Author(s)

Y. H. Tan

Abstract

The transformation of the urban landscape is as much a physical process as it is symbolic. Demolitions and new developments bring about changes in the identity of places, as well as irreplaceable loss in personal and collective memories associated with these old places. The use of heritage in redevelopment schemes, through the conservation of buildings or revoking the culture and memory of old places, is seen as an increasingly common way to soften the impact of redeveloping the built environment. Focusing on two redevelopment schemes in Glasgow and Singapore, this paper explores the value of heritage as an integral part of redevelopment despite their seemingly opposing natures. The Crown Street Redevelopment Scheme in Gorbals, Glasgow and the one-north Masterplan in Queenstown, Singapore are presented here as case studies to show how economic, political and cultural forces have interacted to produce built environments which juxtaposes the new with the old. Elements from the postwar housing past are eliminated and ignored while new forms of \“heritage” are conceived, celebrated and integrated with new development plans. Keywords: heritage, post-war housing, urban redevelopment, collective memory, adaptive reuse.

Keywords

heritage, post-war housing, urban redevelopment, collective memory, adaptive reuse.