Friday Prayers and host food distribution events and to the public. Hosting talks and interactions with the people.
Ji Shan Tang
● Open for people to pray in the shophouse neighbourhood, have their own set of community of devoted members.
Tai Pei Buddhist Centre
● Established as a charitable organisation to propagate buddhism, conducts dharma classes for the community. Invites speakers to conduct talks for the public and host charity fairs.
Holy Trinity Church @ 20 Tampines Street
Thekchen Choling Temple @ 2 Beatty Lane
Malabar Mosque @ 471 Victoria Street
Ji Shan Tang @ 7 Hamilton Road
Project Maude aka BESAR Project is an initiative to assist low-income families and elderly folk living in the area. Thekchen Choling Temple, the organiser, lend a helping hand through distributing food rations and care-packages filled with daily essentials to them.
1000 rations packs with rice, cooking oil, canned food and more are distributed yearly. With the help of donors and volunteers, they have eased the burden of elderly and needy staying under care of Jalan Besar CC, Kallang CC, Kampong Glam CC.
Similar Project to BESAR Project, having 25 volunteers from various sectors to help out to distribute care packs containing rice, sugar, oil and instant noodles to 250 families living in one-room flats. Especially during the pandemic, elderly are having a harder time, thus initiative assists the uncertainty too.
Latest initiative also provides volunteers to help cope with mental health issues and empower elderly residents to adopt digital tools. Help to engage young families and their children to have digital literacy for a healthy cyberspace in the future.
Jalan Besar GRC 5 year estate upgrade masterplan to focus on green spaces and improving accessibility for seniors. 4 themes are being focused: Accessibility, Active Ageing, Multi-generational and Nature.
Adds more ramps and other aids as well as better connectivity to transport nodes with covered walkways. More Fitness Corners and news stages at plaza for exercise classes with more communal space for different generations to enjoy. Improved Landscaping and more community gardens
Proposed facilities and amenities by Jalan Besar Town Council
Project ‘Transitional ___’
A community project aims to spotlight hidden gems and small businesses in the neighbourhood. Launched in 5 districts, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Chong Pang, Clementi and Jalan Besar.
In these neighbourhoods, organisers are working closely with residents to put together lists of under-the-radar old school establishments and newly-opened hipster hotspots alike. The end result is a refreshed itinerary of what to eat, shop, see, and do, allowing you to explore each neighbourhood with new eyes. Jalan Jalan celebrates what came before, what persists till today and what will come tomorrow.
At Blk 817 Jellicoe Road, this community project was set up by 2 Singaporeans to help those in need within the neighbourhood. They notice many elderly uses this space and think they might need some daily essentials especially during the pandemic time.
Positive response from the neighbourhood, all items have been picked up by people, hoping to carry on this initiative with the support of more friends as well as volunteers. This community effort has greatly helped the residents there as most of them are retired and there are also young families who are in need of such essentials too.
● Established in 1910, formed by members whom are from City of FuQing, China. The Association’s objectives are to foster friendships and to worship gods and ancestors. Nowadays used for Weddings and Events.
● Foochow Association has contributed much through education. Have always been promoting Chinese culture using events, festivals and activities.
● Due to Hakka Locality Clans valuing close-knitted relationships between people, each clan only consists of people sharing the same surname. Wong Clan often organise activities with its members to foster relationships.
● Organising and running league and cup competitions, the stewardship of international teams, the establishment of a youth development in football.
● The Association always organises inter-club tennis competitions every year. Formed by many members of passionate tennis players.
Khek Community Wong Clan Association
Khek Community Wong Clan Association @ 121 Tyrwhitt Road
Futsing Association @ 2 Allenby Road
Singapore Foochow Association @ 21 Tyrwhitt Road
Football Association Singapore @ 100 Tyrwhitt Road
1800s
Plantations Business
- Vegetable Farms & Shops
- Fruit Orchard
Urbanisation Business
- New World Park
- Rubber & Pineapple stores
Early Business
- Hardware Shops
- Canvas Shops
- Belt Shops
Modern Business
- Vintage Shops
- Hipster Restaurants & Cafes
Creative & Mixed Business
- Wood Making Workshops
- Pottery Sculpting Workshops
In general, Parcel 3 have relatively good connectivity using the public transport, allowing easy access to the both of the chosen sites.
Traffic Flow is generally mild for both chosen sites, with adequate amount of human circulation, providing additional interactions among the sites on both weekdays and weekends.
Possess many fresh events from different types of modern shops in old shophouses, provide many opportunities for sites to further evolve those human
Actively focused on providing the older demographic residents there with activities, serves as another way our site can assist the older residents there with their
Parcel 3 have many religion places as well as Associations from olden days to present, our chosen sites can be used to celebrate their history and achievements over the years.
Having more Projects like improving active-aging facilities and turning spaces into places, our site could be used to revamp some areas to become more
Accessibility
● 4 minutes walk to nearest train station, Lavender MRT
● 3 minutes walk to nearest bus stop
○ Available bus services includes 13, 67, 133, 141, 145. Majority commuting to central regions of Singapore such as Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Yio Chu Kang
Surroundings
● Immediate vicinity largely consists of hardware stores
● Hotels, Cafes and Sports facilities are also nearby
Adjacent roads were named after important British generals who fought in wars for the expansion and defending of British overseas colonies and strategic locations.
● King George’s Avenue
○ Named after King George V, then King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 until his death in 1936
● Horne Road
○ Named after Sir Henry Horne who was known for his talent in war strategy and commanding units assigned
● Cavan Road
○ Named after Frederick Lambart who had served as a British commander at an Italian battle front and held the inherited title of the 10th Earl of Cavan
Under the Parks and Trees Act, healthy trees with girths of more than one metre are protected
● 2 mature trees are to be retained at the site
● There are some trees surrounding the site
Views from the Site (Internal)
● Views from the site generally obstructed
○ Back of 3 building faces the site
○ Front of site is unobstructed
● Looking out from the front of the site is King George’s Avenue and King George’s Shopping Center
Views into the Site (External)
● Views into the site generally obstructed
○ Surrounding buildings makes the site is quite hidden
○ Site can only be clearly seen from the front
● Directly in front of the site is a large drain and some mature trees
Auditory
● Site is generally quiet throughout the day, with consistent decibels measurements over the week
○ Consistent buzzing from air conditioning, and sounds of birds can be heard throughout the day
● The entrances and exits are usually the noisiest part of the site
○ Vehicular traffic along King George’s Avenue, and air conditioning ventilations are the main noise contributor in those areas
● The noisiest part of the site with the highest average decibel recording were recorded at Point 1 (Entrance) and Point 3 (Exit)
Olfactory
● Large exposed drain at the front of the site produces a foul smell
● Smell of gas is prominent as site is located in front of a road (King George’s Avenue)
Decibel Recordings
1. Carpark entrance
Avg: 52.4
Max: 61.9
2. Centre of carpark
Avg: 51.6
Max: 58.3
3. Carpark exit
Avg: 54.9
Max: 75.3
Street Lamps
● Four street lamps can be found at the four corners of the site
○ Site is adequately lit, but could be even better
Drainage
● Drainage systems can be found around the site
○ Drainage around the site can be improved by joining the drains around the perimeter of the site
Location
Site sits in between King George’s Avenue and Horne Road, with a GPR of 3.0
Road Category
King George’s Avenue: Non-Category
Allowable Gross Plot Ratio
Up to 3.0
Allowable Storey Height
Maximum 6 storeys
● Site is generally quiet throughout the day
● Rustic atmosphere in the immediate vicinity of the site which is different from other urbanised parts of Singapore
● Typology around the site, creates atmospheric sunlighting at specific times throughout a day
● Very near to Jalan Besar Stadium, a well-known and prominent landmark in Singapore
● Accessible via Lavender MRT and various bus stops which are a short walk away from the site
● Site is surrounded by commercial hardware stores, which lacks attraction to residents and the general public.
● There is only one eatery in the surroundings of the site.
● Views into the site are generally obstructed
● Presence of industrial waste being left by the side of King George’s Avenue along the site
● Unpleasant views of air conditioner ventilators when looking out of the site
● Something that can be proposed should engage even more residents and general public, so as to liven up the space
● Elderly staying at the residential blocks typically hang around the void decks so as to avoid isolation, a gathering space designed for residents might be of great use and benefit to the residents
● More eateries could be proposed so as to attract even more visitors to the area
● People’s Association and Jalan Besar Stadium are some noticeable landmarks that have the potential to help attract visitors to the site’s vicinity
● Foul smell emitting from the storm drain at the front of the site
● Not much rejuvenation to the area apart from the change in tenants for the nearby shops
● Lack of nearby activities for residents and visitors to participate in
Accessibility
● 3 minutes walk to nearest train station, Lavender MRT
● 3 minutes walk to nearest bus stop
○ Available bus services includes 100, 961, 961M, 980. Majority commuting to northern and north eastern regions of Singapore such as Sembawang and Serangoon
Surroundings
● Immediate vicinity largely consists of eateries
● Residential and commercial stores are also nearby
Brief History
● Rochor Canal
○ In early Singapore the Rochor Canal was a source of water for several businesses and a major thoroughfare for transportation
● North Bridge Road
○ One of the earliest roads in Singapore. It was carved out by convicted labourers under the direction of Lieutenant Henry Ralfe, whom was a gunnery officer who accompanied Sir Stamford Raffles to Singapore
● Under the Parks and Trees Act, healthy trees with girths of more than one metre are protected
● A few natural features at the immediate site, with the most prominent ones being the rain trees
● Little natural features surrounding the site
Tree (requires approval for relocation/ removal)
Views from the Site (Internal)
● Views from the site partially obstructed
○ Some of the view are obstructed by the residential flats nearby
● The side that faces the Rochor Canal is unobstructed
Views into the Site (External)
● Views into the site partially unobstructed
○ Walking along the Rochor Canal provides a good view into the site
● From the residential blocks, the site is quite hidden
Auditory
● Site is generally quiet throughout the day, with consistent decibels measurements over the week
○ Consistent ventilation sounds from the coffee shop can be heard throughout the day
● Areas closer to the coffee shop is usually noisier compared to other parts of the site
○ Cooking sounds and chatting amongst visitors to the eateries, are the main noise contributor in the area
● The noisiest part of the site with the highest average decibel recording were recorded at Point 3 (Car Park entrance near Coffee Shop) and Point 4 (Pedestrian entrance near Coffee Shop)
Olfactory
● The site generally smells of grease and smoke from the coffee shop adjacent to the site
Decibel Recording
1. Pedestrian Entrance Near River
Avg: 53.6
Max: 62.9
2. Car Entrance Edge of Site near fence
Avg: 54.5
Max: 63.6
3. Car Entrance Edge of Site Near coffee shop
Avg: 56.0
Max: 63.2
4. Pedestrian Entrance Near Coffee Shop
Avg: 66.5
Max: 69.0
Street Lamps
● Five street lamps can be found in the center of the site
○ Site is poorly lit, and can become a potential safety hazard to users
Drainage
● Drainage systems can be found along the large majority of the site’s perimeter
○ It can be further improved by adding drainage systems near the center of the site, as the site is fairly big
Location
Site sits in between Victoria Street and Crawford Lane, with a GPR of 3.0
Road Category
Victoria Street: Non-Category
Jalan Sultan: Non-Category
North Bridge Road: Non-Category
Allowable Gross Plot Ratio
Up to 3.0
Allowable Storey Height
Subject to Detailed Evaluation
● Adjacent to the site are cycling paths along Rochor Canal, which connects to the nearby Geylang and Kallang PCN.
● The nearby Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) building and North Bridge Road Market & Food Center are noticeable landmarks that can attract visitors to the site.
● Mostly surrounded by eateries that elder residents frequent
● Easily accessible as it is located near to Lavender MRT and major arterial roads such as North Bridge Road
● Site is generally quiet throughout the day
● Good views into and out of the site from the Rochor Canal
● A communal space that allows residents to gather
● Something that can be proposed are proper recreational facilities specifically dedicated to the large elderly demographic staying within the area
● Tying in the unique placement of the site, by including cycling paths or fitness facilities
● Integrating the Rochor River with the site itself, as the river is currently being treated as more of a canal than a feature
● There are no fitness facilities within the vicinity of the site.
● Many elderly loiter around the site with no formal space for them to gather.
● Residential areas surrounding the site lacks proper upkeep and cleanliness
● There are no proper shading in the earlier parts of the day
● Surrounding the site are pre-existing recreational facilities and communal areas, but these were either underused or not being used for their intended purposes
● Redevelopment of the site could affect the HDB blocks and commercial shops that are right beside the site
● As the preexisting car park is almost always full, repurposing the site could mean the loss of parking spaces for cars
● Loss of existing greenery such as the several rain trees that are currently located on the site
● Constant smells of grease and smoke being emitted to the site from the nearby eateries and coffee shops
● Situated at 69 Jellicoe Road, Jalan Besar Community Club sits adjacent to Kitchener Complex
● To the east of Jalan Besar Community Club is a 2 minute walk away from Lavender MRT, and is lies opposite V Hotel Lavender
● The building is surrounded by a few HDB blocks, making it a ideal one stop location for residents in the area
● Jalan Besar Community Club (JBCC) opened in 1984 by Mr Goh Chok Tong, former Defence and Second Health Minister.
● Jalan Besar Community Club is runned by the People's Association where it provides a variety of enrichment courses ranging from culinary, dance, language, sports (Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe) and arts. Facilities are also available for use and booking.
● In 2014, Jalan Besar Community Club had undergone a renovation set to be completed in 2016 and the works done include modification and upgrading works to provide a seamless blend with its surrounding building by providing maximum facilities and amenities to the community.
● Some other amenities included in the CC are the Gymnasium Area, Food & Beverage Dining Place, Karaoke Room, Activity Room, Dance Studio, Offices with Meeting Room, Multi-Purpose Hall, Nursing Room and Occupational Therapy Room.
● Curtain wall on the front of the CC.
● Red, orange and yellow coloured fin facades make up the frontal facade which helps with light and air control.
● An atrium is located at the entrance, which allows the CC to carry out some outdoor activities while remaining well ventilated and shaded.
● A outdoor seating area with benches at the back of the CC, allows residents and visitors alike to rest.
● Located at a hidden part of the CC, Pacto Cafe is often visited by visitors to the vaccination centre.
● The cafe serves affordable priced pastries and coffee.
● It is a 5 minutes walk from Lavender MRT Station.
● Set up by grassroot volunteers to help needy residents around the area.
● Resident are able to purchase items in the hub by using credits topped up monthly in a special card.
● Consists of a dried foods vending machine which allows members of the public to bless other residents with daily necessities that they have donated.
● Some other items that can be purchased at the hub is second hand apparels donated by members of the public.
Social Service Hub (LoveConnect Hub)
Cafe (Pacto 忆缘 by Parchmen)
● Jalan Besar is a mature estate which holds a few of the oldest HDB Flats, with a large majority being rental flats.
● Jalan Besar Community Club is an essential social hub to the residents, as it acts as a support system for many people living there.
● Based on the 2020 report, 19.8% of its residents living there are elderly (65+) and the opportunities provided at the community club can greatly help upskill and integrate them into the society.
● With its activities and clubs, Jalan Besar Community Club helps to create a even tighter knit community amongst the residents.
Jalan Besar Community Club is a important part of the
Adopting sun reflective facades and open atriums can be help cool down spaces
It is crucial to study the area in which we are designing for and to keep the specific users in mind when designing, so as to develop a architecturally sensitive space
● Within site parcel 3, the majority of modern shophouses within site parcell are noticeable within the region bounded by Lavender street, King George’s Avenue, Horne Road and Hamilton Road. With a key prominence seen along King George’s Avenue.
● The region in which these shophouses are based within an commercial(industrial) and residential in nature, which is evident from its current appropriated usages
● Besides the prominent industrially themed business present, eateries, hotels and offices are noticeable within the immediate vicinity
● The immediate region is close to several bus stops along Lavender street, and lavender MRT station further down the road perpendicular down King George’s avenue.
● The architectural style of Modern shophouses utilises primarily modern materials, highly functional facades, and a noticeable lack in decorative ornaments.
● Geometric design was incorporated in an attempt to advocate for a more functional design
● To make a move for a more utilitarian perspective, styles of earlier shophouses were mainly omitted
● The nature of the shophouses style was a prelude to the rise of brutalist buildings in 1970s Singapore.
● The modern style shopshouses were one of the first shophouse typology which utilised a grid system
● Determined by economic factors the utilisation of wide steel beams and concrete piers were utilised to bear loads
● Shanghai plaster was utilised for its external storefront facade, with Terrazzo & Mosaic tiles for its interior furnishings.
● Concrete fins and air vents are commonly utilised on the facade, to serve for ventilation,whilst adding modern visual appeal.
● To maintain the geometric design of the facade, proportionate steel windows were mainly utilised.
Modern Shophouses boasting its unique utilitarian and functional design perspective
● In Parcel 3, Art Deco Style Shophouses were spotted scattered around at Hamilton Road, Cavan Road, Maude Road, Syed Alwi Road and Lavender Street. With a key prominence seen stretched across Jalan Besar Road.
● Different styles of Shophouses can be found around Art Deco Shophouses in those locations like the Modern Style and the Second Transitional Style.
● Built in the early of 1900s, there has been many refurbishing and constant change of shop owners, however the exterior look of the building was preserved as Art Deco.
● These shophouses are seen in mostly commercial regions however some are in the industrial regions too and nearby residential blocks.
● These shophouses now are surrounded and used for eateries, road-by shops, hotels, bars and restaurants.
● Art Deco styles Shophouses has already made appearance in the early 1900s.
● Art Deco Shophouses features fair-faced brickwork and symmetrical corner facades which reflects the Flemish/Dutch Vernacular Architecture.
● Most of the Art Deco Shophouses were built in the 1920s where there is a period of unprecedented economic growth brought on by tin and rubber trades.
● Expressing Unique Urban Grandeur as well as creating an attractive and well defined streetscape for the Jalan Besar Area.
● 2 Art Deco style facade structures at Tyrwhitt Road were conserved as identity makers that serve as reminder of the area’s industrial sector. Conserved by URA on 23 November 2010.
● Originally the premises of Lee Rubber Company at 161 Lavender Street, situates a row of 11 beautifully tiled and plaster Art Deco Shophouses. Due to its sensitive integration of new 4-storey rear extension, it won a URA Architectural Heritage Award in 1995.
● In 82 Jellicoe Road, a row of 16 Art Deco Style Shophouse, built in the late 1920s. The building facade feature zig-zag roof profile of individual gabled roofs, and protruding balconies with an attractive crosshatch lattice pattern, won a URA Architectural Heritage Award in 2008.
● Designs of these shophouses are done in a way that it maintains visual coherence across the entire row of shophouses, with no building standing out.
● Often emphasizes proportion and composition of an entire grouping of similar buildings, with special focus on street corners.
● Structural elements such as arches and pediments were designed with streamlined forms and usually concentrated at the top or centre of the buildings
● Elevation and proportion of each window, door, and balcony, were planned such that they complement one another. Only street corner units were emphasised, since they marked the start and the end of each row of houses.
● Persist in streamline class motifs, and encouraged stylistic harmony between the neighbouring shophouses
● Hallmarks of this style are the simple geometric design on the facade. It is also typified by the streamlining of classical motifs such as capitals, arches, plaques and keystones laid upon a foundation of shanghai plaster for its facade.
● Cement, terrazzo and mosaic tiles were mainly utilised as primary decorative aspects for interior construction.
Significance
Significance of Shophouses in Singapore
Significance of shophouses in Jalan Besar Area
● The unique point of the typical shophouse in Jalan Besar is an L-shape building with a rear court for light, air, and service access. The vertical segment of the ‘L’ contains kitchen, a bathroom, and a toilet while the main part of the house contains the living and work spaces. Above will be the living quarters of the shop owners. It is a standard layout by 1914.
Spatial Planning (First level)
● A residential or a store front can be seen on the first story, depending on the usage of the original building.
● The columns at the front of the building form the five foot way colonnades and support the upper floors.
● There is an air well which opens directly to the sky, in the middle of the shophouse, which provides natural ventilation and lighting to the interior as spatial experience by offering alternating naturally lit space.
● The rear court directly is where service areas such as outhouses would be traditionally located, windows in the wall facing the rear court allow light to penetrate into the shophouse.
● Forecourt is an important feature which gave spatial and green relief to the usual narrow street.
Spatial Planning (Upper levels)
● The utilisation of timber windows on the upper stories are either french windows with internal balustrades or casement windows with treatment shutters.
● The upper levels of the shophouses are primarily utilised as living quarters or a space for storage.
Overall, the Shophouses in Jalan besar gave a sense of what Singapore was like in the past. Built between the 1880s and 1960s, they were visibility different from the 19th century shophouses. Together, the shophouses then synonymously develop with Jalan Besar and made up a district that became diverse and modern/prosperous looking. In conclusion, shophouses carries the past to the present retaining culture while evolving modern
Being a key site within Jalan Besar, we could take inspiration of its significant features or lack thereof in its facade in order to highlight and conceptualise on the distinct and memorable building typologies.
With the different shophouse typology, we could use those different design principles for different typologies to inspire our design accordingly.
The concept of proportionate facades could be utilised in order to maintain the geometric appeal seen in our Shanghai plaster could be proposed as a finishing for our projects, as that could bring coheniency in visual appeal
The principle of maintaining visual coherence with the
● Situated at 9 King George’s Avenue, the former Victoria School building sits alongside Tyrwhitt Road and is flanked by Kitchener Road on its southwest and King George’s Avenue on its south.
● The building is a stone’s throw away from the main Jalan Besar Road, with the nearest MRT station being Lavender MRT station on the East-West Line.
● Although undergoing multiple upgrading works and change of occupants, the building itself has been at this location ever since 1933.
● Opened on 18 September 1933, it was designed by the Public Works Department and architect Frank Dorrington Ward, who also worked on the former Supreme Court.
● It has had several additions and improvements since then with the addition of the Science block in 1950 and a hall and canteen block in 1967, characterised by a multipurpose hall built above a naturally ventilated canteen.
● During the Japanese Occupation, it was repurposed into the Jalan Besar Boys’ School, one of the few schools teaching Japanese language to its students. The building then became a hospital for a short period of time after the Occupation.
● Victoria School moved out of the building in 1984, to make way for Christ Church Secondary School which used the building from 1985-2001.
● The People’s Association (PA) announced plans to move its headquarters to the building in 2004, and renovation works started in 2007 at a cost of $47 million. The PA moved into the building in June 2009, with the official opening held on 29 January 2010 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
● Today, the building continues to be an important heritage landmark, hosting many community activities and event rehearsals.
Sketch of the former building with its high ceiling and Roman-like columns
● The former Victoria School building is surfaced with Shanghai plaster, a type of granolithic cement plaster that emerged in Hong Kong around the mid-1920s. It soon became one of the most popular material choices for modern buildings in the 1930s, which is around the time that the building was constructed, hence justifying the use of this plaster.
● Due to its long history and multiple change of occupants, the building features numerous design elements from both before and after World War II.
● Designed in a neoclassical style along with its flat roof, it features a long frontage and an upper-storey corridor going around the classrooms.
● One end of the block also has a school hall with concrete-arch structures, another prominent design feature of modern buildings in the 1930s.
● Although not part of the original building as it was constructed as an additional block in 1967, it remains to be the only such building left of its style and configuration in the entire Singapore.
● The hall and canteen block is a prime example of early post-war models by the Public Works Department of attractively designed school buildings that could be constructed quickly.
Section of the current building containing both modern and traditional elements
Link bridge connecting new blocks to the old block as deduced from the grey Roman-like columns on the right
● The building is considered to be an important architectural landmark in Singapore, attributed to its long heritage and unique historical design features.
● It is also a key conservation landmark in the Jalan Besar area, having been awarded a Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award in 2009 for its efforts in the conservation of the original building while integrating new blocks.
● Such conservation works include repair works for the original Shanghai plaster. In order to ensure the correct mix and colour to match the original plaster, an expert had to be engaged.
● In conclusion, the building remains one of the most respectable and significant icons in the Jalan Besar area, having seen numerous changes over the years but still being able to retain traditional aspects of its origins.
The former Victoria School building is an example of the rich heritage in the Jalan Besar conservation area. Having understood how much effort has been put into its conservation, the historical context of the area is definitely a prominent and important one to uphold.
Being such an important icon in the Jalan Besar area, aspects of its traditional elements could help us explore options of integrating such elements into our own sites, in order to highlight the rich historical context of the area. The unique typology of its hall and canteen block also offers an opportunity for us to explore the possibility of new building typologies for our own chosen sites.
Furthermore, this case study also indirectly highlights the importance of being mindful to our surrounding context. In the case of the former Victoria School building, newer blocks such as the office block were added onto the site through careful consideration of integrating them seamlessly together with the original block. In addition, upgrading and renovation works had to be conducted in a manner which prevented damaging the elements and overall intent of the original building Most of our sites have pre existing infrastructure, and it would be beneficial to take into account these aspects and explore how to integrate them into our designs rather than to replace them completely.
● For our engagement plan, we hope to gather insightful opinions from the public and the people who live around Lavender/Jalan Besar.
● Through their responses, we hope to be able to identify key areas for improvement, not only physically in the form of a space, but also in terms of how we may improve the lives of visitors and residents in the area.
● We also hope to synthesise the data garnered and turn it into potential sources of inspiration for spatial planning/programming as well as for our design vision/principles.
Population
● 8,017 in 2000
● 10,562 in 2010
● 9,690 in 2020
Area
● 0.7569km²
Population Density
● 12,802/km²
Annual Population Change
● -9.0% (2010 to 2020)
Gender Distribution
● 5,070 males vs 4,610 females (52.4% vs 47.6%) in 2020
Females: 4,610 (47.6%)
Males: 5,070 (52.4%)
0-9 years: 750 (7.7%)
10-19 years: 860 (8.9%)
20-29 years: 1,010 (10.4%)
30-39 years: 1,310 (13.5%)
40-49 years: 1,640 (16.9%)
50-59 years: 1,470 (15.2%)
60-69 years: 1,370 (14.1%)
70-79 years: 830 (8.6%)
80-89 years: 360 (3.7%)
90+ years: 90 (0.9%)
Chinese: 6,740 (69.6%)
Malay: 840 (8.7%)
Indian: 1,760 (18.2%)
Others: 340 (3.5%)
No Qualification: 24%
Primary: 10%
Lower Secondary: 12%
Secondary: 18%
Polytechnic: 8%
University: 23%
Other Qualifications: 5%
Single: 34%
Married: 54%
Widowed: 7%
Divorced/Separated: 5%
Religion Group
No Religion: 18%
Buddhism: 35%
Taoism: 12%
Christian: 11%
Islam: 10%
Hinduism: 7%
Catholic: 6%
Sikhism: 1%
Employed: 59%
Inactive: 38%
Unemployed: 3%
Literacy
English & Chinese: 38.8%
Chinese only: 21.4%
English only: 10.2%
Not literate: 7.1%
English & Malay: 6.1%
English & Tamil: 5.1%
Others: 10.2%
Population
● 9,974 in 2000
● 10,032 in 2010
● 8,380 in 2020
Area
● 0.2360km²
Population Density
● 35,508/km²
Annual Population Change
● -16.5% (2010 to 2020)
Gender Distribution
● 4,630 males vs 3,750 females (55.3% vs 44.7%) in 2020
Females: 3,750 (44.7%)
Males: 4,630 (55.3%)
0-9 years: 420 (5.0%)
10-19 years: 500 (5.9%)
20-29 years: 760 (9.1%)
30-39 years: 790 (9.4%)
40-49 years: 1,640 (16.9%)
50-59 years: 1,470 (15.2%)
60-69 years: 1,370 (14.1%)
70-79 years: 830 (8.6%)
80-89 years: 360 (3.7%)
90+ years: 90 (0.9%)
Chinese: 6,740 (69.6%)
Malay: 840 (8.7%)
Indian: 1,760 (18.2%)
Others: 340 (3.5%)
No Qualification: 24%
Primary: 10%
Lower Secondary: 12%
Secondary: 18%
Polytechnic: 8%
University: 23%
Other Qualifications: 5%
Marital Status
Single: 34%
Married: 54%
Widowed: 7%
Divorced/Separated: 5%
Religion Group
No Religion: 18%
Buddhism: 35%
Taoism: 12%
Christian: 11%
Islam: 10%
Hinduism: 7%
Catholic: 6%
Employed: 59%
Inactive: 38%
Unemployed: 3%
Literacy
English & Chinese: 38.8%
Chinese only: 21.4%
English only: 10.2%
Not literate: 7.1%
English & Malay: 6.1%
English & Tamil: 5.1%
Others: 10.2%
For our first user engagement approach, we sent out an online survey to the general public.
This approach enabled an easy and convenient way for the public to key in their input. Through this, we hope to find out the following:
General Public
● Their thoughts on Jalan Besar and its identity.
● Their impressions about the area.
● What they think a unique feature of the area is.
● What they envision the area to be.
The link to the online survey was sent out through messages and social media, and was left open to collect responses over a 1 week duration.
The data collected will be compared with the interview findings in our second approach to identify any contrast/corroboration of opinions.
Survey Responses
● 23 Respondents
● Ages range from 17-29 years old
Have you visited Jalan Besar before?
What is your age range?
Yes - 13 (56.5%)
No - 10 (43.5%)
17 and below: 3 (13%)
18-29: 20 (87%)
For those who have been to Jalan Besar
What do you think Jalan Besar is known for?
Have your visits to Jalan Besar been by yourself or in a group?
Landmarks: 4 (30.8%)
Food: 8 (61.5%)
Shops: 9 (69.2%)
Religious places: 5 (38.5%)
Bars: 1 (7.7%)
Have your visits to Jalan Besar been by yourself or in a group?
By yourself: 3 (23.1%)
As a pair: 3 (23.1%)
In groups of 3-5: 8 (61.5%)
In groups of more than 54: (30.8%)
By yourself: 3 (23.1%)
As a pair: 3 (23.1%)
In groups of 3-5: 8 (61.5%)
In groups of more than 5 - 4: (30.8%)
What do you think Jalan Besar is known for?
Landmarks: 4 (30.8%)
Food: 8 (61.5%)
Shops: 9 (69.2%)
Religious places: 5 (38.5%)
Bars: 1 (7.7%)
Where in Jalan Besar do you usually frequent and why?
“The thieves market there”
““Metalwork shops and Swee Choon Dim Sum”
For those who have been to Jalan Besar
“Eateries for good food”
“City Square Mall, thrift shops, and Swee Choon Dim Sum”
“City Square Mall,Mustafa Centre”
“Eateries and cafes for nice food”
“City square mall and mustafa centre”
“Repairing PCs at Sim Lim, or buying new shoes at Mustafa”
“To patron some businesses like tattoo parlours”
“Restaurants and bars for dining”
“My family dentist at Kitchener Road”
“Bars for drinking”
“Cafe hopping in the area”
“Shopping at thrift stores and malls”
What do you like about Jalan Besar?
“It’s chill atmosphere”
“It’s near to where I usually frequent and not too urbanised”
“The Decathlon and food there like Swee Choon Dim Sum”
“It’s diverse and eclectic mix of businesses and residences”
“Easily accessible and very close to the central area”
“Shophouse styles and the motor shops that are there”
For those who have been to Jalan Besar
What do you not like about Jalan Besar?
“Don’t hate the place, it’s okay”
“Too far from where I am”
“Barely any shelter when it gets too hot”
“Very crowded”
“Accessibility is inconvenient”
“Dangerous, there have been stabbing cases in the past”
“I do not have anything I dislike”
“Swee Choon Dim Sum”
“It’s less urbanised than Orchard, so there’s a sense of nostalgia”
“There’s nothing I dislike”
“Can’t relate Jalan Besar to anything outstanding at all”
What do you like about Jalan Besar?
“It’s rich history and heritage”
“Nothing comes to mind”
For those who have been to Jalan Besar
What do you not like about Jalan Besar?
“More conservation features”
“I hope accessibility gets better and revitalisation takes place”
“Streets lined with good food”
“It being a less touristy area of Tiong Bahru or Kampong Glam”
“It’s antique-looking shophouses”
“Lots of people, always busy, lots of commotion”
“More parking lots”
“I’d prefer it to stay the same as it currently is”
“More food choices and variety, and more safety as well”
“Swee Choon Dim Sum”
“Location between the city fringe and the heartland”
“I would prefer not to change it, as it should not lose its heritage”
“More activities for public spaces”
“Add more trees, flora and fauna. It is deathly hot”
For those who have not been to Jalan Besar
What do you think Jalan Besar is known for?
No: 3 (30%)
Yes: 7 (70%)
“The Jalan Besar stadium is located there”
“Don’t have any impressions of it”
“Mostly heard about the Jalan Besar stadium”
“It is located far from where I am”
“No impressions”
“There’s things to buy that most other places don’t have”
“I remember the MRT station and the stadium”
Have your visits to Jalan Besar been by yourself or in a group?
Inconvenient location: 3 (30%)
Unaware of its existence: 2 (20%)
Yet to find the opportunity to visit: 7 (70%)
Have no particular reason to visit: 7 (70%)
What do you like about Jalan Besar?
“Heritage and unique places”
“Food, attractions, aesthetics”
“Food, aesthetic places to take photos, and places to shop”
“Events, good food, places to hang out with friends”
For those who have not been to Jalan Besar
What do you not like about Jalan Besar?
“Not convenient, lack of things to do, lack of reasons to visit”
“Lack of interesting attractions or stores”
“Far location from where I stay”
“Nice eating places, shopping, fun activities to do there”
“Heritage, cafes, nice places to take photos”
“Food, attractions, free parking”
“Boring, lack , inconvenient location”
“Hot weather, far distance”
“Going alone, nothing to do, presence of crime”
“Location, cleanliness of place, crowdedness”
“Places which sell art supplies”
“Expensive parking, lack of activities, no nice food”
For our second user engagement approach, we have interviewed multiple people of different roles. This approach allows us to dig deeper for insights by adapting questions based on their responses, in order to gain an understanding of the following:
Visitors
● Their impressions of Jalan Besar.
● What they think is a unique feature of the area.
● How they travelled to the area.
● How often they visit Jalan Besar and for what purpose(s).
Residents
● Their views on the quality of life staying in Jalan Besar.
● Any memories of the area they might have.
● Their day-to-day interaction with the neighbourhood.
● Current issues the neighbourhood is facing.
● Their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Shopkeepers
● The changes they have seen over the years.
● Aspects of the area which have remained unchanged.
● Any memories of the area they might have.
● Current issues their shops are facing.
● Their hopes and aspirations for the future.
These interviews were conducted over multiple sessions in various site visits on both weekdays and weekends and at different times of the day, over a period of 2.5 weeks.
Insights
● The interviewee felt that the shophouses in Jalan Besar are a unique feature to the area.
● There could be potential explorations on how to use this as an inspiration for either design elements or to see how to integrate them directly into the building typology.
● The interviewee felt that Singapore is becoming increasingly commercialised and stagnant.
● Hence, there could be other types of building typologies to be proposed, or one that is still commercialised in nature while still bringing a new perspective to commercial building typologies.
● This would make the area more unique and potentially encourage more people to visit the area.
● Interviewee also said that the area is well-connected. We can try to build on this and explore how to further improve the connectivity within the area itself instead of the connectivity between Jalan Besar and other areas.
Chinese lady, mid-60s
What brings you here today?
“I live nearby and came here today to visit the area.”
Do you have any impressions/memories of this area?
“I think the shophouses are quite a special feature compared to Tampines or other areas…or more of the newer housing estates like Sengkang.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“It is nearby the central area and very well connected…as for improvements, Singapore has a lot of heartland malls and everywhere is the same right now, so something unique can be introduced for this area.”
What do you think you would come back here again for?
“Mainly for visiting the area in general.”
Insights
● The interviewee noticed that most people here are Filipino, which corroborated with our site observations.
● On our visit to the site on a weekend morning, it was observed that there were many Filipino maids who congregated in areas along the Rochor River and were chatting with their friends.
● This could potentially help shape the programme(s) of the final site. For example, one can explore options of providing proper places for them to meet one another.
● Interviewee liked the uniqueness of the old shophouses, similar to the other interviewees.
● Since he felt that there were not many downsides, we can try to instead explore how to work on strengthening the likes of the area, which ties back to the strong impressions of the shophouses.
What brings you here today?
“I came here to work as a TPG promoter, it’s my first time working for them and also first time here.”
Do you have any impressions/memories of this area?
“Nothing special actually, the thing I noticed is that most people here are from the Philippines who are hanging around with their friends.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“I think the buildings are quite different from other places especially the old shophouses around here. As for downsides, there is nothing much…not really sure of what could be improved.”
What do you think you would come back here again for?
“Most probably I would come back here again for work-related matters if TPG decides to assign me here again.”
Insights
● The interviewee stated that one of the main reason she meets her friends here at Jalan Besar is due to the tranquility of the area, especially along the Rochor River.
● She also felt that other areas were always too crowded for meeting up with friends apart from this area, which implies that tranquility and peacefulness is also one of the unique features of the Rochor River area.
● Those who chose site(s) along the river should be mindful of this, in order to prevent disrupting the serene nature of the area whilst introducing new programmes for the site.
● By taking this into consideration, they will also be able to retain this group of people from returning to the area, thereby making it more inclusive for everyone.
What brings you here today?
“I came here from Ang Mo Kio to sit down and catch up with my friends.”
Do you have any impressions/memories of this area?
“Not really, it's just a very quiet and tranquil area in the central area of Singapore compared to other places which are quite crowded.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“I like the peacefulness and tranquility here the most, especially with the Rochor River. Otherwise, I think that there is not much to be improved.”
What do you think you would come back here again for?
“To meet up with my friends again, as this is the area we usually go to for meeting up.”
Filipino lady, mid-30s
Insights
● The interviewee stays here in the Jalan Besar area as it is near to his workplace, further justifying the prime location of the location.
● The places that this interviewee visits are all nearby to the Jalan Besar area, and the reason given was that it was convenient for him.
● However, this might also mean that the places he usually visits have programmes/activities which Jalan Besar itself may not have.
● Hence, new family-oriented activities and programmes can be introduced into the area in order to make it even more convenient for him, so that he does not need to travel outside of Jalan Besar to hang out with his family.
How long have you been staying here?
“I’ve been staying here for about 1 year…as I work here so it’s convenient for me.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“Other than my work days, I usually go out with my family and hang out with them, mostly to Farrer Park and Little India as it is nearby and very convenient.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“I like that it’s very quiet here and well-connected to other parts of Singapore, but the food options here could be better.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“In the 1 year that I’ve been staying here, there’s not been much changes to the area.”
Insights
● Cycling paths in the area which connect to other parts of Singapore are actually utilised by some for recreational cycling. Hence, our design proposals could include facilities for cyclists, such as pit-stops or bicycle rental stores.
● This would help to not only bring more people to visit the area, but will strengthen connectivity via cycling routes, which are also a potential car-lite alternative.
● The interviewee finds that the Jalan Besar neighbourhood is well-substantiated with daily amenities for food and resources, and that all his basic needs are met.
● Thus, our design proposals can instead look into introducing new activities or programmes into the area to serve as an additional layer of interactivity between residents and the neighbourhood.
● The interviewee notes the change in the neighbourhood, especially with the technological advancement, and that there are many elderly in the area.
● To further build on the potential of technological progression in the area, we can explore how to use technology to support and assist these elderly people.
How long have you been staying here?
“I only moved here recently to my brother’s place…but I am quite familiar with the area as he himself has been staying here for about 2 years so I regularly come here.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“When I am not working which is on weekends, I will cycle to Kallang River and Marina Bay Sands together with my brother using the cycling paths.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“It’s very near to amenities, with supermarkets and shops all nearby. Improvement wise, there’s not much to be improved because everything here is sufficient.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“The Jalan Besar Community Centre is new. It used to be bigger last time but it’s more high-tech now, and the ambience is different. There is a lot of old people here..they are very friendly but most of them are reliant on financial aid.”
Insights
● The interviewee claimed that Jalan Besar used to be a red-light district in Singapore.
● In today’s context, it’s red-light history has almost been completely erased from the area, showing how much Jalan Besar has been cleaned up and has evolved over the years.
● The interviewee also says that there used to be a big indian community in Jalan Besar. However, the current population of the area features a Chinese ethnic majority.
● The reasons behind this could be further investigated, along with exploring ways to encourage the minority ethnic groups to return to the area.
● The interviewee implies that Jalan Besar used to be a commercial trading centre when he was growing up in the area. These days, the commerciality of the site has taken a back seat, with newer residential and community-orientated buildings being constructed.
How long have you been staying here?
“I don’t actually stay here currently but in fact I grew up here…I now work as a taxi driver and just happened to be in the area.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“In my younger days I was just doing what any other kids would do…running around and playing.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“I think it is well-connected to town and used to be part of the city centre…but this area also used to be a red-light district.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“The area here used to have a big indian community, and it had every trade in the book along roadsides…boats used to park and carry goods in..warehouses stored spices and rice…but it has been changed very much since then.”
Insights
● Although some parts of Jalan Besar have underwent upgrading and modernisation, other parts have remained relatively untouched.
● Unfortunately, despite newer developments being introduced to the Jalan Besar area, it is still unable to attract the younger crowd to visit the area, and many of the residents there are of an older age.
● Hence, we could potentially try to introduce new programmes or activities which will cater to the younger generation, so that it will be a more inclusive place for everyone.
● At the same time, this also implies that we need to be mindful of the elderly when designing, and potentially look at implementing age-friendly design features or strategies.
How long has your shop been here?
“My shop has been here for 40 plus years, ever since we first opened in 1981.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“I drive here, reaching around 11am to set up shop and closing at around 6pm.”
What impressions do you have about this area?
“I think it’s an old, aging neighbourhood…with many elderly people around.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“The food here is nice..but the infrastructure here could be upgraded since it is getting quite old.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“The area here used to have many young crowds but over the years many have all married out…so I don’t have as many younger customers anymore.”
Insights
● Apart from her workplace, the interviewee does not have much interaction with the Jalan Besar area. Currently, it’s more of an objective user experience where the interviewee only goes to Jalan Besar to work.
● Therefore, more ways to encourage interaction with the site can be explored, in order for visitors and residents alike to have a more in-depth and memorable experience.
● The interviewee notes that there are a lot of elderly people who loiter around. This could either be because they have no proper place to sit down and gather, or because they have nothing much to do.
● Our design proposals can therefore try to address this and provide certain activities or facilities which are currently missing from the area, so that the elderly can be engaged as well.
How long has your shop been here?
“The shop itself has been here for 8-9 years, although I only came here half a year ago to work.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“I take the MRT to get here as I live nearby, so it’s quite convenient for me.”
What impressions do you have about this area?
“I don’t really have much of an impression as I only come here to work and then leave.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“There is a wide variety of food here, but there is also a lot of elderly people who loiter.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
Not much as she has only been here for half a year
Insights
● Food stalls and eateries are quite well-known in the area, and is frequented by both visitors and residents. The ICA building is also another reason why people come to the Jalan Besar area.
● However, the interviewee also mentioned that other businesses are not doing as well as the food business, so there could be opportunities to highlight these other businesses through the design proposal.
● The car park at selected site 2 is constantly full, so options for higher capacity parking spaces can be integrated together with the design proposal to minimise the loss of car park lots.
● During multiple site visits on various occasions, it was observed that there was a consistent long queue at the car park gantry, with cars queuing to enter the car park and even blocking the main road.
How long has your shop been here?
“The shop has been here for two-and-a-half years, but I just started working here 2 weeks ago.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“I usually take the train to Lavender MRT station and reach here at 12pm…then I stay until 7pm which is when I close the shop.”
What impressions do you have about this area?
“I think the food business here is doing quite well, but not so much for the wine business. The area here is quite busy, mainly because of the ICA building.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“The car parks here are always full and congested.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“I’ve not seen much changes as I just started 2 weeks ago, so I can’t really comment on that.”
● The Jalan Besar stadium is a popular attraction in the area, and also one of the key icons of Jalan Besar, a point which has been supported by various other insights and sources.
● The immediate vicinity of the interviewee’s shop experiences low footfall, which implies poor business for the several shops he mentioned.
● There could be ways to attract more people to the area, through the introduction of new programs and activities which can possibly integrate the spirit of the iconic Jalan Besar stadium.
● Stores in the area are a mixture of privately owned properties and rental units. Hence, it is not uncommon for the rental shops to change hands frequently.
● However, despite the changes in stall tenants, low footfall still remains an issue. Therefore, the issue which is preventing people from coming to the area may lie somewhere else.
How long has your shop been here?
“This store has been here for about 15 years already.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“Nothing special, I just come here to work everyday from 9am until 6pm.”
What impressions do you have about this area?
“The most significant feature I would say is the Jalan Besar Stadium where there’s soccer matches occasionally.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“There’s NTUC and other shops which is convenient to buy things, but other than that it’s quite quiet with not many people and not much things to do.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“The stores here have changed tenants multiple times, along with the types of stores. For example, there was a chinese shop which changed hands to a thai restaurant.”
Insights
● The interviewee describes the area in the vicinity of his shop as rustic and quiet. This provides insights for the conceptualisation of our design proposals, whether we want it to fit in together with the rest of the area or make it stand out as a unique feature of the neighbourhood.
● However, the interviewee also mentioned that the cleanliness of the area needs to be improved. Based on our observations, there was rubbish lying around the area, but there was also sufficient trash bins which were not completely empty.
● This could imply that the issue of cleanliness may not lie with the trash collection systems, but rather the mentality of the people in the area.
● Therefore, our design proposals can potentially be a showpiece to highlight the importance of civic mindedness or even sustainability in general, either through programs and functions or within the physical space itself.
How long has your shop been here?
“We’ve been here since 3-4 years ago, but I personally started working here 2 years ago.”
Describe your typical day-to-day routine here?
“I will usually reach here around 9am until around 6pm, which is when I will close the shop and go home.”
What impressions do you have about this area?
“It’s a very rustic area compared to the rest of Singapore, with a lot of old shop tenants.”
What do you like about this area and what could be improved?
“The place is generally quiet so it’s like a quaint neighbourhood. However, I do think that the cleanliness around here needs to be improved.”
What changes have you seen over the years and how do you feel about them?
“Nothing major, mostly it’s renovation work…many shops have been rebuilt over the 2 years that I’ve been here.”
● Based on the interview responses, residents in the Jalan Besar area generally enjoy a satisfactory standard of living.
● Most residents living in the area are elderly people, who are supported by financial assistance schemes which help them with their day-to-day expenses.
● Jalan Besar is also well-connected to other parts of Singapore through a range of public, private, and cycling transport avenues, making it convenient for residents to travel around.
● The neighbourhood itself also contains many amenities and facilities for residents, particularly in the form of small commercial neighbourhood shops. This provides residents with the basic necessities for their daily lives, so that they do not have to travel out of the area to get these necessities.
● Being an area of such a rich heritage, of which most of it is preserved, gives rise to an interesting mix of new and old building typologies and cultures, adding to the allure of staying in the area.
● Some have said that the cleanliness of the area could be improved, so that the hygiene of the area and ultimately the quality of life for residents can be improved.
● Additionally, some parts of Jalan Besar have been left stagnant for many years. Infrastructure in these areas are aging and not up-to-date, hence not being able to serve residents as well anymore.
● It is common culture for residents in the area to be living at a slower pace of life compared to other neighbourhoods in Singapore. The main key reason is the many elderly residents who are mostly retired.
● Examples of this include engaging in recreational activities in the neighbourhood such as chatting with friends and wandering around the area.
● New/transient visitors to the area do not display much cultural behaviour as they are not familiar with the area.
● Prime examples of cultural behaviour that returning residents exhibit include visiting the numerous places of worship in the area, or visiting Jalan Besar for the food there which is widely popular and well-known by many.
● As most shops in Jalan Besar are run directly by the shop owners, a lot of them take pride their businesses as shown by the neatly placed rows of products outside their stores.
● Some have even implemented traditional beliefs such as placing feng shui elements outside their stores in the hopes of having a more prosperous business.
● Most visit Jalan Besar for food or shopping, which is the common culture for visitors to do in the area.
● Members of the general public were not willing to travel out of their way to Jalan Besar if they had nothing to do.
● The elderly, being the majority of residents in the area, were observed to have 2 distinct socialising patterns.
● Most are actively engaged in social activities like playing chess or chatting over drinks with other elderly people.
● However, there are also quite a number of others who prefer to be alone and keeping to themselves. These people were often seen on solo neighbourhood walks or sitting by themselves.
● Visitors here have little to no interaction with the area, but rather come here to socialise with friends or to visit certain shops or amenities.
● The social factor within Jalan Besar is strong, as many come here together in groups or specifically to meet up with friends.
● Thus, there is plenty of social interaction between visitors and other people in the area.
● Shopkeepers in Jalan Besar are generally friendly and accommodating to visitors and residents.
● Members of the general public are more willing to go to a particular place if there were social events there.
● Despite these relatively brief encounters of social interaction, they are still willing to engage in conversation and help those in need.
● Many have replied that activities that would attract them to visit a place would involve meeting their friends.
● Residents perceive the area as a comfortable and convenient neighbourhood. They are mostly satisfied with the area and do not wish for anything to be improved.
● Those who have stayed here longer or grew up here can still remember how it used to be like in the past, despite the many changes it has gone through since then.
● Visitors do not have an in-depth psychological connection with the physical area itself.
● Most do not associate Jalan Besar with any unique memory or particular feature.
● Instead, psychological connections are formed through people. For example, by noticing the people in the area or by interacting with friends they meet in the area.
● Majority of shopkeepers think that Jalan Besar is an aging neighbourhood, with an older demographic of customers.
● They also have the impression that the food business is the highlight of the area, compared to other businesses.
● Some have expressed their desire to have more younger customers to visit their shop.
● Most remember Jalan Besar for its food culture and shophouses, along with City Square Mall and Mustafa Centre.
● However, some remember the area as being too hot.
● Some also worry that redevelopment would cause the loss of heritage in the area.
● Jalan Besar is rich in cultural heritage and value
● Accessible and well-connected to other parts of Singapore
● Strong food culture
● Conservation shophouses, which are unique to Jalan Besar
● Distinctive strong industrial theme in certain areas
● Wide range of demographics of visitors
● Diverse in religions and places of worship
● Deep roots to many Ethnic Associations
● Some visitors do not have any impressions of the area
● Not much interaction between people and the physical area itself
● Cleanliness in certain areas are lacking
● Lack of proper areas for the elderly to congregate together
● Lack of activities for elderly residents to participate in
● Inclusivity and integration of both new and old infrastructure
● Able to host a wide range of activities
● Majority of residents are elderly; there could be ways to cater specifically to their needs
● Elderly residents frequently visit communal HDB recreational spaces, indicating a more lively elderly socio-culture
● The aging population of Jalan Besar could be a driving force to attract a younger population to visit the area
● Old and aging infrastructure in certain parts of Jalan Besar
● Loss of cultural heritage due to redevelopment
● Ex-history of the area being a red-light district and having funeral parlours may prevent people from visiting the area
● Not many attracting factors for the younger generation which limits future visitors to the area
Lack of attracting factor for younger crowds to visit the area
Why?
● Aging infrastructure in the area
● Absence of activities for youths
● Jalan Besar is not known as a place where youths usually frequent
● No major youth-oriented developments in the area in the past few years
Lack of proper congregation spaces and activities for elderly residents
Why?
● Such spaces mainly limited to coffee shops and neighbourhood void decks
● No initiatives to upgrade these areas or create a bigger one
● Lack of undeveloped spaces to introduce these communal areas
Lack of key distinctive identity for the Jalan Besar area
Why?
● Unique features of the area not well-known by many unless they frequent the area
● Infrequent visitors unlikely to notice the cultural identity of the area
● No opportunities for memories or impressions to be formed by visitors
Elderly residents in the area aged 65 and above
● Needs proper congregating spaces to socialise with one another so that they do not feel lonely.
● Needs new activities and activity spaces that they can engage in during their free time.
Visitors aged 16 to 29 who are new or do not frequent the area.
● Needs activities and spaces which will attract them to visit the area more often.
● Needs opportunities for memories to be created so that they are willing to visit the area more often
Extended user 1
National Council of Social Service
● Needs means of meeting the social service needs and strengthening the social ecosystem in the area.
● Needs opportunities to form connections with residents.
Extended user 2
Habitat for Humanity Singapore
● Needs spaces and facilities to care for residents and raise awareness about the aging population in the area.
● Needs opportunities to form connections with residents.
HMW attract more people, especially of the younger generation, to come and visit Jalan Besar?
Rationale/ supporting sources
● Most visit the site only for a particular purpose (eg. music schools) and leave right after. They do not stay to explore the area. - through interviews & site observations
● Some have also mentioned that they would not be willing to travel to Jalan Besar if it had nothing to offer them. An additional factor cited was because of its distance from the other places where youths usually frequent. - through online survey
● Visitors who frequent the area only come for food and shopping. - through online survey
Insights
● Currently, there are not much recreational activities to attract younger visitors to the area other than food and shopping.
● This could lead to stagnation of the demographic in Jalan Besar and eventual decline in visitors, due to the lack of newer, younger visitors to the area.
● There could be ways to explore how new programmes and activities can be introduced to make the area more youth-friendly as other popular youth places such as Somerset.
Potential functions/programmes
● Youth parks
● Pop-up exhibitions
● Photo-worthy spaces
● Hipster cafes
HMW provide proper congregating areas and spaces for residents so that they can meet up to engage in meaningful activities?
Rationale/ supporting sources
● Present congregation spaces only include neighbourhood void decks and a small number of activity corners, which offer limited congregation abilities. - through site observations
● Quite a number of the residents in the area consist of elderly retirees as compared to other neighbourhoods in Singapore. - through online research & site observations
● Having activities for them to spend their time on would also promote cross-interaction and reduce feelings of loneliness. - through online research
Insights
● There are limited congregation spaces for the many elderly residents which stay there.
● As a prominent group of the residents in the area are elderly retirees, they have plenty of free time but no activities to engage in.
● Therefore, there is potential to propose new activities which the elderly can spend their time on, and also benefit from social interaction.
Potential functions/programmes
● Activity rooms
● Recreational facilities
● Multi-purpose halls & areas
● Community gardens
HMW craft a distinctive identity for Jalan Besar that is well-recognisable by both residents and the general public?
Rationale/ supporting sources
● There is still quite a significant amount of people who do not have any impressions of the area, and could not name any unique features of Jalan Besar. - through interviews & online survey
● Only some could quote places such as the conservation shophouses, Mustafa Centre, and City Square Mall as unique features of the area. - through interviews & online survey
● Those who could give their impression of Jalan Besar were only residents or those who visited the area often. - through interviews & online survey
Insights
● Despite the many unique features of Jalan Besar such as its conservation shophouses, it still lacks a distinctive identity.
● There were no memorable feature for less regular visitors or the general public, which could be one of the reasons why they are not willing to come to the area.
● Hence, there could be ways to create memories either through spatial or social experiences which will serve as a distinctive identity for Jalan Besar.
Potential functions/programmes
● Community spaces
● Unique building typologies like One Tampines Hub
● Spaces which promote meaningful social connections
HMW allow our main client and sub client to get an effective outreach to the demographic in the area?
Rationale/ supporting sources
● There are a number of neighbourhood assistance organisations in Jalan Besar offering a variety of community assistance schemes. - through online research
● Many Singaporeans still have a stigma of being afraid to reach out for help, and this is especially more common in the older generation. - through online research
● The many elderly residents in the area are retirees and do not have passive income. They also mostly lead a simple lifestyle. - through interviews & online research
Insights
● Despite the presence of these community assistance organisations in the area, there could still be some individuals or families which have not yet sought help or have been reached out to.
● Assistance may not only come in the form of financial help, but also as a way for the elderly to cope with loneliness and have someone to talk to.
● By enabling our clients to connect with the elderly residents in the area, they can gain a better understanding on the needs of the residents and hence offer more effective assistance to them.
Potential functions/programmes
● Private counselling rooms
● Co-sharing spaces
● Mini office spaces
Integrated Spaces
● Careful creation of spaces that are shaped by both new and old features of Jalan Besar which will form a non-intrusive and contextually-sensitive design proposal
Inclusive Communities
● Fostering stronger communal bonds among residents in the area through the provision of meaningful and engaging activities for communal gathering and bonding
Introduced Identity
● Developing a distinguished identity that centers around the evolution of the Jalan Besar region and the social interactions between residents and visitors of the area
● Implementing innovative DfMA strategies
● Integration of Biodiversity
● Creation of spaces with open recreational activities
● Incorporating sustainable features and strategies
● Fusing nature within the neighbourhood
● Promote & foster a stronger communal spirit
● Integrating the past with the present
● Remaining sensitive of historical context
● Well-connected, robust pedestrian & cycling network
● Using Unique Aspects (History) of the Site to provide a memorable experience
Mission
● To provide leadership and direction in enhancing the capabilities and capacity of our members, advocating for social service needs and strengthening strategic partnerships, for an effective social service ecosystem.
Vision
● Compassionate Society
● Impactful Sector
● Dignified Lives
Core Values
● As we stay focused on our mission to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a life of dignity to their fullest potential within society, we are guided by our core values of passion, impact, collaboration, and courage.
Stakeholders
● Children & Youths
● Seniors
● Caregivers
● Families
● Adults with Disabilities
● Children & Youths with Special Needs
● Persons with Mental Health Conditions
Initiatives
● Beyond the Label - A mental health anti-stigma movement
● The Courage Fund
● Social Service Sector Strategic Thrusts (4ST)
● Peer Support Specialist Programme
Habitat for Humanity Singapore is part of an international housing charity dedicated to eradicating poverty housing worldwide. Convicted that safe and affordable housing provides a path out of poverty, they have been working alongside low-income communities to increase their access to improved living conditions.
Mission
● Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes , communities and hope
Vision
● A world where everyone has a decent place to live
Purpose
● Build decent homes across Asia-Pacific and rehabilitate flats in Singapore for vulnerable families
Stakeholders
● Vulnerable Elderly
● Vulnerable Families
● Students
Initiatives
● Project HomeWorks
● UnLitter Red Dot
● Homeworks Champion
● Campus Chapters
Xavier
Enzo
The process of this urban analysis and documentation has definitely been a meaningful one for me. Although I have been to Jalan Besar before, the process of conducting a site analysis on it has made me admire the area and its characteristics even more.
Initially, I was worried about whether we would be able to pick up anything insightful through this analysis, but with the things I have now learnt about the area, I feel more motivated to embark on the next stage of this project.
Despite the various challenges we had to go through as a team, I’m glad that we managed to pull through and make this a memorable experience.
For me, the biggest takeaway I had from the site analysis was falling in love with the site. The one phrase that was a constant in my mind whilst editing the video was “more than meets the eye”.
Having the opportunity to interact with the residents, visitors and workers there made me realise that this site has a lot to offer if we look in the right places.
I was and still am very grateful to my teammates and also to be able to be a part of the whole process of doing a enriching site analysis for the project. I believe that the learnings from the site analysis will help to encourage me to have a better direction in my design for my final year project!
Julian Although the urban analysis process was challenging, and at times frustrating, I believe it to be a meaningful experience. Through the analysis of the area, I have gained valuable insight about Jalan Besar.
Experiencing the site physically as well as digitally has allowed me to gain a more holistic understanding of both the cultural and physical aspects of Jalan Besar.
Thus, I feel confident moving forward to the next stage of the FYP as the information and insights I have gathered throughout this process has provided me with various inspirations on how to begin my project.
Kai Jun
This urban site analysis provides an eye-opening experience for me. Through the analysis, allow me to look past the physical cultural look of shophouses to the evolution of activities and interactions happening within it.
With the deep cultural rooted ethnic associations and the possess of many different types of worship places , allow me to illustrate Jalan Besar Growth throughout the years as multicultural and rich with history.
Hence, this whole urban analysis allow me to discover the deep cultural history and growth within Jalan Besar. This could be used to inspire me as I start on the Stage 2 of the FYP Project.
Kendria
Having been to Jalan Besar before I didn’t think that we would be able to find much. However, I was proven wrong and have learned so much about the historical and cultural aspects of Jalan Besar. This experience has certainly helped me to see Jalan Besar in a different perspective.
Despite facing many obstacles, I am grateful and proud of my team for persevering. This site analysis was not only enriching just because my understanding of Jalan Besar grew, but also because I have gained tremendous knowledge from my group mates! I am confident that these experiences will inspire me during the next stage of the project!
Dimitri
Looking back, this urban site analysis has indeed been a memorable and an invaluable experience for me. From the site visits to the documentations, the process of it all has not only unveiled new methodologies and perspectives when it comes to urban analysis, but also the revelation of “The Hidden World” present deep within Jalan Besar. Aiding me to admire and empathise with the area more.
Although there were bumps along the road, I am thankful for a team which perseveres to make this a fulfilling experience! Understanding the various aspects of the site better, I am certain that these insights would inspire me to make informed decisions for my FYP!
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