Housing a Nation: The History of Urban Redevelopment in Singapore (With Loh Kah Seng)

How did we remake the island’s colonial era urban spaces into Singapore’s earliest HDB estates? How did rehousing Singaporeans change our lifestyles and hopes for the future? What does the kampong spirit mean when we think about the past? To answer these questions, we speak to Dr Loh Kah Seng, author of the book Squatters into Citizens.

The Singapore Heritage Fest this year celebrates our nation’s rich built heritage. One of the most striking examples of this are the public housing estates which dominate Singapore’s urban landscape. How did we remake the island’s colonial era urban spaces into Singapore’s earliest HDB estates? How did rehousing Singaporeans change our lifestyles and hopes for the future? What does the kampong spirit mean when we think about the past? To answer these questions, we speak to Dr Loh Kah Seng, author of the book Squatters into Citizens. In this special episode, let’s learn about the history of public housing and urban redevelopment in Singapore.

Please note that the map referenced in this episode can be found ⁠here⁠.

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