3.2.1 Research Neighbourhoods

Seven sites in Singapore were chosen as the research neighbourhoods.  These sites were chosen primarily because they permitted various aspects of land-use compatibility to be explored.  The sites are described briefly below:
•    Holland Village.  This area is popular with the local expatriate community, as well as with students of college-going age.  There is a wide range of eateries, as well as handicraft shops.  The area is bounded by a mix of both low-rise private and high-rise public housing, and is in close proximity to what is known, in Singapore, as the southwest technology corridor;
•    Little India.  This area has long been associated with the local Indian community in Singapore.  It can trace its roots to the original Town Plan developed by Singapore’s founder – Sir Stamford Raffles – in which he attempted to enforce the Pax Brittania by a policy of ‘divide and rule’.  Today, Little India is a designated urban conservation area;
•    Singapore Expo.  The Singapore Expo is Singapore’s newest and largest convention and exposition complex.  Its site was specifically chosen for its proximity to what is known as the northeast technology corridor, and also to Changi airport.  The land-use around it is primarily a mix of low-rise private residences and commercial space.  The site is also within a stone’s throw from a water recyling and -processing plant;
•    Sembawang Hills.  This is a quiet suburb in the central water catchment area of Singapore.  Residential properties in this area are predominantly low-rise privately-owned terrace houses.  The area lies on the outskirts of a major New Town in Singapore, but has managed to retain a rustic ambience.  It is not uncommon to see troops of monkeys there;
•    Little Guilin.  Little Guilin is a disused granite quarry which, with the passage of time, has been filled with rainwater.  It is presently considered an area of scenic beauty in Singapore, and it is surrounded by both private and public high-rise flats, the developers of which specifically tout the view;
•    Jurong East.  This area is one of three so-called regional centres in Singapore.  Regional centres are constructs of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which is the body in-charge of land-use planning in Singapore.  Regional centres sit high in the heirarchy of urban settlements in Singapore, second only to the Central Business District in size and function.  The primary purpose of the regional centres is to encourage decentralisation of population distribution, in order to even out population densities and ease traffic flow; and
•    Pasir Panjang.  Like Holland Village, this area lies in the southwest technology corridor.  Although it is in close proximity to Institutions of Higher Learning (such as polytechnics and a university) as well as Science and Biotechnology Parks, Pasir Panjang has managed to retain much of its 1960s character, in terms of the prevailing architecture.  Residences in this area are predominantly privately-owned, and the area is bounded along the south by a bustling wharf.  Pasir Panjang is also rich in military history, being one of the last stands which the local regiments took to defend the Crown Colony of Singapore against the invading Japanese Imperial Army in 1941.

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