URA LIFESTYLE SURVEY 2009

Copyright © 2010 Urban Redevelopment Authority. All rights reserved.

Part 3

Making

An Endearing Home

Making Singapore An Endearing Home

3.1 Sense of belonging to Singapore

89.8% of Lifestyle Survey respondents agree or strongly agree that they feel that Singapore is their home and where they belong. While 59.6% would want to live overseas but still call Singapore home, 73.5% would like to retire in Singapore. Moreover, 71% of the respondents hope that their future generations will be based in Singapore (Chart 3.1).

Chart 3.1 Sense of belonging to Singapore

89.8% agree or strongly agree (a) I feel that Singapore is my home and 26.5% 63.3% 8.2%1.8% 0.2% where I belong.

73.5% agree or strongly agree (b) I would like to retire in Singapore. 21.7% 51.8% 19.1% 6.5% 0.9%

59.6% agree or strongly agree (c) I would want to live overseas but still call 13.4% 46.2% 25.2% 13.8% 1.5% Singapore home.

71.0% agree or strongly agree (d) I hope that my future generations will be 17.9% 53.1% 25.5% 3.2% 0.3% based in Singapore.

5=Strongly Agree 4=Agree 3=Neutral 2=Disagree 1=Strongly Disagree

3.2 Places in Singapore that have left people with the fondest memories

The top 3 places in Singapore that have left people with the fondest memories are housing estates, national icons and destinations, and conservation areas and old buildings (Table 3.1).

Table 3.1 Places in Singapore that have left people with the fondest memories

Places in Singapore that left % of respondents who Frequently cited people with the fondest indicate that these places examples by respondents memories leave them with the fondest memories Housing estate , , 34.1% Redhill , Airport, National icons and destinations 15.6% Esplanade Conservation areas and old Chinatown, 15.3% buildings Serai/Geylang, , Botanic Parks and greenery 10.2% Gardens, MacRitchie Reservoir National University of Singapore, Singapore Schools 5.2% Polytechnic, Nanyang Technological University Local commercial centres or , Holland gathering spaces and 5.2% Village, Bugis Street significant streets , KK Hospital, Work place 1% Kuan Yin Temple at Bugis, Places of worship 0.6% Sri Mariamman Temple, Armenian Church National Day Parade, Marina Bay Coundown, Signature events 0.3% Singapore Fireworks Festival , Others 2.6% chalets, Market No response 10% NA

Things that people miss most about Singapore if they are overseas

The top 3 things that people would miss most about Singapore if they are overseas are the safe and clean environment, food and their family and friends (Chart 3.2).

Chart 3.2 Things that people miss most about Singapore when overseas

Environment (ie clean / safe / climate) 65.6%

Food 65.3%

People (ie family, friends, relatives, neighbours) 54.1%

Places 25.0%

Culture / Lanugage / Lifestyle 19.0%

Government / Education / Transportation system 16.5%

Activities / Events / Festivles 12.1%

Object / Building / Icons 1.1%

Others 0.6%

No comments 1.4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Note: Respondents were asked to identify 3 things about Singapore that they would miss most if they were overseas. Hence, the percentages do not add to 100%.

3.3 Features that make Singapore special

What make Singapore special

The top 3 features that make Singapore special are parks and greenery, conservation areas and buildings, and national icons and destinations (Table 3.2). These are also among the most important features cited by the respondents to the online survey.

Table 3.2 Features that make Singapore special

Features % of respondents who Frequently mentioned indicate that this feature examples by respondents makes Singapore special (note 1) East Coast Park Parks and greenery 56.6% Botanic Gardens Bishan Park Chinatown Conservation areas and buildings 53.7% Little India Joo Chiat National icons and destinations 47.4% Esplanade (e.g. Supreme Court, Esplanade) Supreme Court My housing estate (both public 34.2% and private) Toa Payoh Bedok hawker centre Others (e.g. hawker centres, 33.9% hawker centre schools) Lau Pa Sat Signature events that take place Marina Bay Singapore regularly which I can participate in Countdown (e.g. Marina Bay Singapore 20.7% Festival Countdown, Singapore River National Day Parade Festival) Local commercial centres or Holland Village gathering spaces and significant Jalan Kayu 19.2% streets (e.g. Jalan Kayu, Dempsey Dempsey area areas) Note 1: Respondents were asked to select 3 features that make Singapore special to them. Hence, the percentages do not add up to 100%.

3.4 Greenery

Greenery contributes strongly to Singapore’s identity

90.9% agree or strongly agree that greenery contributes strongly to Singapore’s identity (Chart 3.3).

Chart 3.3 Greenery contributes to Singapore’s identity

90.9% agree or strongly agree (a) I think greenery 7.6% contributes strongly to 18.8% 72.1% 0.1% Singapore’s identity. 1.4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

5=Strongly Agree 4=Agree 3=Neutral 2=Disagree 1=Stongly Disagree

3.5 Heritage

Satisfaction with conservation of heritage buildings and areas

72.3% of the Lifestyle Survey respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the conservation of heritage buildings and areas (Chart 3.4). The online survey respondents felt that the aspects of conservation areas that appeal to them are the distinctive architecture and building style, their rich history and heritage, as well as their traditional trades and activities.

Chart 3.4 Satisfaction with conservation of heritage buildings and areas

72.3% satisfied or very satisfied 5=Very Satisfied 24.0% 4=Satisfied 3.7% 68.6% 0.3% 3=Neutral 3.3% 2=Dissatisfied 1=Very Dissatisfied

Attitudes towards conservation

Most of the respondents agree that the physical landscape in Singapore changes too quickly, and that not enough familiar buildings and places are kept in Singapore. 73.5% also agree or strongly agree that familiar places should be kept at all costs as they contribute strongly to their sense of belonging (Chart 3.5).

Chart 3.5 Attitudes towards conservation

73.2% agree or strongly agree 4.7%

The physical landscape in Singapore 20.6% 52.6% 22.1% 4.5% 0.2% changes too quickly

64.2% agree or strongly agree 7.7%

We don't keep enough familiar 11.9% 52.3% 28.0% 7.5% 0.2% buildings and places

73.5% agree or strongly agree 4.1%

We should be keeping familiar places at all costs as they contribute strongly 16.6% 56.9% 22.4% 4.0% 0.1% to my sense of belonging

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Frequency of visit to conservation areas (Boat Quay, Little India, Chinatown and )

49.7% of all respondents visit conservation areas at least once a month (Chart 3.6).

Chart 3.6 Frequency of visit to conservation areas

Once in 6 Once in 3 months months 11.5% 15.7% Once in a year Once a month 20.3% 25.0% Never visit at all Daily 2.9% 2-3 times a 1.0% month 2-3 times a 12.6% Once a week week 7.6% 3.5%

Conservation areas that are special to the people

Among the conservation areas, most respondents felt that Chinatown is special to them (Chart 3.7).

Chart 3.7 Conservation areas that are special to the people

Chinatown 52.1%

Kampong Glam Others 6.3% Little India 5.9% 10.4% N.A. Boat Quay 9.5% 15.9%

Ways to improve conservation areas

Respondents to the Lifestyle Survey think that conservation areas can be improved by organising more communal and cultural events and activities, raising the standards of building restoration and introducing more traditional trades (Chart 3.8). Similar feedback was received through the online survey.

Chart 3.8 Ways to improve conservation areas

(c) Organise more communal and cultural 90.3% events and activities.

(d) Raise the standards of building 86.7% restoration.

(a) Introduce more traditional trades. 85.6%

(b) Introduce more modern trades and 61.0% services. (eg fast-food)

Others 6.3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Note: Respondents could select more than 1 way to improve the conservation areas. Hence, the percentages do not add up to 100%.

3.6 Housing estates and neighbourhoods

Aspects of neighbourhood that are important to the identity of the area

The Lifestyle Survey results showed that the top 3 aspects of the neighbourhood that are most important to the identity of the area are amenities (such as hawker centres and neighbourhood shops), parks and greenery and commercial centres (Chart 3.9). These were also the most important aspects highlighted by the respondents to the online surve y.

Chart 3.9 Aspects of the neighbourhood that are important to the identity of the area

Amenities (eg hawker centres, neighbourhoood 81.5% shops) Parks and greenery 57.3% Commercial centres (eg shopping centres, town 52.5% centres) Architecture and design of the buildings 34.9% Communal facilities (eg Community Centres, 33.4% libraries) Public / communal spaces (eg void-decks, plazas) 23.8%

Public transport 1.4%

Others 2.2%

None .5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Note: Respondents were asked to select 3 aspects of the neighbourhood that are important to the identity of the area. Hence, the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Hawker centres as one of the key amenities in our housing estates

96.6% agree or strongly agree that hawker centres should be maintained as one of the key amenities in our housing estates (Chart 3.10).

Chart 3.10 Hawker centres as one of the key amenities in housing estates 96.6% agree or strongly agree

42.1% 54.5% 2.9% 0.5%

5=Strongly Agree 4=Agree 3=Neutral 2=Disagree 1=Stongly Disagree