Heritagised spaces of Singapore: memories grounded in playgrounds

• Main Author: Kam, Olivia Jie Qi
• Other Authors: Michael Yeo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::History
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165356
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This thesis examines how the childhood memories made in playgrounds during the 1970s-90s have been framed around the concept of heritage in Singapore. Playgrounds were a necessary and memorable space during the 1970s-90s, where Singaporean citizens were transitioning between kampungs (villages) to Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates. This space is closely attached to state-building narratives, where the development of a national identity was especially crucial to maintain the state’s hegemony. Such is the case when it comes to mosaic playgrounds that are structured to symbolise and reflect Singapore’s culture and history; to embody the Singaporean identity. Yet, these spaces that are seemingly deemed as important to the Singapore government, are not considered as heritage to them, more so for the playgrounds constructed under HDB blocks. Analysing playgrounds as everyday spaces, the thesis will be observing this through the medium of Oral History. From this, the thesis will aim to reveal that childhood memories of Singaporeans are critical determiners of the heritage making process, further putting into question the concept of ‘heritage’ and ‘community.’