Singapore’s Park System Master Planning: A Nation Building Tool to Construct Narratives in Post-Colonial Countries (Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements)

This book traces the evolution of Singapore’s parks system, from colonial to present times. Further, it contextualizes the design and planning of parks in the general discourse on western and eastern traditions: early twentieth century western conceptions ‘imported’ during colonialism; modernism; postmodernism, and the contemporary ecological debate. Park system planning products respond to national policies and result in structural urban elements and a range of park types. Global (western ideology) and local issues have influenced park system planning and the physical design of individual parks over time. However, in Singapore the eastern literature has not addressed the development of parks and urban green spaces in terms of historical perspective. The publication reveals the interrelations between visual representations and changing political ideologies. Singapore’s system of public parks is shown to represent an iconography created by the state. Its set of constructed narratives elucidates on the potential social, cultural and environmental roles of public parks. However, Singapore’s park system presents a novel paradigm for expanding Asian cities, characterized by evolving urban imaging strategies. In framing Singapore’s case study within the broader perspective of eastern applications of western planning and design practices, and constructions of nation in post-colonial countries, the manuscript establishes the contribution of the Singaporean model of design and planning of parks to the international debate. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxx Introduction (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 1-7 Urban Green Provision and Constructions of Nation: Western and Eastern Policies (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 9-36 Colonial Planning and Design of Parks and Gardens in Singapore (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 37-63 Singapore’s British Integrated System of Public Open Spaces (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 65-85 Parks for the Community: The City State’s Modernist Planning Model (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 87-130 From Character and Visual Identity to Theme—Gardens: Design of Parks and Public Open Space in Postmodern Singapore (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 131-178 Re-purposing and Thematizing Colonial Gardens: Constructions of History and Nation in Singapore’s Heritage Parks (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 179-210 Singapore’s Green Infrastructure and Biophilic Urbanism (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 211-251 The Singapore Playground: System of Themed Public Parks that Addresses Environmental, Social and Cultural Sustainability (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 253-328 Conclusions: the Contribution of Singapore’s Park System to the Debate on Post-Independence and Post-Colonial Constructions of Nation (Raffaella Sini)....Pages 329-346 Back Matter ....Pages 347-355