Abstract

The case of Tampines Central (Singapore) illustrates the role the government plays in community building by drawing residents into co-creation attempts to develop new neighbourhood amenities. Like the case of Langham Place (Hong Kong, see chapter 7), Tampines illustrates the involvement of different government agencies in the upgrading of the neighbourhood. The project resulted in the creation of an additional play area to augment those already in the estate, new community-inspired art, a plant trellis along a popular pedestrian/bicycle path, and new seats for pedestrians to rest and chat with their neighbours. Two neighbourhood resident clubs were involved in the process and their participation resulted in a café/library and moveable furniture and storage areas so that these can be moved out for community events. The Tampines case also illustrates a top-down government initiative and raises the question of the robust grass-roots initiatives we see in Sungmisan (Seoul, see chapter 4) and Tangbu (Taiwan, see chapter 6). However, government initiatives should not be discounted because, as urban/spatial policies, these initiatives have a life of their own and are capable of being improved, transformed, and implemented in other Singapore neighbourhoods.

Keywords: Singapore, public housing neighbourhoods, spatial policies, neighbourhood amenities, community partnerships, resident committees