References

• Brown, A.--. (2011, November 17). Bye Bye Rochor Centre. Retrieved April 16, 2012, from mrBrown.com: http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2011/11/bye-bye-rochor-centre.html
• Chua, T. (2012, April 14). Common space- Rochor Centre. (L. Y. Cheng, Interviewer)
• Felicia. (2012, April 14). Common space- Rochor Centre. (L. Cheng, Interviewer)
• Lim, S. (2012, April 14). Common space- Rochor Centre. (L. Cheng, Interviewer)
• Mokhtar, F. (2011, November 16). Leaving Rochor Centre a heartbreak for residents. Retrieved April 16, 2012, from Yahoo! News: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/leaving-rochor-centre-a-heartbreak-for-residents.html

Suggestions and Reflection

RC should recruit more young people as they can relate to fellow youths and hence organise events that will be suitable and appealing to the younger generations. By working together with the existing RC members, the activities organised and planned not only attract all ages to participate, it also cultivates a sense of belonging and identity in the residential area through these common experiences. Therefore, injecting new blood into the organisation committee will help to energise the residential area, create a sense of identity in residents and build an effective common space for all.

Furthermore, RC should also hold events aimed not only at interacting with our neighbours but bringing it to a higher level where people embrace each other’s uniqueness and differences, especially accepting new citizens into the community. The former can be done through the constant feedback gathered from residents to have a holistic understanding of their needs and interests so that better, more suitable activities can be carried out. This can be achieved by recruiting “old” new citizens into the RC to help in the planning of the bonding sessions.  They will understand their needs and difficulties when integrating into the community as they have also been through the same stage. Hence, it allows for better communication between old residents and new citizens, as well as between neighbours.

However, these suggestions need time to implement and their effects are not immediate. Only after the residents become familiar with each other and willing to open up, the aim of these suggestions will be achieved as residents are now more bonded with each other. Moreover, I feel that the attitudes of both the organising committee and the residents are important. The RC must have the intention and the will to change the situation for the better. Existing members should be open about new and creative ideas that will improve the activities so that more people can be included. If not, just by recruiting new blood into the committee will not result in any change. Residents, on the other hand, should also be willing to embrace and accept one another by actively participating in the events and activities so that efforts by the RC are not wasted.

Another crucial part is the recruitment of new members. Young people should be willing to take 

responsibility of the residential area and have the capability of organising and executing the plans. I feel that those who have been staying in the area since young will be a better choice as they will be more familiar with the culture and environment of the place and most importantly, have a sense of belonging to the residential area. Therefore, they will be able to give better and more effective suggestions.

Gathering constant feedbacks from residents on the quality of the events organised will help the RC to improve. However, not all residents are willing to give feedbacks and not all feedbacks are constructive. This is because some residents are more conservative and less willing to voice out their opinions. Furthermore, feedbacks should be carried out in different ways, such as conducting surveys online or door-to-door, organising focus groups and making use of social networking sites. In this way, the information collated will be a more holistic opinion of the residents and more benefitting for the organising committee.

In conclusion, I feel that it is important to involve residents in the planning process of the different activities so that the events organised will be suitable, accepted and appreciated by the residents.   

Areas for improvement

Although many activities organised by the RC are targeted at everybody, “Those activities are usually attended by my grandparents” said one of the interviewee, “the problem is that they continue to do the same thing every year without doing anything to change it”. As a result, many youths rarely participates in these events and hence will hinder the promotion of a common experience shared by all residents. Even for the festive celebrations, Ms Felicia commented that they are “unattractive” for younger generations as “no exciting activities are planned to attract them” to join these events. One of key causes of this problem is that organiser of the activities from the RC are also from the previous generation, they lack the understanding and expertise to come up with creative activities that would spice up the events and appeal to the younger generation.
   

      Another problem also comes to my attention. “When we were younger we used to meet up with our neighbours… now it becomes a lot colder…everybody likes to keep to themselves partly because of the structure where everyone lives in compartments…” commented Mr Stanley Lim, a resident at Block 4. On the day of the interview (Saturday), I rarely saw residents interacting at the void deck, an indication of the lack of the communication and bond between them. However, my observation may not be accurate as it was drizzling that day. Nevertheless, all three interviewees told me similar things such as they no longer play with their friends and neighbours as much as did last time. Ms Felicia, a permanent resident, told me that the only time when she meets her neighbours is before work, greeting each other “good morning” at the lift lobby. Therefore, I feel that with the increased pace of life and stress, people are more closed up to themselves and lack the time and initiative to interact with and embrace fellow residents.

Identity Formation and Common Space

Rochor centre has an unique design with the void deck surrounded by the 4 residential blocks. It provides more opportunities for interaction between residents as it allows them to be concentrated in one area with all the facilities near to one another and not distributed around different facilities that are far apart just like normal neighbourhoods.

Children and the younger generation especially, are able to play with one another in this common area. Just like what Mr Terence Chua mentioned "I play soccer with my childhood friends", this kinds of interaction will aid in the formation of shared experiences amongst them and provide opportunities for them to understand each other's differences and embrace them. Therefore, forging a strong bond between them and strive for a common space.

Play areas at the void deck

Students and undergraduates are able to study in these areas with their friends  at the study area located at the 4th floor. According Mr Terence Chua, a frequent user of the place, "it is a good place to study with your friends". With the unique design of the residential area, the study area is located at the fourth level, with less human traffic and low noise level, Mr Chua feels that it promotes interactions between residents as people tend to have an more effective bonding time when at a quieter place.This place not only benefits the younger generation, many older generations are also seen there. They are chatting with their fellow neighbours and friends who may also live in the flats. This is convenient for them as they would not need to travel across several blocks to just catch up with their friends, like in other housing estates.

Study area at the 4th floor

Undergraduates studying at the study area

Senior citizens chatting with each other at the study area

"I really saw the bond we had. I thought it was only me who felt very bad for this place being moved, but a lot (of) people residents united together to try to change (this situation). We felt bonded." Mr Terence Chua said this to me when asked about his emotions on this place and when he first knew that this estate is going to be en bloc. As resident living here since his childhood, Mr Chua definitely has lots of precious memories here. Even if these places are going to be demolished in the future, I am sure that whenever these residents pass by the area, they will still fondly remember their time here. For Mr Chua and many other residents, Rochor Centre is really a place where common experiences were shared.

Kampong Glam RC (Residents' Committee) located at Rochor Centre organises activities for the residents to participate, with the aim that residents will have more interactions and have more common experience, hence embracing each other's uniqueness and accept different cultures. Activities organised are 1-day tour to Malaysia, fishing trip and charity walks. Other than activities, events like National Day celebrations and Christmas Celebrations are also held to give opportunities to residents to have a shared experience when everyone participates. Not only do these activities provide opportunities for interaction, they also introduce them to our national identities by going for dance or music concerts and museums.

Therefore, such activities and events organised will definitely in some way or another provide chances for residents to interact and understand each other.

From the above points, I feel that the authorities have done a good job in building a common space for residents in Rochor Centre to interact and embrace others. However, residents feel that there are still rooms for improvement so that more people can be included and a more effective common space can be created.

Rochor Centre- History and Background

Shops at the first 3 floors and
the residential area starting from 4th flor

A unique housing estate built and completed in 1977. There are a total of 4 blocks in Rochor centre, with over 180 shops in the first 3 floors, ranging from provision shop, beauty salons and even consultancies. However, Rochor centre is not an ordinary flat. Many photographers have taken shots of it due to its distinctive appearance and unique design. Unlike other flats in Singapore, Rochor centre has a void deck situated not at the 1st floor but at the 4th floor. The void deck is surrounded by all the 4 blocks, hence it creates a sense of unity and promotes bonding in a subtle way.

Part of the void deck at the 4th floor

Part of the void deck at the 4th floor